Jaipongan

Jaipongan is a popular Sundanese dance form from West Java, Indonesia. It originated in the 1980s in Bandung and surrounding areas, developed by local dancers and musicians who drew on traditional Sundanese performance genres such as tayub and kliningan to create a lively, stage-oriented style. The term jaipongan refers to the joyful, inviting nature of the dance and its music.

The performance is typically done by couples or small groups and is most often accompanied by a percussion-based ensemble such as a gamelan degung or a modernized orchestra featuring kendang drums, kacapi string zither, and sometimes vocalists. The music is characterized by strong, syncopated rhythms and a driving tempo that supports rapid, hip-centered movement.

Choreography emphasizes lively, rhythmic body work, including hip isolations, foot stamping, shoulder movements, and hand gestures. Dancers frequently improvise within a rhythmic structure, offering playful call-and-response with musicians and audience.

Costumes are bright and colorful; women commonly wear batik or kebaya-inspired outfits with wide skirts and headpieces, while men dress in coordinated shirts and trousers. Jaipongan is a common feature at weddings, public festivals, and stage performances, and it has become a familiar element of Sundanese popular culture. Variants and fusions exist across West Java and beyond, reflecting local tastes and evolving musical accompaniment.