VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews.id, Jakarta: Reog dance from Ponorogo, East Java performed as the closing at the Indonesian Cultural Night 2023 event, Sunday (17/9). This performance took place in front of around 1,200 spectators who filled the Pic-Ganesha Theater, Siam Square One, Bangkok, Thailand. With a duration of approximately 12 minutes, the Reog Dance performed by the Brawijaya University (UB) dance team tells a story entitled Hastabrata.

"Taking the theme Hastabrata, the Reog Ponorogo dance this time tells the concept of policy and leadership wisdom in Javanese culture, especially East Java," wrote a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok received by Indonesia Window here on Tuesday (19/9).

In this performance, the movements of Warok dancers who are thick with their courage are combined with the agility and cheerfulness of Jathil dancers. In addition, there is the presence of Bujang Ganong, who is accompanied by Kelana Sewandana to fight repeatedly against Dadak Merak. The fight that Bujang Ganong and Kelana Sewandana finally win brings out the moral message that good always wins against bad.

The Reog performance at the Indonesian cultural night was accompanied by musical instruments brought from Indonesia. This is supported by the lighting by the sparkling spotlights and stage lights, which support the atmosphere of each scene. Puffs of smoke were also featured in the fight scene between Bujang Ganong and Kelana Sewandana against Dadak Merak.

The Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, the organizer of this event, said the dancers performed stunningly. The audience, consisting of various groups such as the diplomatic corps and Thai students, admired the performance.

"The audience's admiration was seen from every corner of the performance theater room, and with a very lively applause at the end of the Reog Ponorogo performance," the statement continued.

UB Secretary, Dr. Tri Wahyu Nugroho, said he wanted the Thai people to get to know the culture of East Java through this performance. He said the Reog Dance will be preserved for the next generations of young people in Indonesia, especially in East Java.

Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Achmad Wicaksono, said the team had won several national competitions. This includes the last competition, which was held in July 2023. He hopes that cultural exchanges between the two countries, such as Reog Poronogo which has never been performed in Thailand, will increase.

Indonesian Cultural Night 2023 is part of the promotion of Trade, Tourism, Investment, and Cultural Forum organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. This activity, which is claimed to be organized in an integrated and sustainable manner, is an effort to strengthen cooperation in various fields with Thailand. (VOI/Rama)