Ludruk is a type of traditional Javanese drama that was born and developed among the people of East Java and is rooted in the spontaneity of people’s lives. So everyone can understand the appearance and language of ludruk, which draws a large audience to this artistic event. In addition to being a form of entertainment, ludruk serves as a forum for social critique and serves as a means of revealing the environment of people’s lives. There are differing views on the origin of this ludruk; some claim it is from Surabaya, while others claim it is from Jombang.
In Surabaya, Mojokerto, Malang, Blitar, Jombang, Sidoarjo, Probolinggo, Madiun, Kediri, Gresik, Lumajang, Bondowoso, and Jember, ludruk is one of the traditional folk arts of East Java that is flourishing and developing well. (Kasemin Kasiyanto: 1999:2). An example of traditional theater is ludruk. In terms of the subjects that are typically employed in this art form, these themes come from the issues that people face on a daily basis. Typically, ludruk performances incorporate remo dancing, humor, interludes, and storytelling (plays). The substance of the remo dance, slapstick, intermission, and plot varies from one performance to the next, and the content and other aspects fluctuate practically independently of the content, according to James L. Peacock in Ritus Modernization: Social & Symbolic Aspects of Indonesian People’s Theatre.
Ludruk still has enthusiasts today, and thanks to recent ludruk groups, the genre is also expanding. There are ludruk groups that are amateur, semi-professional, and professional. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the amateur ludruk group is undoubtedly in favor of keeping this Javanese art intact. For this reason, it is appropriate that we as a community or group of art enthusiasts from Java understand how all levels of this group may give excellent traditional art performances as a part of maintaining local culture for Indonesia.
Writer: Pradita Dwi Ayu Wulansari
Sources:
https://www.senibudayaku.com/2018/04/asal-usul-dan-sejarah-kesenian-ludrug.html
https://indonesiakaya.com/pustaka-indonesia/ludruk-kesenian-guyonan-asal-jawa-timur/
https://www.goodnewsfromindonesia.id/2019/12/20/dari-mana-asal-istilah-ludruk
