THE DANCE OF REYOG

               The dance of Reyog is one of traditional dance in Indonesia. It comes from Bantar Angin Kingdom, Ponorogo, East Java. Every year, there is a national festival of the dance of Reyog in Ponorogo.

                The dance of Reyog is a war dance. It tells about “the struggle of love”. It consists of invisible man, “Singobarong”; a group of soldier, “Jathilan”; King Kelana Sewandana; and strong men, “Warok”.

                The dance of Reyog becomes popular is because there is a half-animal and human, Singobarong. He has two heads, his own head and his peacock’s head. This dance also has a magical thing that cannot explain with any words.

                Once upon a time, there was a princess in Kediri, Princess Songgolangit. Her beauty was very famous for Bantar Angin Kingdom, Ponorogo. The King of Bantar Angin was King Kelana Sewandana. He really wants to married to Princess Songgolangit. Therefore, he had an enemy, Singobarong. Singobarong also falling in love with Princess Songgolangit. He had a peacock to look for louses in his head. To solve that problem, Princess Songgolangit gave a prize contest to both of them. Who can show a spectacular that never ever been in the world, will be married with her. There was a war between King Kelana Sewandana and Singobarong, great war. Both of them have same power. King Kelana Sewandana had a magic whip, “Pecut Samandiman”. The end of the war, King Kelana Sewandana gave a curse to Singobarong. He used his Pecut Samandiman to hat Singobarong. As the result of that curse, peacock on the Singobarong’s head cannot separated again and it becomes one body. Finally, King Kelana Sewandana won and brought his soldiers, his strong men, and Singobarong to Princess Songgolangit. Then, they got married and life happily ever after.

                This dance is full of magic. We must give a magic to the dancer who plays as Singobarong because the weight of Reyog or Singobarong is about fifty kilos and he must bite it with his teeth. That is why the dance of Reyog is famous for the whole in the world.

narative of legend