Wayang orang

Wayang wong, also known as Wayang orang (literally 'human wayang)', is a type of classical Javanese dance theatrical performance with themes taken from episodes of the Ramayana or Mahabharata. Performances are stylised, reflecting Javanese court culture:

Despite being heavily associated with Javanese tradition, the variants of wayang wong dance drama are also can be found in neighboring ethnics traditions, including Balinese and in Sundanese traditions.

The bas relief panels on 9th century Prambanan temple shows the episodes of Ramayana epic. While the adaptation of Mahabharata episodes has been integrated within Javanese literature tradition, since Kahuripan and Kediri era, with notable example such as Arjunawiwaha, composed by Mpu Kanwa in 11th century. The Penataran temple in East Java describe both Ramayana and Mahabharata theme in its bas reliefs. The Javanese dance drama associated with wayang epic themes of Ramayana and Mahabharata would have been existed by then.

Wayang in Kawi (Old Javanese) means "shadow" and wong means "human". Wayang wang was a performance in the style of wayang kulit, the shadow theatre of Central Java wherein actors and actresses took the puppets' roles. The first written reference to the form is on the stone inscription Wimalarama from East Java dated 930 CE. The genre is currently done in masked and unmasked variations in Central Java, Bali, and Cirebon, as well as in Sunda (West Java).

Wayang wong is heavily associated with Javanese culture. Originally, it was performed only as an aristocratic entertainment in four palaces of Yogyakarta, Pakualaman, Surakarta and Mangkunegaran. In the course of time, it spread to become a popular and folk form as well. Javanese wayang wong performances are regularly stages in Trimurti Ramayana open air stage in Prambanan temple compound as Ramayana Ballet, Purawisata cultural hall in Yogyakarta, Sriwedari park in Solo, and also Ngesti Pandawa in Semarang.

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