The
dances of the peoples of Indonesia,
including elaborate dance dramas
as well as dances intended solely
to display grace of movement.
In general, Indonesia dance
is slow in tempo, with controlled,
reserved motions. The dancers
stay close to the ground (in
contrast to the high leaps of
western ballet), and arm important
Sundanese dance tends to be
more sensuous and expansive
than Javanese and Balinese dance.
The dance of Indonesia was strongly
influenced by diffusion of Indian
culture in the first millennium
AD.
The
country’s dance dramas
often portray episodes from
Hindu epics, and some Indian
influence can be observed in
the use of the legs, neck and
head and in remnants of the
mudras (codified hand gestures
of Indian dance).
