The people of Ponorogo, an East Java town between two extinct
volcanoes, were reputed to have magical powers and sexual
potency, along with a history of radical politics and sometimes
violent rebellion. Implicit in Reog's mythic battle between the
King of Ponorogo and the Singa Baronga lion-like creature, was
centuries-old distain, and resistance to central state power.
The Dutch banned performances for 20 years during their rule,
and after independence, with "New Order" policies, the
government pushed to "clean up" Reog troups. Dances were adapted
to fit official concepts of "modernization," and downplay
politically or sexually subversive elements. Standardized,
sanitized and refitted as tourist commodities, these parodies of
original dances cast waroks not as rebels or charismatic
spiritual leaders, but loyal state functionaries. Original
characters included the King of Ponorogo, proud and pompous in
regal attire; Bujang Anom, acrobatic young men in black and red;
Jatil, handsome teenage gemblaks, riding ho