Reog Ponorogo, Indonesian Original Culture and Art

Reog ponorogo is one of the dances in East Java, which until now is still preserved. This Reog is a native Indonesian culture and art. Indeed culture and art are often associated with things that smell mystical, therefore not infrequently often associated with the world of spiritual power and even the black world.

Apart from that, this Ponorogo Reog is usually performed by the community during weddings, circumcisions, national holidays, and also the annual festival held by the local government. The festival which was held by the government consisted of the Nasinonal Mini Reog Festival, the National Reog Festival and also a full moon performance at the Ponorogo square. While the National Reog Festival is always held when entering the month of Maharam or often in Javanese tradition it is commonly called the month of Suro. The reog ponorogo performance is a series of Grebeg Suro events or also in the framework of the Ponorogo city anniversary.

In order to welcome the Islamic new year or what is often known as the first Suro date, the Ponorogo district government held the biggest cultural event in Ponorogo namely Grebeg Suro. When Grebeg Suro takes place, usually when the Ponorogo Reog art performance is always flooded with good viewers from all corners of Ponorogo, even because this art performance is of national standard, tourists from outside the Ponorogo region even from abroad are also present to view the Reog Ponorogo art performance this. This matter is also utilized by the Ponorogo regional government as one of the main weapons to increase the tourist attraction of Ponorogo itself.

In addition to the Grebeg Suro festival, the national level Reog Mini Festival can also attract tourists' enthusiasm. All of the participants who followed were young generation, on average they were still sitting in elementary school or junior high school. One of the goals of the national Reog Mini festival is to keep this art going on for generations, because it is this young generation who will continue the Rog art. All activity patterns that exist at the Reog Mini festival are almost the same as the National Reog Festival, which distinguishes them only from participants as well as the time of their execution. The time to conduct this Mini Reog Festival in August.

Reog Ponorogo, Indonesian Original Culture and Art

Another series of Reog art performances and no less exciting than the previous performance was the performance or full moon Reog performance. This performance is always routinely carried out to coincide with the full moon night. Usually participants who take part in this stage are local groups representing their respective sub-districts. In addition, this performance is also often found in some arable dance performances from art studios in Ponorogo.

Ponoro Reog History

Many different stories about the history of Reog Ponorog are present, but the most popular and growing story in the community is the story of the rebellion and resistance of a royal servant named ki Ageng Kutu Suryonggalan during the Majapahit Bhre Kerthabumi kingdom. Bhe Kertabumi itself was the king of Majapahit who ruled around the 15th century.

It was said that the king was very corrupt and acted dzhalim to his people, this made a Ki Ageng Kutu angry with the king. Moreover, the empress found the king who had Chinese influence had a strong influence on the kingdom. In addition, the empress friend who was still of Chinese descent arranged all his movements. At that time Ki Ageng Kutu was of the opinion that Majapahit's domination power would soon end if this matter continued to be left alone. Then he finally left the king and established a college which taught martial arts, self-immunity to young children. He hopes, later these young people will make the revival of the Majapahit kingdom as usual and can fight against the kingdom of Bhre Kerthabumi.

But Ki Ageng Kutu also realized that the troops he built were too small and not too strong to fight against the royal forces. Therefore, Ki Agung is only able to take advantage of Reog's popularity. This Reog art is used by Ki Agung as a means to gather the masses as a resistance to the kingdom. In addition, this was done by Ki Agung as a means of communication to satirize the authorities at that time.

In the Reog performance, a lion's head mask is commonly called "Lion Barong". Then there is also a mask in the form of a forest king which is used as a symbol for Kerthabumi. On top of the masks were also plastered peacock feathers so that they were like a giant fan which symbolized the strong influence of their kin.

Jatilan is played by a group of gemblak dancers who handle horses who are the symbol of the Majapahit royal army forces. This is an inverse comparison with the strength of warok which they wear the red clown mask which is the symbol of Ki Ageng Kutu. Jathilan itself is a dance that tells of the dexterity of horsemen who are practicing, this character is called Jathil. Whereas warok is a person who has a holy determination who provides protection and guidance without expecting anything in return.

At that time the popularity of Reog made by Ki Ageng Kutu made Bhre Kerthabumi take action that was to attack Ki Ageng Kutu college. Rebellion and resistance by warok were quickly overcome, as well as the schools were forbidden to continue their teaching about warok. However, it turned out that Ki Ageng Kutu's students still continued even though secretly. Although at that time the school was banned, Reog itself was still allowed to be held because it had become a popular event or performance in the eyes of the public. It's just that the storyline has a new plot where it was added with characters from the stories of the Ponorogo people, namely Dewi Songgolangit, Kelono Sewandono and Sri Genthayu.

If you have already talked about the most popular version of Ponorogo reog, now the official version of the Reog Ponorogo history is the story of a Ponorogo king named Raja Kelono who intends to propose the daughter of Kediri, the yellow Dewi Dewi Hanum. When he was about to apply, on the way he was blocked by King Singabarong who was from Kediri. Raja Singabarong's army consisted of lions and peacocks, while from Raja Kelono and his deputy, Bujang Anom, only escorted by warok (a man wearing black clothes) who had deadly black magic. In all the dances they performed, the two played black magic and in the war dance all dancers were possessed in performing their dances.

There are also other press regarding Reog history. this time the story was about the journey of a prabu Kelana Sewandanan who was looking for her idol girl. The King was on his way accompanied by a horse and his patience who faithfully accompanied the name Pujangganong. Finally the King found his heart's idol, and he fell in love with a Kediri princess named Dewi Saanggalangit. However, it turns out that Dewi Sanggalangit wants to accept King by submitting a condition to him. None other than that the condition is that the King must create a new art. Long story short, the art that became the requirement with the name Reog which included mystical elements and spiritual strength.

Until now the Ponorogo community continues to follow and maintain this ancestral heritage very well. In its journey, the art of Reog is a creation of human creation which is formed from the existence of hereditary beliefs and its authenticity. In its implementation, the ceremony before conducting the Reog Ponorogo uses conditions that are not easy to do for ordinary people. even those who do this must have a clear parental lineage and valid customary law.

Unfortunately the changing times and human behavior itself caused a shift in meaning in the art of Reog Ponorogo. In Ponorogo, the local community quinine only considers Reog's art as a celebration or entertainment from an event. Examples of performances and Reog shows that are contested at certain events that aim to enliven the event, for example competitions at a festival.

Ponorogo Reog Dance

The Reog Ponorogo art consists of several series of two to three opening dances. About six to nine brave men wearing black clothes and their faces polished in red brought their first dance. Described by these dancers as brave lions. then came six to nine girls riding on horses to continue the Reog dance. In traditional Reog, usually these dancers are played by male dancers who dress like women. As an opening dance, there are usually a number of small children who carry out dances with very funny scenes. Well, this dance performed by children is known as Bujang Ganong.

When the opening dance has finished, then the core scene is performed which is in accordance with the conditions in which the reog art is shown in what program. Suppose if you are married to a wedding, then usually in that intu scene they show a dance of love scenes. Or for example dealing with circumcision, then usually tell about a warrior.

The scene in this art is usually not in accordance with the scenario that has been made. To enliven the event, there is always an interaction between the puppeteer and the players, or sometimes also with the attendants present. If a player is performing exhausted, he is usually replaced by another player. But from all that, the most important thing is the satisfaction that can be felt by the audience itself. At the last scene of this art performance is Singa Barong. The players use a lion-shaped mask with a crown made of peacock feathers. As long as you know, the weight of the mask can reach 50-60 kg. They took the mask with their teeth. they are beyond reason, they can get through heavy training, in which there are spiritual practices such as fasting and tapa.

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