THE RAMAYANA BALLET  is a dramatic performance that tells the story of Ramayana, tells about the fight between the evil symbolized by Rahwana, malicious king of Alengka and the good, represented by Sri Rama, Price of Ayodyapala. The classic Hindu tale of honour, magic and courage. Performed on various dates over a six-month period, the Ramayana Ballet involves hundreds of dancers and is performed in a wonderful outdoor setting within the country’s famous Prambanan temple complex.

 

Ramayana ballet is an art performance that is so beautiful, admiring and it is difficult to compare. This performance is able to unite various Javanese arts such as dance, drama and music on one stage and one momentum to present the Ramayana story, a legendary epos written by Walmiki in Sanskrit language.

 

Ramayana story presented in this performance is similar to that engraved on Prambanan temple. As people tell, Ramayana story that is engraved on the most beautiful Hindu temple is similar to the story in oral tradition in India.

 

The entire story is presented in a series of dance movements done by beautiful dancers accompanied by gamelan music. You are invited to really plunge into the story and observe each movement of the dancers to know the coarse of the story. There is no dialog among the dancers. The only storyteller is the sinden or the female singer who describes the coarse of the story through Javanes songs with her typical voice.

 

Prabu Janaka, the king of Mantili Kingdom has got very beautiful princess named Dewi Sinta. A competition is conducted in order to decide who will be the right person to marry Dewi Sinta. The prince of Ayodya Kingdom, Rama Wijaya at last wins the competition. Prabu Rahwana, the ruler of Alengkadiraja kingdom is eager to marry Dewi Widowati. After knowing Sinta, he assumes that Dewi Sinta is the incarnation of Dewi Widowati whom he is wanting for along time.

 

Rama Wijaya, the prince of Ayodya Kingdom along with his wife Sinta accompanied by his

younger brother Leksmana is adventuring until they arrive in Dandaka forest. Meeting Sinta in the place, Rahwana becomes eager to possess her. In order to realize this idea, Rawana orders one of his followers name Marica to change him self as a  golden deer called Kijang Kencana so as to attract Sinta. Being interested in the beauty of the deer, Sinta asks Rama to capture the deer for her. Rama leaves Sinta and start hunting the deer.

 

After waiting or along time. Sinta becomes nervous as Rama has not arrived yet. She asks Leksmana to look for Rama. Before leaving Sinta alone, leksmana draws a magic circle on the ground so as to protect her from any possible danger. As soon as Rawana notice tat Sinta has been left alone. Rawana tries to kidnap Sinta but he falls because of the magic circle. Then he changes to be an old beggar . as son as Sinta gets out from the magic circle to five alms to beggar. He takes her and fly her to Alengka Kingdom.

 

Rama shoots the deer with his magic arrow, but the deer commutes to a giant ( Marica ). A war breaks between Rama and Marica. Rama shoots Marica with his arrow. Later on Leksmana arrives and request Rama back to Sintas’s place.

 

On the way to Alengka, Rahwana meets a bird named Jatayu. After noticing that Sinta is the princess of Prabu Janaka, Jatayu attacks Rawana in order of escape Sinta but he is defeated by Rawana. After finding out that Sinta is not in her previous place, Rama and Laksmana decide to search of Sinta. Later on they meet seriously wounded Jatayu. Rama thinks it must be Jatayu who has kidnapped Sinta. Rama decided to kill him but Leksmana prevents him to do so. Jatayu explains what has happened to him and then he dies. A moment later, a while monkey named Hanuman arrives. He is delegated by his uncle, Sugriwa to look for two heroes who can call Subali. Subali is a sacred man and has taken Dewi Tara, Sugriwa’s beloved woman by force. Rama  decides to help Sugriwa.

 

When Subali, Dewi Tara and his son are chatting, Sugriwa arrives. With the help of Rama, Sugriwa attacks Subali. Subali is defeated by Sugriwa and the takes Dewi Tara with him again. Sugriwa decides to help Rama to look for Sinta. For this purpose, Hanuman is send as envoy to Alengka Kingdom.

 

Rawana’s niece, Trijata, is comforting Sinta in the garden. Rawana arrives and asks Sinta’s willingness to be his wife. Sinta refuses to do so. This make Rawana angry and want to kill her but Trijata prevents and said that he should be patient and Trijata promises to look after Sinta. It was when Sinta is very sad that suddenly se becomes started to hear a beautiful song which is sung by Hanuman. The white monkey Hanuman tells his purpose to escape her, and this duty is ordered by Rama. As soon as he explains the purpose. Hanuman starts to find out the total power of Alengka’s army. Then he destroy the garden. Indrajid, Rawana’s son capture him, Kumbakarna prevents, but he is thrown out of the kingdom. Hanuman is sentenced to be burnt alive. Hanuman with fire around his body burnt Alengka palace.

 

After delegating Hanuman, Rama and his ape troops go the sea make a bridge for running to Alengka. When the bridge is finished, Hanuman comes and report about the Alengka’s situation and its troops power. Receiving the report, Rama is very happy and commands Hanuman, Hanggada, Hanila and Jembawan to lead the troops attack Alengka.

 

When the giants troops of Alengka are on their guard at their country boundary, they are suddenly attacked by the ape troops. There fore a big war between them. In this war Indrajid is killed by Leksmana. Kumbakarna, the younger brother of Rawana died as a patriotic hero. After the death of Kumbakarna, Rawana finally become the commander of the Alengka troops to face Rama. In this war, Rawana killed by Rama’s arrow and Hanuman drips the Mount Sumawana and Rawana.

 

After the death of Rawana , Sinta accompanied by Hanuman, meets Rama. Rama refused to accept her a he considers Sinta is not pure anymore. In order to prove her purity Sinta burn herself. With the help of God of Fire, Sinta is saved from the fire. Her proof makes Rama happy and finally accepts Sinta.

 

You will not be disappointed to see this excellent performance. They do not only prepare the dance and music, but also the lighting that is set in such a way to be able to describe certain events in that story. The make up of the dancers does not only make them beautiful but it is capable of describing the characters they perform so that spectators easily know the characters even though there is no dialog.

 

You will see not only the dance but also interesting acts such as fireball game and acrobat. The fireball game is presented when Hanoman that initially would be fired alive turned to be successful in burning Alengkadiraja Kingdom owned by Rahwana. The acrobat is seen when Hanoman fights against Rahwana's followers. The fireball when Shinta would be burned is also interesting to see.

 

There are two places in Yogyakarta where Ramayana ballet is performed. First, in Purawisata Yogyakarta that is located on Jalan Brigjen Katamso, to the east of Yogyakarta Kingdom. In the place that was recorded in Indonesian Record Museum in 2002 for performing Ramayana ballet for 25 years, you will enjoy dinner while seeing the ballet. The other place to see the ballet is the Open Air Theatre-seat configuration and Tri Murti Theatre-seat configuration closed-stage in the Complex of Prambanan Temple.