Indonesia’s vast cultural diversity is exemplified in the endless variety of its performing arts, from entertaining processions and village mask-dances to the wayang shadow puppet theatre of Java with stories taken from the Indian epics and the local Panji cycle; from traditional musical accompaniments by the full slendro- and pelog-tuned gamelan and smaller local ensembles to the wayang wong and royal court-patronised dances; from ritualistic seblang and wali dances to Muslim inspired seudati and golek menak and finally to modern genres of dance, theatre and music. It is possible to trace the Archipelago’s total historical experience through its performing arts. Indonesia’s traditional performing arts are characterised by a contrast between fluidity of movement and buildup of the character. This balance of traditional elements with modern styles and inventions remains an intrinsic principle in modern Indonesian theatre, music and dance.