Lengger Lanang News Today

The Lengger Lanang dance tradition is rooted in 16th-century fertility and harvest rituals from Central Java province.

Indonesian dancer Rianto moves gracefully in front of a crowd of thousands in the capital Jakarta, whipping his orange sash and in full make-up as he performs a centuries-old folk dance frowned upon by conservatives.

Indonesian dancer Rianto moves gracefully in front of a crowd of thousands in the capital Jakarta, whipping his orange sash and in full make-up as he performs a centuries-old folk dance frowned upon by conservatives."Lengger is still looked down on and negatively stigmatised," 42-year-old dancer and choreographer Rianto told AFP. "People still see men dancing as going against the norm," said Rianto, who like many Indonesians has one name.

Lengger Lanang, performed by men dressed as Javanese princesses and with its roots in the 16th century, is close to disappearing in the Muslim-majority country with fewer than 100 performers remaining.