In early 18th century (1779-1785 to be specific), Jan Brandes—a Dutch preacher, draftsman and watercolorist, documented Ronggeng in his Dutch-language 1808-published book (both in written and image drawing form).

is called Tandak, the dancer shouts the word Elée when she starts the dance' In early 19th century, Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles—a British colonial official who served as the governor of the Dutch East Indies between 1811 and 1816, documented Ronggeng in his English-language book The History of Java as one of the Javanese dances, that usually performed by the females (at least according to his observation in the region where he visited).

Ronggeng has probably existed in Java since ancient time as the bas reliefs in Karmawibhanga section of the eighth-century Borobudur display the scene of a travelling entertainment troupe with musicians and female dancers.

The dance troop consists of one or several professional female dancers, accompanied by a group of musicians playing musical instruments: rebab and gong.

The couple dances intimately and the female dancer might perform some movements that might be considered too erotic by standard of modesty in Javanese court etiquette.