Opportunities to see performances in Yogyakarta

Lonely Planet says

"If Jakarta is Java's financial and industrial powerhouse, Yogyakarta is its soul.......is where the Javanese language is at its purest, Java's arts at their brightest and its traditions at their most visible."

In the biggest village in the world, there are many opportunities every day to see Indonesian arts performed. Some are listed below, but please note that these performances are not part of the ACICIS program, and will cost participants extra.

The Sultan's Palace, or Kraton, founded by Prince Mangkubumi in 1775, has performances each week, including the Ramayana Ballet, Gamelan & Wayang Golek performances. Only the best dancers may perform here and are recruited by the Sultan's wife. No performances are held at the Kraton during Ramadan.

The Sono Budoyo Museum of Archaeology (founded in 1935) has Wayang Kulit performances every night at 8 to 10pm.

Sasono Hinggil, in the South Palace Square, has all-night Wayang Kulit every 2nd Saturday 21:00-05:30.

Prambanan Ramayana Ballet. World famous performances almost every night (Wayang Orang). Outdoors in the dry, indoors in the wet.

RRI Auditorium Ketoprak 8-12pm, first Saturday of the month.

Agastya Art Institute (Training school for dalang) for Wayang Golek (wooden puppet) and Wayang Kulit performances.

Yogyakarta International Gamelan festival in July.

THR amusement park on Jl Brig Jen Katamso often has wayang orang or dangdut.

SMKI (Sekolah Menengah Karawitan Indonesia) A high school for students who want to learn dance and gamelan. It has practice sessions open to the public.

Krido Beksa Wirama in Dalem Tejokusuman on Jl KH Wahid Hasyim, is a dance school focussed on classical Jogjakarta dance. There is a Ramayana ballet here twice a week.

Purawisata open air theatre, daily Ramayana at 8pm.

Nitour has wayang golek twice a week in the morning.

All night Wayang Kulit at Parangkusumo beach happen irregularly, but are very interesting because of the carnival atmosphere.

Dalem Pujokusuman has dance 3 times a week

Private gamelan organisations or teachers, such as:

• University gamelan clubs (ISI - every day, UGM - twice a week, UNY - once a week).
• Sanggar Saraswati, Balinese Students Association gamelan club.
• Gamelan Kiai Kanjeng (Islamic gamelan group). Has become a very popular group conducted by Emha Ainun Najib, a famous Indonesian poet.
• Yayasan Sanggar Tari Kembang Sore Pusat, (dance).
• Vishnu Wardhana, dance teacher and dalang, Jl Suryodiningrat 13.

Wayang Kulit makers:

• Pak Ledjar, Jl Mataram DN I/370.
• Pak Warno, Jl Bantul, 8km south of Yogya.
• Molejosoehardjo, Jl S Parman.

Solo (65km northeast of Yogyakarta, one hour by train)

• Sriwedari Theatre (nightly Wayang Orang or Ketoprak).
• RRI Auditorium (all night wayang kulit or wayang orang).
• STSI (Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia - dance practice most days).
• SMKI (high school for the arts - dance practice most days).
• Kraton Surakarta (dance practice - Sunday).
• Taman Budaya (Wayang Kulit).

Gamelan.org.uk

There is also lots of good information on performances in the Yogyakarta area on the website http://www.gamelan.org.uk