Cultural Performances in Yogyakarta

Being a cultural and learning centre, Yogyakarta has numerous cultural attractions that will captivate you.

Some of the highlights are as follows:

Sendratari Ramayana or Ramayana Ballet

Isn’t it interesting that the Ramayana Epic is probably more often retold in Yogyakarta than in India, its place of origin. There are several places that you can go to watch Ramayana Ballet.

The most famous one is the open air theatre at the Prambanan Complex. It is only open during the dry season, from May to October.

You can purchase a ticket from tour operators in Yogyakarta. Or you can go straight after exploring the temple complex. My suggestion is to book a ticket from a tour operator which provides you with a shuttle bus service. You can also get tickets from many hotels. And I highly recommend that you get a VIP ticket.

It is worth it.

When I took my students there, we explored the Kraton Boko, Prambanan and Sewu complexes the whole afternoon. After that we had dinner at the outdoor restaurant adjacent to the theatre.

Believe me, the food was fantastic. To complete the day trip, we watched the Ramayana Ballet.

If you go to Yogyakarta during the rainy season or if you can’t make it to the open air performance, the Trimurti Theatre at Prambanan provides regular indoor shows.

Though not as spectacular as the open air one, it is worth the trip.

Otherwise, you can see a Ramayana Ballet performed at city venues such as Dalem Pujokusuman and Purawisata.

Dalem Pujokusuman (a royal mansion) on Jalan Brig Jen Katamso 45 holds performances of segments of Ramayana Ballet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 20.00 PM to 22.00 PM.

Dinner is complimentary.

Its exact location is actually in a small alley (gang) off Jalan Brig Jen Katamso. Just look for a sign on Jalan Brig Jen Katamso, showing a monkey (Hanoman).

Dance performances are drawn from a selection of segments of 'Ramayana Ballet'.

They are performed on Monday and Friday, 20.00-21.30.

Purawisata Open Theatre is also on Jalan Brig Jen Katamso. If I am not mistaken, it has daily evening shows.

Want to watch some Javanese ladies rehearse court dances? You can go to the Kraton on Sunday mornings. They practice there regularly and it is open to the public. Meditational, graceful and elegant.

That’s how I would describe the royal dances of Yogyakarta Court.The Kraton also runs an annual Kraton Festival in September.

Wayang Kulit (Leather Puppet Shadow Show)

Want to be enchanted by the stories of the Mahabharata or Ramayana?

Wayang Kulit is as amazing as the Ramayana Ballet. Watch the puppeteer or the dalang play different characters and roles all by himself.

The dalang sits all night long from 21.00 pm to 05.00 am leading his gamelan players and singers while captivating his audience by storytelling.

I think dalangs are very talented and powerful. They’d have to be!

Wayang performances are definitely one of Java’s best treasures. On November 7th, 2003, UNESCO proclaimed wayang as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Wayang Kulit as UNESCO World Heritage Sasana Hinggil - South Palace Square (Alun-Alun Selatan), has wayang shows every second Saturday of the month from 21.00 pm to 05.00 am.

Sono Budoyo Museum has wayang shows every day from 20.00 pm to 22.00 pm. And if you’re lucky, you may strike or encounter some institutions or families having wayang performances.

They do it to mark important dates.

Gamelan Orchestra

Where and when? At the Kraton from 10.30 to 12.00 on Monday and Wednesday.

Want to know more about gamelan? wikipedia has a comprehensive article here: Gamelan on Wikipedia Yogyakarta also conducts numerous traditional and / or religious ceremonies such as Sekaten, Labuhan, Gerebeg Maulud, etc. These ceremonies are a blend of Islamic and local traditions.

So, when you’re in Yogyakarta, make sure that you go to one of those cultural performances. And like many locals and visitors, you’ll be spellbound

Other Places That Run Cultural Events

Apart from the performances and venues mentioned above, there are a few other cultural events such as lesung – pounding and wetonan.

Large hotels normally have gamelan playing in their lobbies.

ISI (Institut Seni Indonesia – Yogyakarta’s Arts Academy) on Jalan Parangtritis runs daily rehearsals of various cultural activities, normally after classes.

Ny Suharti Fried Chicken restaurant has gamelan playing to entertain its patrons.

Radio Geronimo organizes an annual Gamelan Festival.Taman Budaya Yogyakarta--the Societet Building on the corner of Jalan Senopati and Jalan Suryotomo, behind the Vredeburg Fort, runs regular cultural events.

The Radio Republik Indonesia or RRI runs regular wayang and ketoprak — Javanese traditional folk drama.

There you have it, Yogyakarta indeed has numerous cultural performances for its visitors to be fascinated with.