The Srimpi () (also written as Serimpi) is a ritualised

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

, associated with the royal palaces of

Yogyakarta Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by Hamengkubuwono, a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an importan ...

and

Surakarta Surakarta (Javanese script, Javanese: , Pegon script, Pegon: ), known colloquially as Solo (Javanese script, Javanese: ; ), is a major List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in Central Java, Indonesia. The city adjoins Karanganyar Reg ...

. The ''srimpi'' dance is one of the classical dances of

Central Java Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...

. Along with the '' bedhaya'', ''srimpi'' epitomised the elegant () character of the royal Javanese court, becoming a symbol of the ruler's power as well as the refinement of Javanese culture.

Form and movement

The ''srimpi'' dance is usually performed by four female dancers, but other numbers such as two, six or eight dancers are also possible, depending on the type of ''srimpi'' being performed. Similarity in looks, heights, and body types among dancers is preferred to achieve better aesthetics. ''Srimpi'' demonstrates soft, slow, and graceful movements, highly stylised hand positions, stances, and body poses, coupled with the shoulder-baring ''

kemben ''Kemben'' (, Indonesian language, Indonesian: ''kemban'') is an Culture of Indonesia, Indonesian female torso wrap historically common in Java, Bali, and other parts of the Indonesian archipelago. It is made by wrapping a piece of ''kain'' (clo ...

'' outfit, to describe elegance, modesty, refinement, beauty and grace. The dancer moves slowly accompanied with serene

gamelan Gamelan (; ; , ; ) is the traditional musical ensemble, ensemble music of the Javanese people, Javanese, Sundanese people, Sundanese, and Balinese people, Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussion instrument, per ...

music. The ''srimpi'' dances, being less sacred in nature than '' bedhaya'', are much better known and often performed, not only in the two Keratons, but also outside the courts for ceremonies and festivals of common Javanese people. Up until today, the ''srimpi'' dances are still a part of court ceremonies, as princesses routinely rehearse various types of ''srimpi'' in the pendopo pavilion within the palace.

Gallery

Tari "Srimpi Dhempel" Puro Pakualaman.jpg, A srimpi dhempel dance performance, choreography by King Pakubuwono VII of

KITLV 115029 - Isidore van Kinsbergen - Serimpi female dancers of the Regent of Bandung - 1863-1865.tif, Srimpi dancers of the Regent of

Bandung Bandung is the capital city of the West Java province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, the city is the List of Indonesian cities by population, fourth-most populous city and fourth largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta, Surabay ...

(circa 1864) Serimpi 's, Java, KITLV 27443.tiff, Srimpi dancers in traditional costume in 1900 KITLV 3905 - Kassian Céphas - Serimpi of the sultan of Yogyakarta perform a dance called Semang II - Around 1885.tif, A srimpi performance at Yogyakarta Palace in 1885 COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een van de zonen van Mangkoe Negoro van Solo met Serimpi danseressen TMnr 60005502.jpg, Prince of Mangkunegaran with srimpi dancers in 1885

Notes

References

Revaluing Javanese Court Dances (Srimpi and Bedhaya) within the Current Social and Cultural Context
by Michi Tomioka

External links

Video of Serimpi dance in Kraton Yogyakarta
on YouTube
Video of Serimpi Ludira Madu dance in Kraton Surakarta
on YouTube {{Dance of Indonesia Dances of Java Javanese culture

Form and movement

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links