TMII keeps up the preservation of national arts<\/p>\n
By Dwi Atmanta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Traditional performances are an unlikely
\ncultural survivor in the melting pot society of metropolitan
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
While downtown throbs with jazz, rock and pop, hundreds of
\nunknown artists wander the city's outskirts to obtain modest
\nearnings which keep both themselves and their art going.<\/p>\n
When it comes to nightlife, urbanites pack pubs or
\ndiscotheques to unwind from stress. They appear in step with the
\nworld's modern society whose lifestyle relies much on trends.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, against a backdrop of sparkling street lamps
\noutside town, men of all ages sit around a stage on which women
\ndance seductively and entice them to join in. Sundanese music
\ninstruments plays so loudly that the singer is all but drowned
\nout in the din.<\/p>\n
Home to some nine million people, Jakarta offers a vast range
\nof entertainment, but many wonder how long the seemingly outdated
\nperformances can endure amid the unstoppable invasion of foreign
\narts.<\/p>\n
Mas'ud Thoyib of the Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII)
\nexpressed guarded optimism that there will always be room for
\ntraditional arts.<\/p>\n
\"Indigenous arts, at least their spirit, will never die
\nbecause people are always in need of rites and other forms of
\ntraditions,\" said Mas'ud, an expert on the indigenous Jakarta, or
\nBetawi, culture.<\/p>\n
His are not just empty words.<\/p>\n
TMII, situated some 15 kilometers east of the capital city, is
\nwhere Mas'ud and his colleagues have been working for the past
\ntwo decades to promote and preserve local cultures.<\/p>\n
Inaugurated in 1975 by the late Mrs. Tien Soeharto, TMII is a
\nshowcase for the cultural wonders of the archipelago's 27
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Traditional performances are arranged regularly, regardless of
\nturnout, since the establishment of TMII as one of the country's
\ncultural sanctuaries.<\/p>\n
Buoyant Mas'ud said Betawi traditional performance was a good
\nexample of a surviving indigenous art.<\/p>\n
Most Betawi traditional performances are staged at the TMII,
\nbut Mas'ud said this was not enough to ensure survival of the
\ntradition.<\/p>\n
\"To keep a culture alive needs creativity of its artists, not
\njust asking TMII management for job opportunities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He hailed lenong Betawi comedy stalwart Bokir and his prodigy
\nMandra for introducing innovative ideas to keep audiences in
\ntheir grip. Both comedians, whose popularity received a boost
\nfrom TMII, now occasionally appear in TMII as guest stars.<\/p>\n
Mas'ud said the hit TV series Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel,
\nthe Graduate), now in its third season on RCTI, was a spectacular
\neffort to preserve lenong. Mandra plays his namesake in the
\nserial.<\/p>\n
\"The serial is a new look of lenong. Despite its modern
\nidioms, it represents characteristics of Betawi people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said TMII played a major role in promoting other Betawi
\ntraditional performances such as the ondel-ondel giant effigies
\nprocession, blantek drama and mask dances.<\/p>\n
Misery<\/p>\n
Mas'ud optimism may serve as consolation to other traditional
\ntheaters living outside TMII's protective auspices.<\/p>\n
Bharata, a group of Javanese wayang orang performers, has long
\ncomplained about poor turnout whenever it stages a show at its
\nregular venue in Senen, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We earn considerable income every Saturday night and
\nholidays, but a sold-out show is unlikely,\" said Kastono, the
\ngroup director.<\/p>\n
An average of 50 seats of the theater's capacity of 300 are
\nfilled at daily performances, according to Kastono.<\/p>\n
\"Audience numbers will drop to only 10 in the last week of the
\nmonth or if it rains,\" said Kastono.<\/p>\n
With tickets sold at between Rp 2,000 and Rp 5,000 (between
\n$83 US cents and $2), it is difficult for the group to pay
\nmonthly electricity and telephone bills. The Jakarta Cultural
\nOffice has taken over the responsibility of the bill payments.<\/p>\n
Once a major playhouse in Jakarta in the 1930s, Miss Tjitjih
\nplayhouse stands in ruins after a fire in April.<\/p>\n
The fire ended years of misery which saw the theater, located
\nnear a slum area in Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta, host a tiny
\ncrowd in its six appearances a week.<\/p>\n
Yet paltry audiences for wayang orang change when it is
\nbrought to the air-conditioned Gedung Kesenian Jakarta in Pasar
\nBaru, also in Central Jakarta, or the TMII's Sasono Langen
\nBudoyo.<\/p>\n
Mas'ud said TMII had never suffered losses when the wayang
\nperformance was played at the 1,000-seat Sasono Langen Budoyo
\nonce every two months. He added TMII enjoyed more profits from
\nother traditional performances, tickets of which sell for up to
\nRp 15,000.<\/p>\n
\"Traditional shows here survive through a wealthy city,\" said
\nMas'ud.<\/p>\n
TMII had also embarked on a long-term program to promote
\ntraditional performances by opening dancing courses, he added.<\/p>\n
\"We start from children who are in their early school years.\"<\/p>\n
Since its establishment in 1982, the class has admitted some
\n5,000 participants. They are pitted in the tough competition for
\nplaces on TMII's special cultural mission called Pelangi
\nNusantara (Rainbow of the Archipelago), which regularly makes
\noverseas trips to promote Indonesian culture.<\/p>\n
\"Children are now proud of their dancing skills, as are their
\nparents and hopefully their neighbors,\" Mas'ud said of the effect
\nof TMII's strategy.<\/p>\n
To qualify for the special mission, the maximum 30 dancers
\nmust master at least 15 dances and be able to make-up and dress
\nthemselves in the elaborate costumes.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tmii-keeps-up-the-preservation-of-national-arts-1447893297",
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