RAMAYANA BALLET - A Drama in Typical Javanese Dance

This dance-drama is a marvelous visualization of legendary epos in Javanese culture, Ramayana. Performed in an open stage, Ramayana ballet invites you to enjoy the story in a set of typical Javanese dance accompanied by gamelan music.

NOTE:

CO-PAS from http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/performance/ramayana-ballet/

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 long and straining story is summarized in four scenes, namely the kidnapping of Shinta, Anoman's mission to Alengka, the death of Kumbakarna or Rahwana, and the meeting of Rama-Shinta.

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.

The story begins when Prabu Janaka held a contest to determine the would-be husband for Shinta, his daughter that finally was won by Rama Wijaya. The scene is continued with the adventure of Rama, Shinta and Rama's younger brother named Laksamana in Dandaka forest. There, they met Rawana that was eager to posses Shinta since she was considered the reincarnation of goddess Widowati, a woman that he had been seeking for long.

In order to attract Shinta's attention, Rahwana changed one of his followers named Marica into a deer. The effort was successful when Shinta was attracted and asked Rama to chase the deer. When Rama did not show up after a while, Laksmana went to find Rama and left Shinta herself by protecting her with a magic circle around her in order that nobody would be able to kidnap her, including Rahwana. The protection failed to keep Shinta in the place since Rahwana succeeded in kidnapping her by changing himself into Durna character.

At the end of the story, Hanoman, the white, powerful monkey succeeded in taking Shinta from Rahwana. When she returned, however, Rama did not trust her anymore. He considered Shinta disgraced. In order to prove her virginity and holiness, Shinta was asked to burn herself. Shinta proved her holiness when she was not burned at all even she became more beautiful. Finally, Rama accepted her as his wife.

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 Yogyarta where Ramayana ballet is performed. First, in Purawisata Yogyarta 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 stage and Trimurti closed-stage in the complex of Prambanan temple.

Ticket Fare for Ramayana Ballet in Purawisata Yogyakarta: IDR 175,000

Facilities include:

• Dinner at Jimbaran Resto
• Enjoy gamelan performance while having dinner
• Visit to the backstage to see the preparation of the dancers if you come early
• Taking photograph is allowed during the performance
• Taking photograph with the dancers after the performance

Text: Yunanto Wiji Utomo
Photo & Artistic: Singgih Dwi Cahyanto
Copyright © 2006 YogYES.COM

NOTE: CO-PAS from http://www.yogyes.com/en/yogyakarta-tourism-object/performance/ramayana-ballet/

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TIPS_How to taking care kebaya [merawat kebaya]

• Laundry (wash) in warm water that was mixed with 1 tablespoon powdered detergent containing softener maximum of 10 minutes. Then Rinse to clean. Dried in the wind-way.
• If the good is exposed to stains, use lime (jeruk nipis) over the stain right, keep it for a while, then wash.
• Kebaya of lace / silk better stored folded in a way, and use carton in folded, for maintain it shape. If your kebaya have a good many beads (payet), entry into a special box. For kebaya organdi should stored with the foam hook.

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Differences of Batik Tulis & Batik Cap

The development of batik in the brisk enough now, this had a positive impact for batiks producers in various regions. Request batik and batik cap (print batik) is very high, even if the market needs some batik has been filled with the pattern batik textiles produced by companies that have capital of textiles. Some of batik require payment in advance for that production can be smoothly and the buyer will receive the requested order, this is on the 70-year period in which an at that time batik also request that a sizable enough amount.

Differences batik and batik cap can be seen from some of the following:

Batik Tulis

1. Done with the “canting” (canting like pen to write/drawing batik) tool that is made of copper that can be formed to accommodate the night (wax batik) with the tip has a channel / pipe to a small discharge night in shaping the image on the surface of the early fabric.

2. The form of images / designs on batik does not have a clear repetition, so the image appears to be more flexible with the size of the motif that can be relatively small compared with the batik cap.

3. Batik pictures can be seen on both sides of the fabric appear more flat (see-through back and forth) for a special batik fine.

4. Basic color fabric usually younger than the scratches on the color motif (putihan batik / tembokan).

5. Each snippet of the picture (multiformity tub), which repeated the pieces of cloth usually never the same shape and size. Unlike the batik stamp is likely to be exactly the same image with the image of one another.

6. The time needed for the making of batik relatively long (2 or 3 times longer) compared with the making of batik cap. Manufacture of fine batik can take 3 to 6 months.

7. Tools of the form of canting relatively cheaper price ranges from Rp. 10.000, - to Rp. 20000, -/pcs.

8. Batik selling price is relatively more expensive, because of the generally better quality, luxurious and unique.

Batik Cap

1. Done with the cap (a tool made of copper formed in accordance with the image or motif that you want). For making a batik cap stock with dimensions length and width: 20 cm X 20 cm required average time 2 hours.

2. The form of images / designs on batik cap always have a clear repetition, so images appear over and over, with the same form, with the size of the patterns are relatively large compared with batik.

3. Figure batik cap usually does not emerge on both sides of the cloth.

4. Color base cloth (the motifs) is usually older than the color of the scratches. This is not to make a batik cap closure on the basis of more complex patterns such as that done in the usual process of batik. It make sense is to pursue the selling price that is cheaper and the time of production more quickly. The time needed for a batik cap (batik stamp / print) cloth ranges 1 to 3 weeks.

5. To make a batik cap the various motifs, the much needed motifs cap. While the price batik cap relatively more expensive from canting. For the price batik cap on the current conditions with the size 20 cm X 20 cm at around Rp. 350.000, - to Rp. 700000, -/motif. So that the initial capital of batik cap relatively more expensive.

6. Period of time the batik cap in good condition that can reach 5 years to 10 years, with a note not damaged. Repetition for copper batik stamp / print (batik cap) almost unlimited user.

7. Selling price of batik cap relatively cheaper compared to batik tulis, usually due to the amount and have many similarities and the other one is not unique, not special and less exclusive.

Besides differences between the visual side of batik tulis and batik cap, but from the production side there are some similarities that should be in manufacture of both. Among them are the following:

* Both can be equally said batik cloth, as is done with the use of candles (wax) as a media stranglehold color.
* Done by the hand of man almost to create the image and color processing open close.
* Materials that also uses the same basic form of a white cloth, and should not be the type of material basic thread (cotton or silk) or “tenun” form.
* The use of coloring materials, and process the same color, there is no difference between batik tulis and batik cap.
How to determine the lay-out or the patron, and also the forms of the same motif can be both. So when both of them to be sewn clothing made no difference for the designer clothes or the taylor. Only distinguish the quality of the picture only.
How to treat batik cloth (save, and use wash) there is no difference.
* To make the required image or pattern initial basis to make it easier to learn and form patterns that will occur.

Hopefully for consumers batik lovers will not feel deceived, and can know more about the differences between the batik and batik cap. Happy shopping and bravo batik Indonesia.

(source: http://netsains.com/2008/07/perbedaan-batik-tulis-dan-batik-cap/)

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