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 Javanese songs with her typical voice.
The plot of Ramayana Full Story
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.
