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Ramayana dance theater performs with gamelan orchestra
An annual performance involving hundreds of performance artists livened up the Idul Fitri holiday in Surakarta.
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"Goa Kiskenda", a dance theater piece, was performed at Vastenburg fort, Surakarta, Central Java (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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rtists from the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) Surakarta, Central Java, joined forces with a number of professional Javanese dancers to perform a dance theater depicting the Ramayana epic. The performance was staged on the yard of Vastenburg fort in Surakarta, from Monday to Wednesday.
Directed by Agung Kusumo Widagdo, the dance theater piece was given a breath of fresh air by being staged to the accompaniment of a gamelan orchestra. A slightly modern feel, therefore, surrounded the folkloric performance, without completely separating from its traditional characteristics.
Presenting the story of Goa Kiskenda (Kiskenda Cave), the performance was carried out in conjunction with Bakdan Neng Solo (Idul Fitri in Surakarta) featuring 150 professional dancers who are alumni and students of ISI Surakarta, members of Moncar Iswara group and many elementary school students.
Goa Kiskenda, a part of Ramayana, tells the story of a battle between Subali, Mahesa Sura and Lembu Sura that takes a place in a cave, for the love of Dewi Tara. The story begins with a contest to kill Mahesa Sura, where brothers Subali and Sugriwo come to join. Subali fights inside the cave, while Sugriwo stays on guard outside. But when blood of the two fighters seems to flow from inside the cave, Sugriwo thinks his brother has died with the enemy and makes the cave collapse.
Read also: Surakarta offers culinary, traditional attractions during Idul Fitri holiday
The performance was held on a 20-meter stage, with the walls of Vastenburg fort as the background. It became more lively with child dancers impersonating deer and monkeys, accompanied by music that transformed from Javanese tunes into hip hop beats. Well-composed lighting and lasers made the performance even more entertaining, keeping around 2000 viewers glued to their seats.
Surakarta tourism agency head Hasta Gunawan said the Ramayana dance theater has been entertaining homecoming travelers during Idul Fitri season for three consecutive years. He expects that the event will draw more visitors to Surakarta. (mut)
