The Reog Art Show continues to grow, the Artists never stop being creative. As shown by the first four performers of the XXVIII Reog Ponorogo National Festival (FNRP), on Friday (14/7/2023) evening, one of the Reog groups inserted a Religious verse.
“Competition between participants is getting tougher in terms of working on dance, music, fashion, and choreography. It’s really beyond our expectations,” said the Head of the Ponorogo Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports Service (Disbudparpora) Judha Slamet Sarwo Edi.
FNRP aims to maintain Ponorogo’s original art without any restrictions on the creativity of artists. In the Reog festival, there is no standard, although there are references contained in the Basic Guide to Reog Ponorogo Performances. Judha assessed that the various creations displayed at FNRP were still in the corridors of Wirogo, Wiroso, and Wiromo Ponoragan. ”We should not be trapped in standard. What is the substance of the grip, we need to sit together,” he explained.
When Reog Ponorogo is inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), rapid development will occur. Artists from various parts of the world will create reog without abandoning their traditional arts. “Once it has been registered with UNESCO, there is no need for debate anymore if someone gives a touch of innovation to reog,” said Judha. Still said Judha, there is only a fine line between creativity and originality. Acculturation occurs when reog is played in the Netherlands, America, or other areas in Indonesia. “Certainly there is a mix of the two cultures where Reog developed. It does not limit artists’ creativity but must be guided by the Basic Guidebook for Reog Ponorogo Performances,” he concluded.Adv/Ptr
