TMII keeps up the preservation of national arts

TMII keeps up the preservation of national arts

By Dwi Atmanta

JAKARTA (JP): Traditional performances are an unlikely
cultural survivor in the melting pot society of metropolitan
Jakarta.

While downtown throbs with jazz, rock and pop, hundreds of
unknown artists wander the city's outskirts to obtain modest
earnings which keep both themselves and their art going.

When it comes to nightlife, urbanites pack pubs or
discotheques to unwind from stress. They appear in step with the
world's modern society whose lifestyle relies much on trends.

Elsewhere, against a backdrop of sparkling street lamps
outside town, men of all ages sit around a stage on which women
dance seductively and entice them to join in. Sundanese music
instruments plays so loudly that the singer is all but drowned
out in the din.

Home to some nine million people, Jakarta offers a vast range
of entertainment, but many wonder how long the seemingly outdated
performances can endure amid the unstoppable invasion of foreign
arts.

Mas'ud Thoyib of the Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII)
expressed guarded optimism that there will always be room for
traditional arts.

"Indigenous arts, at least their spirit, will never die
because people are always in need of rites and other forms of
traditions," said Mas'ud, an expert on the indigenous Jakarta, or
Betawi, culture.

His are not just empty words.

TMII, situated some 15 kilometers east of the capital city, is
where Mas'ud and his colleagues have been working for the past
two decades to promote and preserve local cultures.

Inaugurated in 1975 by the late Mrs. Tien Soeharto, TMII is a
showcase for the cultural wonders of the archipelago's 27
provinces.

Traditional performances are arranged regularly, regardless of
turnout, since the establishment of TMII as one of the country's
cultural sanctuaries.

Buoyant Mas'ud said Betawi traditional performance was a good
example of a surviving indigenous art.

Most Betawi traditional performances are staged at the TMII,
but Mas'ud said this was not enough to ensure survival of the
tradition.

"To keep a culture alive needs creativity of its artists, not
just asking TMII management for job opportunities," he said.

He hailed lenong Betawi comedy stalwart Bokir and his prodigy
Mandra for introducing innovative ideas to keep audiences in
their grip. Both comedians, whose popularity received a boost
from TMII, now occasionally appear in TMII as guest stars.

Mas'ud said the hit TV series Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel,
the Graduate), now in its third season on RCTI, was a spectacular
effort to preserve lenong. Mandra plays his namesake in the
serial.

"The serial is a new look of lenong. Despite its modern
idioms, it represents characteristics of Betawi people," he said.

He said TMII played a major role in promoting other Betawi
traditional performances such as the ondel-ondel giant effigies
procession, blantek drama and mask dances.

Misery

Mas'ud optimism may serve as consolation to other traditional
theaters living outside TMII's protective auspices.

Bharata, a group of Javanese wayang orang performers, has long
complained about poor turnout whenever it stages a show at its
regular venue in Senen, Central Jakarta.

"We earn considerable income every Saturday night and
holidays, but a sold-out show is unlikely," said Kastono, the
group director.

An average of 50 seats of the theater's capacity of 300 are
filled at daily performances, according to Kastono.

"Audience numbers will drop to only 10 in the last week of the
month or if it rains," said Kastono.

With tickets sold at between Rp 2,000 and Rp 5,000 (between
$83 US cents and $2), it is difficult for the group to pay
monthly electricity and telephone bills. The Jakarta Cultural
Office has taken over the responsibility of the bill payments.

Once a major playhouse in Jakarta in the 1930s, Miss Tjitjih
playhouse stands in ruins after a fire in April.

The fire ended years of misery which saw the theater, located
near a slum area in Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta, host a tiny
crowd in its six appearances a week.

Yet paltry audiences for wayang orang change when it is
brought to the air-conditioned Gedung Kesenian Jakarta in Pasar
Baru, also in Central Jakarta, or the TMII's Sasono Langen
Budoyo.

Mas'ud said TMII had never suffered losses when the wayang
performance was played at the 1,000-seat Sasono Langen Budoyo
once every two months. He added TMII enjoyed more profits from
other traditional performances, tickets of which sell for up to
Rp 15,000.

"Traditional shows here survive through a wealthy city," said
Mas'ud.

TMII had also embarked on a long-term program to promote
traditional performances by opening dancing courses, he added.

"We start from children who are in their early school years."

Since its establishment in 1982, the class has admitted some
5,000 participants. They are pitted in the tough competition for
places on TMII's special cultural mission called Pelangi
Nusantara (Rainbow of the Archipelago), which regularly makes
overseas trips to promote Indonesian culture.

"Children are now proud of their dancing skills, as are their
parents and hopefully their neighbors," Mas'ud said of the effect
of TMII's strategy.

To qualify for the special mission, the maximum 30 dancers
must master at least 15 dances and be able to make-up and dress
themselves in the elaborate costumes.