Mangkunegaran Performing Arts 2011 - The Majesty of Javanese Culture

[caption id="attachment_109338" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="Mangkunegaran Performing Arts 2011 - The Majesty of Javanese Culture. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption]

Once again, Pura Mangkunegaran Surakarta successfully showed to the world the majesty of Javanese culture in the evening of May 20, 2011. The palace surrounded by four streets (Ronggowarsito, Kartini, Teuku Umar, and Siswa) conducted the third Mangkunegaran Performing Arts in its spacious hall by delivering four traditional dances born and develop by Mangkunegaran itself. This glorious night was not only attended by Indonesian viewers, but also art lovers and tourists such as from Japan, United States of America, Poland, Romania, Thailand, and Czech Republic. The evening was celebratory, impressive, and memorable. Thus, it made the audiences could enjoy from the beginning until the end of the show.

I will not be in hurry and straight to the point to tell the story of those dances. I will deliver step by step by showing you the atmosphere around Mangkunegaran before and during the performance. Okay, let's follow me to enjoy it.

[caption id="attachment_109352" align="aligncenter" width="483" caption="Being welcomed by classical gate of Pura Mangkunegaran; reminding the grandeur Javanese kingdom in the past. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_109340" align="aligncenter" width="666" caption="The hall of Mangkunegaran Palace with some of its ornaments. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption]

The performance was started at 7 pm, but I decided to come earlier to catch the view and ambiance of Mangkunegaran's classical beauty and I think it would be good to raise the mood of observing the detail of event. First of all, I was greeted by the old big gate that gives the nuance of grandeur of Javanese kingdom that was very powerful in the past. Passing the gate, I felt a little peace after seeing the reflection of torches from the small pretty pond straight in front of Mangkunegaran's hall. Many people had come before the event started and several of them chose to sit in the edge of the pond by having conversation, taking picture, or just being in silence to observe the architectures of buildings in Mangkunegaran complex that might not be watched by them before. I did not choose to stop moving on by sitting there, but I made up my mind to explore the hall in detail and anything on it. It was very easy to me and my friends to give first comment about Mangkunegaran: green and yellow. Yes, Mangkunegaran has official colours yellow and green which is commonly called as pareanom. Pareanom comes from the word pare or pari which means rice and word anom which means young. Simply, it has philosophical meaning of prosperity and glory. Other stuff that I could see in the hall is several ornaments with shining golden colour like lion statues and chandeliers. Many sets of gamelan were arranged  tidily in every sides of the wall. Gamelan would be used as live instrument during the dances performed.

[caption id="attachment_109351" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="Bloggers did registration - 50 bloggers were specially invited to write article about Mangkunegaran Performing Arts. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption]

The situation became more festive when 50 finalists of blogging competition came. They were chosen from hundred participants in the first adjudication to make article in their blog about Mangkunegaran Performing Arts.  It was conducted for enlivening the National Information Week in which Solo was the 2011 host city for that annual event.  They got special invitation from the Department of Communication and Informatics of Solo city to attend that evening occasion.

[caption id="attachment_109339" align="aligncenter" width="666" caption="Foods with Javanese taste: kroket, risoles, lemper, sosis basah, and ledre. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_109353" align="aligncenter" width="666" caption="The Royal Menus of King Mangkunegara I. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_109354" align="aligncenter" width="555" caption="The Royal Menu of King Mangkunegara IV. Photo by Sonny Hendrawan Saputra"][/caption]

Other thing that I liked while I waited the performance was enjoying traditional food of Solo. The food bazaar which was located in the western part of the hall sold Javanese taste of food including sosis basah, kroket, ledre, risoles, and lemper. Plus, there were traditional beverages like beras kencur and kunir asam. However, something that could be the most interesting for the people who come to try the foods were the royal menu of Mangkunegaran Kings. Off course, those menu would not be easily found in daily life in Solo. Those royal menu sold were ketan srikaya, pondoh, apem which were popularized during the era of King Mangkunegara I and podang tape, lodoh pindang, nasi pulen during the era of King Mangkunegara IV. Do you feel those are still not enough? If you think so, there were still many other menu sold like sate kere (satay from soybean dreags) and wedang ronde (hot beverage with balls made from the blend of glutinous rice flour, ginger, lemon grass, and sugar).

Gambyong Pareanom Dance

[caption id="attachment_109343" align="aligncenter" width="549" caption="The elegant beauty from 7 dancers of Gambyong Pareanom Dance. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption]

Soon after I got full by those foods, the event finally started. The atmosphere suddenly changed into more contemplative as the gamelan was played elegantly. There were seven beautiful dancers opened the event by performing Gambyong Pareanom dance.  As portrayed by its name "pareanom", the dancers wore the outfit with nuance of green and yellow. They looked glamour and graceful in presenting the dance which was popularized during the era of King Mangkunegara VII. Gambyong Pareanom was firstly made as the dance for welcoming the guests (that's why it is commonly performed in Javanese wedding). However, in current era, it is developed to be the regular entertainment dance. As the slow rhythm of dance movement and gamelan tone, the audiences became solemn. They enjoyed the dance that needed high level of focus and tranquillity from the dancers. Indeed, the seven young ladies from Langenpraja Pura Mangkunegaran could finish it impressively.

Srimpi Pandelori Dance

[caption id="attachment_109345" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="The combination of graceful and brave characters of ladies in Srimpi Pandelori Dance. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption]

The second dance was still the "action" of the ladies. It was entitled Srimpi Pandelori dance. That dance was firstly introduced during the era of King Mangkunegara V. There were four dancers from Langenpraja Pura Mangkunegaran who presented it. The dance itself talked about the story of Sang Dyah Sirtupelaheli, the daughter of Sri Karsinah who wanted to free his husband, Sang Ambyah who was imprisoned by Prabu Kanyun in Parangakik Kingdom. Sang Dyah Sirtupelaheli tried to achieve Parangakik Kingdom by using garuda bird. While, in Parangakik Kingdom, there was another lady named Kusuma Sudawerti who was the sister of Prabu Kanyun. She also wanted to take Sang Ambyah off from the prison since she believed toward the forecast from her dream that she would get married with Sang Ambyah. Though her brother Prabu Kanyun strongly opposed the stance of Kusuma Sudawerti, she kept moving on to help Sang Ambyah. In fact, eventually Sang Ambyah got married with Kusuma Sudawerti. The marriage off course led the anger of Sang Dyah Sirtupelaheli since she was the first wife of Sang Ambyah. At the end, the fight between those ladies were undeniable. During the performance, there were two royal maids called as abdi dalem walked on the hall and gave the dancers artificial weapons: bludgeon and arrow. The ladies started to used it and audiences became hypnotized by the fight. It was interesting because the dance could present very well the combination graceful character of the ladies with the bravery and spirit to fight. The contrast characters which were elegantly blended into one dance. After they became intense to attack each other they finally decided to take a peace and agree to be both wives of Sang Ambyah. Thus, maybe we could give synonym name of the dance which is Polygamy Dance. No, just kidding! The dance was not focus on the issue of polygamy but more on the fights of ladies.

Wireng Narayana Kalakresna Dance

[caption id="attachment_109346" align="aligncenter" width="566" caption="The battle of power in Wireng Narayana Kalakresna Danca. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption]

Now it was the time of men's show. There were two men dancers who performed Wireng Narayana Kalakresa Dance or Wireng Mondrokesowo. They were also from Langenpraja Pura Mangkunegaran. The dance was created by Gusti Pangeran Haryo Herwasto Kusumo. The background story of the dance was firstly started by the moment when Narayana tried to propose Dewi Rukmi as her wife. Without directly approving, Dewi Rukmi made one requirement for Narayana  if he wanted to take her as wife he had to be king first. He directly asked the suggestion from his honourable teacher, Begawan Patmonobo to find the way to accomplish Dewi Rukmi's request. Begawan Patmonobo gave him idea to conquer Prabu Kalakresna, the king of Dworowati Kingdom. Begawan Patmonobo also gave him weapon to succeed the mission in form of arrow named Kyai Kesowo. From the battle as shown on the dance, finally Narayana could beat Prabu Kalakresna. After gaining his victory Bethara Narada came to ask Narayana to wear to crown that was previously owned by Prabu Kalakresna. Because he had accomplished the request from Dewi Rukmi, he could become Dewi Rukmi's husband and had position as a new king in Dworowati Kingdom.

Bregodo Pareanom Dance

[caption id="attachment_109347" align="aligncenter" width="573" caption="More dynamic rhythm of gamelan and dance movement in Bregodo Pareanaom Dance. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_109349" align="aligncenter" width="310" caption="The personification of Raden Mas Said and Matah Ati. Photo by Eryne Cahyasa"][/caption]

As the night got late, the rhythm of  of gamelan and dance got faster and more dynamic as delivered by the group of dancers from Akademi Seni Mangkunegaran (ASGA). Led by director, Winarto, the dancers played Bregodo Pareanom. The dance was the symbolic story about the ladies troops with the personification of Raden Mas Said and Matah Ati. They still brought the spirit of Mangkunegaran by wearing costumes with dominant colours of green and yellow. This was the free interpretation concept about simple ideas of life: to help and to be helped, to give and to be given, and to complete each other in the unity which was delivered in the harmony of gamelan song. People became more enthusiastic with the fast beat of gamelan and agile movement of the dancers. By loud voice of applause, the first day (from two days) of Mangkunegaran Performing Arts was closed.

It is obvious to see that the people who came in Mangkunegaran at that time look satisfied when they left the venue. They were attracted by the great performers who could awesomely build the spirit of majesty of Javanese culture. May the action of Mangkunegaran and Solo Government become the inspiration for all Indonesians to gain bigger motivation to preserve traditional culture in anyway they can do and apply.