Set against the magnificent Prambanan Temple, the colossal performance of the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan takes place with great fanfare. Despite having no dialogue, this show, which combines dance, drama, and traditional music on one stage, always manages to captivate the audience and immerse them in the story of the Ramayana.
Bathed in colorful spotlights, Prambanan Temple looks even more majestic at night. The atmosphere becomes even more lively as the sinden (traditional Javanese singer) chants Javanese songs accompanied by the music of the gamelan.
On the main stage, a group of dancers moves gracefully. This is not an ordinary dance performance, but a show called the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan, a collaboration of drama without dialogue and dance that tells the story of the Ramayana.
The story of the Ramayana is sourced from Valmiki’s Ramayana Epic, which tells the tale of Sri Rama’s effort to rescue Dewi Shinta, who was kidnapped by Rahwana.
Originating from India, this story is very popular, and it is also carved on the walls of Prambanan Temple. Based on this, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) GPH Djati Kusumo conceived an art performance that embodies the story of the Ramayana.
Finally, on July 26, 1961, the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan was performed for the first time on the open stage of Prambanan Temple. This stage was designed by Harsoyo from UGM, capable of accommodating up to 3000 spectators.
A month later, the show, initially named the Ramayana Ballet, was held again and watched by President Soekarno and Charlie Chaplin.
The Ramayana Ballet Prambanan eventually became one of the regular art performances in Yogyakarta, held three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Each performance is almost always filled with spectators, both local and international tourists. Therefore, if you want to watch, you need to know the schedule in advance and arrive early to avoid running out of tickets.
You should know that there are two venues for the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan performances. During the rainy season, the show is held on the indoor Trimurti stage, while in the dry season it is held on the open-air stage.
The unique feature of the open stage at Prambanan Temple is its large size, 14m x 50m, built as a structure integrated with Prambanan Temple. The beautiful Hindu temple becomes the main backdrop of the stage.
Although the Ramayana Ballet is also performed in other countries such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and India, the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan is still worth watching.
For 2 hours, you will be treated to stunning performances by the dancers and the beautiful voices of the sinden. Since there is no dialogue, you should pay close attention to every movement of the dancers to understand the story.
Another remarkable aspect of the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan is the grand stage design and lighting.
If you watch on the open-air stage, you will see how beautiful Prambanan Temple is at night, bathed in colorful lights.
The color of the temple and stage lights will change according to the emotions in the story.
You will also be amazed by the acrobatic acts of the monkey troops. And the most thrilling and exciting scene is when the fireball, initially meant to burn Hanoman, instead turns back and burns the kingdom of Alengka.
The scene where Hanoman burns the kingdom is presented vividly, with Hanoman setting the stage on fire. The flames licking the base of the temple become the peak of an impressive show. But it doesn’t stop there.
The fire performance continues in the scene where Shinta sets herself on fire. Even if you were drowsy from the sound of the gending and the melodious voice of the sinden,
By the time you reach this scene, your eyes will be wide open, and you won’t stop pressing the shutter button to capture the moment.
Synopsis of the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Performance
The story in the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan performance resembles Valmiki’s Ramayana epic beautifully carved on the walls of Prambanan Temple. The story is also similar to the Ramayana tale often told orally in India.
In this performance, the rather lengthy story is condensed and summarized into 4 acts: the abduction of Shinta, Anoman the envoy, the death of Kumbakarna and Rahwana, and the reunion of Rama and Shinta.
The story begins when King Janaka of Ayodhya holds a contest to find a husband for Dewi Shinta, his daughter.
In the contest, Rama Wijaya emerges as the winner and automatically becomes Shinta’s husband. After the wedding, the couple, along with Rama’s younger brother Lesmana, go to the Dandaka Forest.
In the Dandaka Forest, they meet Rahwana, who wants to possess Shinta, believing her to be the incarnation of Dewi Widowati, a woman he has long sought.
Rahwana tries to attract Shinta by having his subordinate Marica transform into a beautiful deer. Captivated by the deer’s beauty, Shinta asks Rama to capture it.
While Rama and Lesmana are away, Shinta is kidnapped by Rahwana and taken to Alengka.
To reclaim Shinta, Rama sends Anoman to Alengka. Since Rahwana refuses to return Shinta, the kingdom of Ayodhya, aided by the monkey army, attacks Alengka. A great battle ensues, in which Kumbakarna and Rahwana are killed.
In the end, Shinta reunites with her husband. However, Rama rejects Shinta, believing she has been tainted by Rahwana. To prove her purity, Rama asks Shinta to burn herself.
When she sets herself on fire, her body is not burned; instead, her beauty shines even more. Finally, Rama realizes that Shinta is still pure and accepts her back as his wife.
Location and Access to the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Performance
The Ramayana Ballet Prambanan is held at the Prambanan Temple Tourist Park Complex, specifically at the Theater of Ramayana Ballet, Jl Raya Jogja – Solo Km 16, Prambanan.
In the dry season (May, June, July, August, September, October), the performance is held on the open-air stage with Prambanan Temple as the background.
In the rainy season (November, December, January, February, March, April), the performance is held on the indoor Trimurti stage.
To reach this place, simply follow the Jogja – Solo Highway. Before the bridge next to Prambanan Temple, turn left (north) for about 100 meters.
The Ramayana Ballet Theater complex is on the right side of the road, in the same complex as the Garden Restaurant. If you don’t have a private vehicle, you can take the Trans Jogja bus routes 1A and 1B. However, for the return trip, there are no city buses operating. So you can take the Solo – Jogja bus, a taxi, or an ojek (motorcycle taxi).
Schedule of the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Performance
The colossal Ramayana Ballet Prambanan performance is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 19:30 to 21:30 WIB. However, on holidays and special occasions, the schedule may change and sometimes performances are held daily.
Before enjoying this performance, it’s a good idea to reserve tickets in advance to avoid running out. This also applies if you plan to come with a group. You can contact the ticketing and information officer at (0274) 496 408
Ticket Prices for the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan Performance
There are many ticket options to enjoy this beautiful performance, from VIP tickets to student tickets. Since the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan is held both outdoors and indoors, here is a list of ticket prices for the two different stages.
Open Air Theatre (Outdoor)
| Class | Price | Facilities | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIP | Rp 450,000 | Soft Drink & Souvenir | 64 |
| Special | Rp 300,000 | Soft Drink | 130 |
| Class 1 | RP 200,000 | No | 276 |
| Class 2 | Rp 150,000 | No | 668 |
| Class 3 | Rp 75,000 | Domestic student ticket minimum 30 students |
Trimurti Building (Indoor)
| Class | Price | Facilities | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special | Rp 300,000 | Soft Drink | 60 |
| Class 1 | Rp 200,000 | No | 134 |
| Class 2 | Rp 150,000 | No | 184 |
| Class 3 | Rp 50,000 | Domestic student ticket minimum 30 students |
DOMESTIC STUDENT GROUP FARE REGULATIONS
- Student Group Ticket Price: Rp 75,000/ticket
- Domestic Student Groups below undergraduate level with a minimum of 30 students
- If the group consists of fewer than 30 people, the General rate of Rp 150,000 will apply
- Only valid for domestic student groups
- Not applicable for foreign students or expatriates/KITAS holders
- Must include a request letter for student exemption from the School/University
- The fare regulation for accompanying Teachers/Lecturers is 10% of the number of students
Example: If there are 100 students, the ticket price for 10 accompanying Teachers/Lecturers will be the same as the student ticket price.
If there are only 30 students, the ticket price for only 1 accompanying Teacher will be the same as the student ticket price, the rest will be charged at the General rate.
It is recommended to make reservations well in advance.
Tips for Watching the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan
- To ensure ticket availability, it is best to reserve in advance by phone. Especially if you want to watch this performance during the holiday season or long holidays.
- Make sure your stomach is full when you watch this performance. Sitting for 2 hours in an open space with an empty stomach can cause a cold.
- After the show, there will be a photo session with the performers, so don’t rush home. Take some time to pose with your favorite character. Usually, the audience scrambles to take photos with Rama Shinta, Anoman, and the golden deer. If you don’t want to queue, you can take photos with other dancers who are equally enchanting.
- If you plan to take a one-day tour, you can start the tour from Prambanan Temple, take the shuttle bus to Ratu Boko Palace, and then return to Prambanan to watch the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan.
- While waiting for the Ramayana Ballet Prambanan to start, you can walk around the river near the performance stage and photograph Prambanan Temple at dusk, bathed in colorful lights. Since Prambanan is not illuminated every day, don’t miss this opportunity.
