Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – The performing arts entitled 'Joko Lulo Nagih Janji' presented by SMP Negeri 4 Malang City became the Most Creative Performance in the 2025 Indonesian International Arts Festival which was held as part of the 2025th National Conference (Munas) of the Association of Indonesian City Governments (APEKSI) in XNUMX in Surabaya some time ago.
This achievement is one of many achievements in the field of art made by the school located on Jalan Veteran, Malang City. The performance directed by the Art and Culture teacher of SMP Negeri 4 Malang City Bayu Kresno Mukti was presented beautifully by 25 students of SMP Negeri 4 by collaborating traditional music, dance, and theater.
'Joko Lulo Nagih Janji' is a folk tale from Malang City that tells the story of a beautiful girl from Panawijen (Polowijen) named Ken Dedes and an ugly young man who has magical powers from Dinoyo named Joko Lulo. This story is what ultimately underlies the emergence of a myth in the form of a prohibition for the natives of Dinoyo and Polowijen not to marry each other.
The Head of the Malang City Education and Culture Office (Disdikbud), Suwarjana, expressed his pride in the success of the Paguyuban Peminat Seni Tradisional (PPST) team of SMP Negeri 4 Malang City which brought honor to Malang City in the event which was attended by 98 cities throughout Indonesia. "We raised the original story of Malang City, and thank God we were named the most creative, the best among the good," said Suwarjana after attending the morning assembly which was combined with the Presentation of the Most Creative Performance Award at the Indonesian International Arts Festival in the 2025th APEKSI National Conference in 19, Monday (5/2025/XNUMX).
Furthermore, Suwarjana expressed his commitment to continue to appreciate andsupport the art potential of schools under the auspices of the Malang City Education and Culture Office by providing space to show their talents in various events held by the Malang City Government. "This is proof that we are moving so that our art and culture do not become extinct, and to develop and stimulate art education in schools. Of course, this cultural education also has a correlation with Dasa Bakti to realize Ngalam Pinter and Ngalam Asyik," he continued.
Met on the same occasion, the Principal of SMP Negeri 4 Malang City, Pancayani Dinihari said that her school has the potential in developing the arts through PPST. Specifically for the performance in the APEKSI National Conference series, the SMP Negeri 4 PPST team needed about two weeks to practice intensively. "There are a total of 25 children from the art class, all of whom are in class VIII. They are indeed prepared for performances like this. And we need about two weeks to practice intensively," he explained.
SMP Negeri 4 Malang City also often becomes a representative to participate in various national and even international competitions and festivals. Not infrequently, SMP Negeri 4 often wins the National Student Art Competition Festival (FLS2N). There are five special art classes divided into grades VII and VIII, each with two classes, and for grade IX there is one class.
"For this special class, the art lessons are indeed not the same as other classes or schools, because we have traditional music, traditions, and theater. For this class, there are nine hours of special arts and culture lessons, while for regular classes there are only three hours of lessons," he concluded. (ari/yn)
