Reog Ponorogo
Reog is a traditional dance that becomes the main identity from Ponorogo regency. By this traditional culture, Ponorogo is also famous as Reog city.
This kind of traditional art dance and theatre has been popular in Indonesian even worldwide. Reog National Festival is being held every years along the anniversary of Ponorogo regency and followed by Grebeg Suro celebration.
According to the background of the study, Reog is telling about the struggle of a prince who proposing his lovely pretty princess. This dance is staged about 25 – 40 dancers and musicians. Other interesting part of Reog is in the main leading figure named Singo Barong.
The leading figures in Reog include Kelono Sewandono, Bujang Anom, Jatil and Warok. Klono Sewandono, is a men in regal attire wearing mask in proud and pompous dance, play the role as the King of Ponorogo. Bujang Anom, is rough youthful men wearing red mask, and they performed acrobatic dances and sometimes also involved trance. Jatil, is handsome horsemen riding horses made of weaved bamboo, similar to Kuda Lumping dance. Today Jatil usually performed by female dancers.
While, Warok, is played as Singo Barong. A warok is the honorary title of local hero or strongman of the village that possessed both exceptional spiritual and physical strength. The dance itself is demonstration of physical strength of the dancers. The dancers of Singo Barong should bear the mask for about 30 – 40 kg weight and supported by the strength of their teeth.
The visitors can enjoy this traditional dance only in Ponorogo, East Java – Indonesia. However, if we are lucky we can see Reog show in any other cultural events outside Ponorogo, but the dancers and the teams are still coming from Ponorogo.
