Gambuh is an ancient form of Balinese dance-drama. It is accompanied by musicians in a gamelan gambuh ensemble.
Gambuh performance depicting an arya or nobleman
Gambuh dancer
Image: 09 21 07 GAMBUH Budakeling ( 2007 — PI Cs ) — 02 Condong & Kawan 2
Image: 09 21 07 GAMBUH Budakeling ( 2007 — PI Cs ) — 11 gambelan
The Panji tales are a cycle of Javanese stories, centred around the legendary prince of the same name from East Java, Indonesia. Along with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the tales are the basis of various poems, sculpture and painting, dance-drama performances and genres of wayang, especially the one known in East and Central Java as wayang gedhog. Panji tales have been the inspiration of Indonesian traditional dances, most notably the topeng (mask) dances of Cirebon, Central Java and Malang, as well as gambuh dance-drama in Bali. Especially in the environs of Kediri, part of the probable homeland of the tales of Panji, local stories grew and were connected with the obscure legendary figure of Totok Kerot. Panji tales have spread from East Java (Indonesia) to be a fertile source for literature and drama throughout Indochina Peninsula and Malay World as well.
Raden Panji Inu Kertapati searching for his lost wife, Dewi Sekartaji
Balinese painting of Prince Panji meeting three women in the jungle