Dances show palaces' glorious past

Dances show palaces' glorious past

By K. Basrie

CIREBON, West Java (JP): Dance troupes from four royal courts
gave a taste yesterday of the glory days when tiny kingdoms ruled
what is now Indonesia.

Although royal courts no longer retain any significant
political power, the dancers' elegance and their colorful outfits
impressed the thousands who came to watch.

The royal courts of Mangkunegaran (Central Java), Sumenep
(East Java), Alwatzkubillah (West Kalimantan) and Walio
(Southeast Sulawesi) all put on performances.

The week-long Second Festival Kraton Nusantara, opened Tuesday
by Vice President Try Sutrisno, brings together 23 royal courts
from across the archipelago.

Yesterday's shows were performed at the Kasepuhan and
Kacirebonan palaces. Thousands of Cirebonians, joined by local
and overseas visitors, came to watch.

"I could feel the heartbeat of the kratons and their
triumphant past," said a European tourist with a handicam.

At Kasepuhan palace, the 131-year-old Mangkunegaran palace
presented Beksan Wirun, which depicts the life of two knights.

At the Kacirebonan palace, the troupe from Sumenep Palace
were loudly applauded for their two dances.

The Codik Summekar dance is an epic in which Sumenep women
used konde (chignon) on their heads to defend themselves.
Chignons were also used to commit suicide, a last resort to
defend their honor.

The Gambu dance demonstrates the rituals of royal guards in
defending their palace.

The Alwatzkubillah palace brought a touch of old Kalimantan to
the festival, while the Walio court treated the audience with
three numbers, including the Penare, a ritual to bid farewell to
palace soldiers heading off to battle.

Some of the dances were followed by the palaces' royal wedding
rituals.

Of the few dozen royal courts still in Indonesia, only the
Yogyakarta sultanate retains any political power. The Yogyakarta
Sultan is the legitimate ruler of the tiny territory.

Festival organizers said the event aimed to preserve the
cultures and traditional values of the royal courts and to boost
tourism.

Cirebon has not had enough accommodation to cope with the
influx of tourists and some visitors have had to stay at mosques.

Visitors also complained that there was a lack of any
information about schedules and events.

Today's events (venue; time; location):

Pakualaman; 02.00 pm - 05:00 pm; Kasepuhan Palace (Yogyakarta)

Saoraja; 07:30 pm - 10:30 pm; Kasepuhan Palace (South Sulawesi)

Istana Balla Lompo; 02.00 pm - 05:00 pm; Kacirebonan Palace
(South Sulawesi)

Yogyakarta Sultanate; 07:30 pm - 10:30 pm; Kacirebonan Palace
(Central Java)

Daily events (venue; time; location):

Heirloom display; 08:00 am - 07:00 pm; Kanoman Palace

West Java art show; 08:00 pm - finish; Kejaksaan Square,
Kebumen Square

Family tree expo, 08:00 am - 08:00 pm; Kasepuhan Palace

FKN II Fair, 09:00 am - 10:00 pm; Kejaksaan Square

Source: FKN II organizing committee