Retno gets Akademi Jakarta award

Retno gets Akademi Jakarta award

JAKARTA: Classical Javanese dancer-cum-choreographer Retno
Maruti, 54, received on Friday night a lifetime achievement award
from city artists' institution Akademi Jakarta for her dedication
to preserving the tradition while making fresh innovation.

Head of the selection committee Prof. Dr. Edi Sedyawati said
that Retno was selected from 17 nominees submitted by provincial
arts councils.

The committee, comprising Sedyawati, historian Taufik
Abdullah, composer Suka Hardjana, author Budi Darma and sculptor
Sidharta Soegijo, awarded points to each of the nominees. The
nominee with the greatest points total won.

Sedyawati said that Retno outshone the other nominees in three
areas: high innovation, expressing traditional arts with deep
emotion and mastery of the classical artform.

Retno, who married Javanese dancer Sentot Sudiharto in 1976
founded the dance group, Sanggar Tari Padnecwara, which has
performed at many cities in Indonesia.

Retno's daughter from Sentot, Rully Nostalgia, is also a
classical Javanese choreographer. Retno expressed the hope that
her daughter would follow in her footsteps, preserving the
tradition while continuously incorporating innovations to make it
relevant. -JP