A History of Gambyong: From Folk Art to Classical Dance. By Sri Rochana Widyastutieningrum. Translated by Maho Ishiguro, Rajendra Amira L.S., Sonia Pangesti Lambangsari, and Thow Xin Wei.

Abstract

Gambyong is a Central Javanese dance form with folk origins. Today, it is performed in royal courts, at opening ceremonies for official municipal events, as well as at other social events such as weddings, performing arts festivals, and the anniversaries of establishments. While gambyong developed within the two court cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, it is in the latter where the dance has been more prominently cultivated and woven into the social fabric of today. Infused with the aesthetics and prestige of the Central Javanese courts, gambyong characteristically portrays the elegance, amorousness, and alluring liveliness of its female dancers. In this monograph, Sri Rochana Widyastutieningrum discusses the history and recent developments of gambyong, the content and context of its performance, and its practice in the present day. The author also explores gambyong’s sociocultural values and symbolism, its educational value for women’s minds and souls, its aesthetics and philosophical underpinnings, and its musical accompaniment.
 Citation: Widyastutieningrum, Sri Rochana. A History of Gambyong: From Folk Art to Classical Dance. Translated by Maho Ishiguro, Rajendra Amira L.S., Sonia Pangesti Lambangsari, and Thow Xin Wei. Ethnomusicology Translations, no. 14. Bloomington, IN: Society for Ethnomusicology, 2024. 
 Originally published as: Widyastutieningrum, Sri Rochana. Sejarah Tari Gambyong: Seni Rakyat Menuju Istana. Surakarta, Indonesia: Citra Etnika Surakarta, 2004.