Traditional Dance from west java

1.     1. Jaipong Dance

2.   2.  Mask Dance

3.   3. Sintren Dance

4.   4. Peacock Dance

5.   5.  Badaya Dance

After considering it, I chose the Theme “ Jaipong Dance”. What I will discus Include :

1.   1.  History of jaipong dance

2.   2.  Characteristics of jaipong dance

3.   3.  Basic Movement of Jaipong dance

4.   4.  The Development of jaipong dance in west java

"JAIPONG DANCE"

          Jaipong Dance, a typical West Javanese dance art, was born from the collaboration of artists H. Suanda and Gugum Gumbira around the 1970s. Jaipong dance is characterized by cheerful, enthusiastic, erotic, humanistic and simple movements. Then the basic movements of Jaipong dance include opening, pencungan, ngala, and mincit. This Jaipong dance experienced quite rapid development in 1980. The development included the staging and properties used by the dancers who performed this dance. From there, the Jaipong dance became known to all people in the West Java region.

            Jaipong Dance was born from two artists, namely H. Suwanda from Karawang and Gugum Gumbira from Bandung in the 1970s. The two artists collaborated to create the movements and musical accompaniment of Jaipong Dance. Jaipong Dance was inspired by the Ketuk Tilu Dance which was combined with other types of dance. The dance consists of Banjet Dance, Pencak Silat Dance, Wayang Golek Dance, and Mask Dance. The combination of these movements gave birth to a new type of dance called Jaipong Dance.

            One of the main characteristics of Jaipong Dance is its energetic and expressive movements. The movements in Jaipong reflect strength, agility, and grace at the same time. Jaipong dancers use their entire bodies to express emotions and stories in the dance, from hand movements, foot steps, to facial expressions. This dance also displays many elements of improvisation, especially in the hand and hip movements that sway to the rhythm of the music. Another characteristic is the costumes worn by the dancers. Usually, female dancers wear kebaya decorated with bright and striking colors, combined with batik cloth or sampur tied around the waist. Accessories such as buns and traditional jewelry add to the visual beauty of this dance. The appearance of the clothing reflects the strong Sundanese cultural identity, full of color and elegance. In terms of music, Jaipong Dance is accompanied by a typical Sundanese degung gamelan with a fast and rhythmic tempo. Musical instruments such as drums, gongs, sarons, and rebabs play an important role in creating a lively dance atmosphere. The dominant drum beats provide a lively rhythm and become the main guide for the dancers in adjusting their movements. Music in Jaipong is not only an accompaniment, but also an integral part that blends with the dance movements.

            In general, the basic movements in Jaipong Dance can be divided into four main parts, namely the opening movement, the pencugan movement, the nibakeun movement, and the mincit movement. First, the opening movement is the opening of the dance. This movement introduces the dancer to the audience with graceful and confident steps. The opening usually begins with graceful hand movements, a combination of foot steps, and the playing of the sampur (shawl) which creates an elegant impression. The purpose of the opening movement is to attract the attention of the audience and build the atmosphere of the dance.

Second, the pencugan movement is a dynamic movement that shows agility and strength. This movement comes from the Ketuk Tilu and Pencak Silat movements, which are characterized by fast and steady hand and foot movements. In Pencugan, there are many foot stamps and twisting body movements, which express enthusiasm and courage. This movement gives a strong color to the Jaipong dance and reflects the tough character of the Sundanese people.

            Third, the nibakeun movement is a movement that is giving or welcoming. This movement depicts a friendly, polite, and open attitude. The dancer performs this movement by extending their hands towards the audience or dance partner slowly and gently. This movement reinforces the impression that Jaipong is not only about strength, but also refinement and friendliness.

Fourth, the mincit movement is a transitional movement performed with small foot movements, such as short, light, and fast steps. Mincit is a link between one movement and another, maintaining the continuity of the dance so that it continues to flow. This movement looks simple, but requires good body coordination and balance.

            The development of Jaipong has been very rapid since its inception. In the 1980s, this dance began to be performed at various art festivals and official events, and was often used as a welcoming dance for state guests in West Java. During this period, Jaipong also began to enter the world of education, taught in schools as part of the local content of arts and culture, and introduced in various dance studios in cities and villages. In addition, Jaipong experienced developments in terms of choreography and performance style. If at first the movements were still very close to the original form of Ketuk Tilu, then in its development Jaipong began to experience modifications. The movements became more varied and structured, with techniques adapted to the needs of the modern stage

 The dancers' costumes also developed from traditional to more creative, with touches of color and design that remained rooted in Sundanese culture but appeared more contemporary. Not only in Indonesia, Jaipong Dance also began to be known abroad. Indonesian art groups often perform Jaipong in various cultural exhibitions and international art performances. This dance is considered a strong representation of Indonesian culture, as it combines the richness of local traditions with the appeal of modern performances.

Overall, Jaipong Dance is a typical West Javanese dance art form resulting from the collaboration of H. Suanda and Gugum Gumbira in the 1970s. This dance is famous for its energetic, expressive movements, and combines elements from various types of traditional dances. Its rapid development in the 1980s brought Jaipong to various festivals, education, and modifications in choreography, making it one of the most inspiring representations of Sundanese culture and an integral part of local performing arts.