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