Traditional artists fight for survival

Traditional artists fight for survival

The popularity of western and modern entertainment has
affected the traditional performing arts. Urban people,
especially the young, prefer to forsake most local art forms for
more contemporary and appealing entertainment. A gloomy
atmosphere appears to have enveloped the country's traditional
arts. Is there any way to preserve what some people believe to be
a key part of our national heritage? The Jakarta Post's
reporters, Rachmat Effendi, Teguh Karyanto, Ida Indayani Khouw,
Dwi Atmanta, I. Christianto, Prapti Widinugraheni, Rita A.
Widiadana, Wirasti Wiryono and photographer Mulkan Salmona
examine the issue. More stories are on Page 3 and Page 8.

JAKARTA (JP): Ndeh cavorts suggestively, gyrating her lithe
body in time to the strains of the jaipong (Sundanese folk dance)
music.

The 17-year-old girl is the prima donna of the Sinar Budaya
dance and music group which performs jaipong dance and dangdut
music at a small, low-key stage-restaurant in Marga Jaya
subdistrict in Bekasi, 40 km east of the capital.

Her youthful face and seductive body have mesmerized many
visitors. Every night, except Thursday, Ndeh and other dancers
entertain their fans from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. She earns between Rp
10,000 (US$4.10) and Rp 20,000 a night.

In the middle of the show, some male guests may choose one of
their favorite girls to become their night-long companion, of
course in return for money.

"I like jaipong and I enjoy working here," admits Ndeh, an
elementary school drop-out who has no skills but dancing.

In downtown Jakarta, Bharata, a group of Javanese wayang orang
performers, is desperately trying to lure an urban audience.

"We earn a considerable income on Saturday nights and
holidays, but sold-out shows are rare," said Kastono, the group's
director.

On average only 50 of the theater's 300 seats are filled at
each of the daily performances, he complained.

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

This is the gloomy reality of life for traditional arts
performers in Jakarta, where their talents struggle to find an
audience in the melting pot of modern society.

Scholar HB Soetopo said in a recent seminar that
in this modern era, traditional arts are no longer seen as
society's main entertainment. They are just one alternative in
the vast range of cultural activities available.

"Don't ever think that traditional art can compete with modern
entertainment like cinema or television. Times have changed," he
said.

In order to survive, Soetopo said, any cultural endeavor, and
the performing arts in particular, must be supported by society.

He called on people to appreciate the arts, be it in a
traditional or modern form, because the arts enrich people's
lives, and also balance their physical and spiritual lives.

In reality, however, urban people, especially the young, have
started to desert most forms of native arts for more contemporary
and appealing western-style entertainment, which is still
welcomed as a sensational novelty.

There is no denying that traditional performing arts have
suffered from the triumph of cinema, which in some cases, has
completely replaced them. Many people believe that the growth of
cinema, television and other media has had a crucial effect on
the existence of many local art groups, as the chairman of the
Jakarta Arts Foundation, Wiyogo Atmodarminto, explained.

"We are now facing complicated problems in preserving,
promoting and improving indigenous arts," the former Jakarta
governor said.

He said local performing arts in Indonesia had their roots
firmly embedded in history. The movements and gestures of the
dancers, the stories and musical form are based on patterns that
are often hundreds, or even thousands, of years old.

Besides, traditional art is, of course, not only of historical
interest; any performance is part of the present and the actors
are our contemporaries, he said.

All parties -- the government, the private sector, the media,
and artists -- should work side by side if they want to create an
atmosphere conducive to the proliferation of traditional cultural
activities.

The government has paid attention to the development of
traditional arts, but their efforts have not been sufficient,
Wiyogo said.

Soetopo shared Wiyogo's view about the need for government
assistance in promoting the arts, but he underlined that the
government should not interfere with individuals' creativity.
Otherwise, the assistance could well prove counterproductive.

Haj Bokir, a leading Betawi (indigenous Jakarta) artist, said
the government should understand the need of traditional arts
groups.

"They often provide us with things that we don't really need.
For example, they once gave us hi-tech sound equipment which we
did not know how to operate. We just sold this equipment on,"
Bokir said.

Television

Although the ever-increasing influence of cinema and
television has always been blamed for the decreasing popularity
of traditional performing arts, they can play a crucial role in
supporting the local arts scene, Wiyogo said.

Some local private televisions have started to realize the
need to promote local arts, something which has long been done by
the state television company TVRI.

Several private television stations, such as Indosiar and
Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI), regularly air traditional
arts even though most of these shows do not generate much
advertising revenue .

Aside from television stations and radio, many private
institutions are very active in promoting local arts,
although many traditional performances are being adapted into
short variety shows to suit the needs of the tourist industry,
bureaucrats and tour organizers.

Taman Mini

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, 15 kilometers east of downtown
Jakarta, has been working consistently for the past two decades
to preserve and promote local cultures.

Taman Mini official Mas'ud Thoyib said many traditional
artists lack the creativity and innovative spirit required to
keep the culture alive.

"They are still trapped in their past glory. If they want to
improve the current situation, they must be active and responsive
to the market's needs," Mas'ud, an expert on Betawi culture,
said.

However, he is optimistic that indigenous art, or at least its
spirit, will never die "because people are always in need of
rites and other traditions."

While many people are turning to modern entertainment,
traditional arts always attract international tourists. Some
tourist establishments, including hotels and restaurants, present
local art performances as one of their attractions.

Dancer-choreographer Sampan Hismanto, who organizes
traditional shows at his own restaurant, admits that traditional
art performances in such places have been adjusted to tourists'
demands. "I feel very sad that I have to sacrifice my idealism
but at least we are doing our best to keep the traditions alive,"
he said.

It is very difficult to predict the future of traditional art
in Indonesia and in Jakarta in particular. But one thing is sure.
Much serious work must be done to develop traditional art forms
to ensure they appeal to the MTV generation.