Reog Ponorogo, Jawa Timur, Indonesia

One of the many dance art in East Java, Indonesia, which still continue to be preserved is Reog. This art is one of the original buadaya Indonesia originating from the northwestern part. Ponorogo hometown Reog regarded as fact, so-called the Reog Ponorogo. One of the Indonesian culture is steeped in mystical things, so often identified with the black world, the world of supernatural powers. Game art reog always accompanied by traditional music or also called gamelan. Music equipment that is usually used as an accompaniment reog ie gongs, trumpets, drums, ketipung and shakers.

People usually performed during the event reog circumcisions, weddings, big days nationwide, and an annual festival organized by the Local Government Roxburgh. The festival consists of the National Reog Festival, and Festival Reog National Mini Performances are held at the Full Moon on the square Roxburgh. National Reog Festival is always held every year before the month of Muharram or the Java traidisi called the month of Suro. This show is a series of events and Birthday Grebeg Suro Ponorogo City.

Grebeg Suro is spread cultural event held in Ponorogo district in order to meet the Islamic New Year or Saka New Year that often known as the first of Suro. This grand show Reog national level so that the participants had come from various regions in Indonesia that never even came from overseas. This pertujukan become one of the Roxburgh local government in improving attraction for local and foreign travelers. Similarly, the national Mini Reog Festival. All participants are young teens or class. Their average is still sitting in elementary school or junior high school level. They are the next generation that seems Reog growing. The pattern of activity similar to the National Reog Festival, only different is that participants, in addition to the execution time is in August.

Agenda reog other art performances and not less crowded of visitors is the show Reog Full Moon. Performing routine implemented to coincide with the full moon night bulam. Participants of this stage is that the local groups represented by districts - districts. This stage is usually accompanied by a dance performance filmed some of the art studio in ponorogo or other arts. 

Staging Reog Ponorogo Art Reog Ponorogo consists of several series of two to three opening dance. Six to eight valiant men with black clothes and faces painted red brought her first dance. The dancers depict the figure of a lion is brave. The next six to eight girls who ride horses continue reog dance. In reog Traditionally, these dancers are usually played by male dancers dressed women. Typically, as the opening dance, some dance to bring small children with a variety of funny scenes. This dance is called Bujang Ganong or Ganongan. After they performed the opening dance, the core scenes whose content is displayed depends reog condition where the art is displayed. If dealing with marriage then they show a love scene. When the circumcision ceremony, usually warrior story.

Reog art scene usually does not follow a neat scenario. Here there is always interaction between the player and the puppeteer, sometimes with the audience. Sometimes when a player who is performing the fatigue can be replaced by another. The first importance in the staging reog art is to give satisfaction to the audience. The final scene is a lion barong. Players wear a mask-shaped head of a lion with a crown made of peacock feathers. Weight mask can reach 50-60 kg. They brought the mask with his teeth. The ability to bring this mask aside obtained by heavy exercise, also believed to be obtained with such a spiritual exercise of fasting and penance.

Reog Origin Although there are various versions of the origin of reog related, but the most popular stories and thrive in the community is the story of a man of rebellion in the kingdom of Majapahit kingdom last Bhre Kertabhumi named Ki Ageng Fleas Suryonggalan. Bhre Kertabhumi is the king of Majapahit who ruled in the 15th century. King is very corrupt and never fulfill obligations like a king, so make Ki Ageng Fleas wrath to the king. Moreover, the Chinese empress that it has a strong influence on the kingdom. Not only that, fellow Chinese empress who manage the over all his movements. Ki Ageng Fleas view, the power of the Majapahit kingdom will end. Then he left the king and established a college that teaches martial arts, science self immunity, and the science of perfection to young children.

Hopefully, young people will be the seed of the resurrection of the Majapahit kingdom again. Or better, can take the fight to the kingdom. However, Ki Ageng Fleas realized, that his army is too small to fight the royal troops. 

Therefore, Ki Ageng Fleas can only convey a message and sindirian through Reog performing arts. Performance becomes a way of Ki Ageng Reog Flea build local resistance using Reog popularity. Reog art used by Ki Ageng lice as a means of mobilizing the masses to fight against the kingdom. The most important thing is sebagao effective communication channels for the rulers at that time to tease. In the show, displayed mask lion-shaped head, known as the \ \ \ "The lion barong \ \ \". Then the mask-shaped king of the jungle, which became a symbol for Kertabhumi. Above it is plugged in peacock feathers to resemble a giant fan that symbolize the strong influence of his Chinese colleagues.

Jatilan, played by a group of dancers gemblak riding piggyback became a symbol of the power of the Majapahit Empire troops. It became the contrast with Warok force, behind the red clown mask that became the symbol for Ki Ageng lice. Jathilan dexterity is a dance depicting soldiers who were practicing riding on horseback. Character called Jathil. While Warok are people who have a holy determination, provide guidance and protection selfless.

 

Ki Ageng Fleas Reog popularity eventually led to Bhre Kertabhumi take action and attack perguruannya. Rebellion by Warok quickly overcome, and forbidden to continue teaching college will Warok. But the disciples Ki Ageng lice continues it secretly. Even so, Reog itself is still allowed to be staged because the show has become popular among the people, but the story has a new groove in which the added characters from folklore Kelono Sewandono Ponorogo namely, the Goddess Songgolangit, and Sri Genthayu. 

The official version Reog Ponorogo storyline now is the story of King Ponorogo who intend applying for daughter Kediri, Dewi Ragin Yellow However, on the way he was intercepted by King Singabarong of Kediri. King Singabarong forces consist of peacocks and lions, while the King of the Kingdom of Roxburgh and his Deputy Kelono Bujang Anom, escorted by Warok (men dressed in black in the dance), and this has Warok deadly black magic. The entire dance is a dance of war between the Kingdom and the Kingdom of Kediri Ponorogo, and pitted black magic between them, the dancers in a state of \ \ \ "trance \ \ \" when the dance stage.

Other versions of the origin of Reog is the story of King Kelana trip Sewandana looking for her hero. The King was accompanied by horsemen and his assistance faithful named Pujangganong. The King passed by, he fell hatu to Kediri daughter named Dewi Sanggalangit. The daughter Kediri receptive King Kelana origin with one condition, the prabu should be able to create a new art. The art was created, known as reog by including elements of mystical spiritual powers, giving breath to the art Reog Ponorogo.

Until now people Ponorogo only follow what is their heritage as a very rich cultural heritage. In his experience art is copyright Reog human creations that form the flow of the belief that there are hereditary and awake. The ceremony also use terms that are not easy for a layman to fulfill the absence of a clear lineage. Parental lineage they embrace and customary law still applies. However, times change and human behavior causes a shift in the meaning contained in the Reog Ponorogo. Ponorogo society currently considers art reog is a complement of an event or just a form of entertainment only. For example pementaasan reog contested at certain events to enliven the event, one of the race in the festival.

Jawa Timur, Indonesia