Traditional artists fight for survival<\/p>\n
The popularity of western and modern entertainment has
\naffected the traditional performing arts. Urban people,
\nespecially the young, prefer to forsake most local art forms for
\nmore contemporary and appealing entertainment. A gloomy
\natmosphere appears to have enveloped the country's traditional
\narts. Is there any way to preserve what some people believe to be
\na key part of our national heritage? The Jakarta Post's
\nreporters, Rachmat Effendi, Teguh Karyanto, Ida Indayani Khouw,
\nDwi Atmanta, I. Christianto, Prapti Widinugraheni, Rita A.
\nWidiadana, Wirasti Wiryono and photographer Mulkan Salmona
\nexamine the issue. More stories are on Page 3 and Page 8.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Ndeh cavorts suggestively, gyrating her lithe
\nbody in time to the strains of the jaipong (Sundanese folk dance)
\nmusic.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old girl is the prima donna of the Sinar Budaya
\ndance and music group which performs jaipong dance and dangdut
\nmusic at a small, low-key stage-restaurant in Marga Jaya
\nsubdistrict in Bekasi, 40 km east of the capital.<\/p>\n
Her youthful face and seductive body have mesmerized many
\nvisitors. Every night, except Thursday, Ndeh and other dancers
\nentertain their fans from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. She earns between Rp
\n10,000 (US$4.10) and Rp 20,000 a night.<\/p>\n
In the middle of the show, some male guests may choose one of
\ntheir favorite girls to become their night-long companion, of
\ncourse in return for money.<\/p>\n
\"I like jaipong and I enjoy working here,\" admits Ndeh, an
\nelementary school drop-out who has no skills but dancing.<\/p>\n
In downtown Jakarta, Bharata, a group of Javanese wayang orang
\nperformers, is desperately trying to lure an urban audience.<\/p>\n
\"We earn a considerable income on Saturday nights and
\nholidays, but sold-out shows are rare,\" said Kastono, the group's
\ndirector.<\/p>\n
On average only 50 of the theater's 300 seats are filled at
\neach of the daily performances, he complained.<\/p>\n
\"Audience numbers will drop to only 10 in the last week of the
\nmonth or if it rains,\" said Kastono.<\/p>\n
This is the gloomy reality of life for traditional arts
\nperformers in Jakarta, where their talents struggle to find an
\naudience in the melting pot of modern society.<\/p>\n
Scholar HB Soetopo said in a recent seminar that
\nin this modern era, traditional arts are no longer seen as
\nsociety's main entertainment. They are just one alternative in
\nthe vast range of cultural activities available.<\/p>\n
\"Don't ever think that traditional art can compete with modern
\nentertainment like cinema or television. Times have changed,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In order to survive, Soetopo said, any cultural endeavor, and
\nthe performing arts in particular, must be supported by society.<\/p>\n
He called on people to appreciate the arts, be it in a
\ntraditional or modern form, because the arts enrich people's
\nlives, and also balance their physical and spiritual lives.<\/p>\n
In reality, however, urban people, especially the young, have
\nstarted to desert most forms of native arts for more contemporary
\nand appealing western-style entertainment, which is still
\nwelcomed as a sensational novelty.<\/p>\n
There is no denying that traditional performing arts have
\nsuffered from the triumph of cinema, which in some cases, has
\ncompletely replaced them. Many people believe that the growth of
\ncinema, television and other media has had a crucial effect on
\nthe existence of many local art groups, as the chairman of the
\nJakarta Arts Foundation, Wiyogo Atmodarminto, explained.<\/p>\n
\"We are now facing complicated problems in preserving,
\npromoting and improving indigenous arts,\" the former Jakarta
\ngovernor said.<\/p>\n
He said local performing arts in Indonesia had their roots
\nfirmly embedded in history. The movements and gestures of the
\ndancers, the stories and musical form are based on patterns that
\nare often hundreds, or even thousands, of years old.<\/p>\n
Besides, traditional art is, of course, not only of historical
\ninterest; any performance is part of the present and the actors
\nare our contemporaries, he said.<\/p>\n
All parties -- the government, the private sector, the media,
\nand artists -- should work side by side if they want to create an
\natmosphere conducive to the proliferation of traditional cultural
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The government has paid attention to the development of
\ntraditional arts, but their efforts have not been sufficient,
\nWiyogo said.<\/p>\n
Soetopo shared Wiyogo's view about the need for government
\nassistance in promoting the arts, but he underlined that the
\ngovernment should not interfere with individuals' creativity.
\nOtherwise, the assistance could well prove counterproductive.<\/p>\n
Haj Bokir, a leading Betawi (indigenous Jakarta) artist, said
\nthe government should understand the need of traditional arts
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
\"They often provide us with things that we don't really need.
\nFor example, they once gave us hi-tech sound equipment which we
\ndid not know how to operate. We just sold this equipment on,\"
\nBokir said.<\/p>\n
Television<\/p>\n
Although the ever-increasing influence of cinema and
\ntelevision has always been blamed for the decreasing popularity
\nof traditional performing arts, they can play a crucial role in
\nsupporting the local arts scene, Wiyogo said.<\/p>\n
Some local private televisions have started to realize the
\nneed to promote local arts, something which has long been done by
\nthe state television company TVRI.<\/p>\n
Several private television stations, such as Indosiar and
\nTelevisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI), regularly air traditional
\narts even though most of these shows do not generate much
\nadvertising revenue .<\/p>\n
Aside from television stations and radio, many private
\ninstitutions are very active in promoting local arts,
\nalthough many traditional performances are being adapted into
\nshort variety shows to suit the needs of the tourist industry,
\nbureaucrats and tour organizers.<\/p>\n
Taman Mini<\/p>\n
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, 15 kilometers east of downtown
\nJakarta, has been working consistently for the past two decades
\nto preserve and promote local cultures.<\/p>\n
Taman Mini official Mas'ud Thoyib said many traditional
\nartists lack the creativity and innovative spirit required to
\nkeep the culture alive.<\/p>\n
\"They are still trapped in their past glory. If they want to
\nimprove the current situation, they must be active and responsive
\nto the market's needs,\" Mas'ud, an expert on Betawi culture,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, he is optimistic that indigenous art, or at least its
\nspirit, will never die \"because people are always in need of
\nrites and other traditions.\"<\/p>\n
While many people are turning to modern entertainment,
\ntraditional arts always attract international tourists. Some
\ntourist establishments, including hotels and restaurants, present
\nlocal art performances as one of their attractions.<\/p>\n
Dancer-choreographer Sampan Hismanto, who organizes
\ntraditional shows at his own restaurant, admits that traditional
\nart performances in such places have been adjusted to tourists'
\ndemands. \"I feel very sad that I have to sacrifice my idealism
\nbut at least we are doing our best to keep the traditions alive,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
It is very difficult to predict the future of traditional art
\nin Indonesia and in Jakarta in particular. But one thing is sure.
\nMuch serious work must be done to develop traditional art forms
\nto ensure they appeal to the MTV generation.<\/p>",
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