Coppong Daeng Rannu (born 1920 in Gowa, South Sulawesi) is a master of Makassar ethnic-group dances. She is best known as Rice Goddess in performance I La Galigo.

Life

She has learned dancing since she was 10 years old, continued her family’s dancing-tradition. She learnt dancing from her grandfather, Mosoa Daeng Olla, who taught her Pakarena and Salonreng. Pakarena is a dance performed in palace by 3 dancers, and salonreng is a ritual dance performed in certain event such as in warding off misfortune ceremony. Maybe she is the only one who able to perform the near-extinction Salonreng.

In her ten, she debuted as palace dancer of Balla Lompoa, Gowa Royal Palace. Being a dancer firstly was unthought-of. She was moved her mother words, “if you don’t learn to dance, then there are no one in our family who could carry on our dancing-generation.”

She is aged now, but she is still an active dancer and teacher of her 4 grandchild as well.

In 2004, for 3 months she has performed for I La Galigo across Singapore, Europe, US and Australia.

She is loyal to live as a dancer for her passion of perpetuating Makassar dances. Yet, she concerned about the Makassar dances future, because younger generation don’t have any interest in it.

Performances

• Performance in TMII, Jakarta
• Performance in Keraton Solo in 1998
• Performance in I La Galigo in many countries,
• Performance in Cultural Festival in Enrekang, 2006

Awards

• In 1999, received award from Indonesian tourism, arts and cultural minister
• In 2000, received award from South Sulawesi Culture Foundation
• In 2004, received award from Robert Wilson (director) in performance of I La Galigo

Resources

• Translated from KOMPAS with some edits, Empu Tari Kuno Makassar - Saturday, April 28th, 2007. Retrieved on May 1, 2007.

External links

• http://www.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0704/28/Sosok/3465609.htm (Indonesian)
• http://www.changeperformingarts.it/Wilson/galigo_credits.html