The Prambanan Ramayana enjoys a revival

The Prambanan Ramayana enjoys a revival

By Amir Sidharta

JAKARTA (JP): In 1961, the first Ramayana Ballet, organized by
the Roro Djonggrang Foundation, was performed on the open stage
in front of Candi Prambanan in Central Java.

The brainchild of G.P.H. Djatikusumo, at that time the
minister of transportation, tourism, post and telecommunications,
the dance was hoped to foster the development of performing arts
and at the same time help promote Indonesian tourism.

The ballet had a significant role in helping to preserve many
forms of classical Javanese dance such as the Bedoyo, Srimpi,
Wireng, as well as other forms of Javanese court dances. It also
continued the karawitan tradition of Javanese music through the
performance of gending gede tengahan, gending pakurmatan, gending
dolanan and so forth. In addition, the ballet provided a chance
for dance masters to foster their creativity by developing new
dances.

After 35 years, some of the first dancers of the Prambanan
Ramayana are now the most famous Indonesian dancers. Sardono W.
Kusumo, who started out dancing the role of Hanoman at Prambanan,
is now Indonesia's leading modern Indonesian dancer. Retno Maruti
and Sulistyo Tirtokusumo have been instrumental in preserving
traditional Javanese dances, while creating their own forms of
expression. Sal Murgiyanto, who appeared in the role of a member
of Hanoman's monkey army, is now Indonesia's leading scholar of
the performing arts, and got a doctoral degree from New York
University in 1990.

While many of the dancers have gained prominence, the
Prambanan Ramayana itself has not enjoyed the same kind of
development. Although currently the ballet performs on a regular
basis for tourists, it is not considered a significant
institution in the world of Indonesian dance. But these famous
dancers proudly admit that they clearly owe their position today
to the Prambanan Ramayana.

"The Ramayana Ballet was developed in 1961 by the
grandmasters of Javanese performing arts. The performance
incorporated the canons of Javanese dance and music. It provided
an excellent training ground, and the routine fostered
discipline," said Sardono.

Concerned about the decline in the ballet's image, Minister of
Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave, asked the dancers
to revive the Ramayana Ballet. After studying the current
problems of the Prambanan Ramayana, the dancers concluded that
the decline of the ballet was due to the loss of the grand
masters of Javanese performing arts and original key people in
the organization, most of whom have passed away.
Secondly, there has not been an effort to revitalize the dance
form.

Therefore, Sulistyo, Maruti and Sardono agreed to revive
their alma mater. "Like a tree, the larger the canopy grows, the
larger the roots also need to grow. That is why we have tried to
look for elements in the traditions of the Ramayana that we can
develop to make the dance more interesting."

They have discovered, for example, that Ramayana's army did
not only consist of wanara (monkeys). As portrayed in the wayang
wong/wayang orang of Yogyakarta and Tejakula and Mas of Bali, as
well as reliefs on Javanese temples, the army also included many
other creatures.

"Therefore, we have reintroduced other forms, such as the kapi
mendo (goat-headed monkey), kapi warak (rhino-headed monkey),
kapi cacing (worm-headed monkey), and so forth," Sardono
explained. "The revitalization of the Ramayana is also hoped to
contribute to increasing our awareness of the earth and the
universe," he added.

The Ramayana Ballet will be performed today until Sept. 30 on
the Prambanan Stage by a cast of 500, including Sulistyo, Maruti
and Sardono. Sardono will perform as Rahwana, Maruti as
Sayempraba, and Sulistyo as Rama.