The Central
Javanese cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo) are centers
of classical Javanese culture. The ancient arts have been encouraged
by the royal families of these two sultanates under whose patronage
the performing arts and others aspects of Javanese culture have
flourished.
Yogyakarta has managed to maintain its charm and attractions,
and is relatively untouched by the modern world. Its pace of
life is unhurried, its people remain courteous in an increasingly
pressured society, and it is proudly conscious of its artistic
traditions which are maintained and which still dominate the
life of the city.
There are numerous music and dance schools, brilliant choreographers,
drama and poetry workshops, folk theater and wayang troupes,
artists excelling in the plastic arts.
Today, the city
of Yogja is no more the economical and political center of Indonesia,
but is still the reference for arts, education and ...tourism.
Gajah Mada University which is attracting artists and scholars
of all archipelago, has maintain his status of the most prestigious
university of Indonesia.
With the return of the capital to Jakarta, Yogyakarta lost something
of its impetus, though it remains the undisputed traditional
cultural capital.
