Bedhaya

The bedhaya (also written as bedoyo, beḍaya, and various other transliterations) (Javanese: ꦧꦼꦝꦪ, romanized: Bedhaya) is a sacred ritualized Javanese dance of Java, Indonesia, associated with the royal palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Along with the serimpi, the bedhaya epitomized the elegant (Javanese: ꦲꦭꦸꦱ꧀, romanized: alus) character of the royal court, and the dance became an important symbol of the ruler's power.

Bedhaya

Sacred Dance Bedhoyo Ketawang A.JPG

Sacred Dance of Bedhaya Ketawang

Native name

Javanese: ꦧꦼꦝꦪ, romanized: bedhaya

Genre

Traditional dance

Inventor

Javanese

Origin

Indonesia

The bedhaya has different forms in the two court cities, the bedhaya Ketawang in Surakarta (Solo), and the bedhaya Semang in Yogyakarta, the latter of which has not been performed for more than 20 years. The Solonese dance continues to be performed once per year, on the second day of the Javanese month of Ruwah (during May in the Gregorian calendar), to commemorate the ascension of the current Susuhunan (prince) of Surakarta. Nine females, relatives or wives of the Susuhunan, perform the dance before a private audience. An invitation to anyone outside of the inner circle of the court is a considerable honor.