Andrew Geng

Tari Gambyong RETNA KUSUMA laras pelog pathet barang

Performed by Chicago Friends of Gamelan (chicagogamelan.org) at DePaul University School of Music on February 16, 2019. *Retna Kusuma* is performed as a refined dance at the Mankunegaran Palace in Solo, Central Java. It is considered to be a *gambyong* dance, or a dance that showcase an adolescent girl blossoming into womanhood. There are many gambyong dances in the Central Javanese repertoire, with dance movements that reference daily activities including washing clothes and applying makeup. The dancer's movements are closely tied to the rhythms played on the *kendhang ciblon* hand drum.