Kecak Dance History - Bali

Kecak Dance is a typical Balinese performing arts that was created in the 1930s and played mainly by men. This dance is performed by many (tens or more) male dancers who sat lined up in a circle and with a certain rhythm called "cak" and raised both arms, depicts the story of Ramayana when Rama's line of apes help fight Ravana. However, Kecak Sanghyang comes from the ritual, namely the tradition of dancing the dancers will be in unconscious condition, to communicate with God or the spirits of the ancestors and then convey its expectations to the public.

The dancers in the circle is wearing a plaid cloth like a chessboard their waist. Besides the dancers, there are also other dancers who portray the characters of Ramayana as Rhama, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman, and Sugriwa.

Kecak dance songs taken from the ritual dances Sanghyang. Also, do not use musical instruments. Only used kincringan worn on the feet of dancers who portray the characters of Ramayana.

Tourists who are interested in watching Kecak can choose one of three locations the show, among other Luhur Pura Uluwatu, at the Village Batubulan, and Hanuman Road.
 
Kecak Dance Privileges :
 
Unlike other types of performing arts of Bali, Kecak Dance is unique because it does not rely on musical instrument to accompany the dance, but a chorus of dancers. The rhythm of sound "cak, cak, cak ..." arranged in such a way so as to produce an alloy that is very harmonious, interspersed with a few accents and other utterances. The dancers who rang the sound "cak, cak, cak ..." are usually bare-chested and wearing only cloth checkered like a chessboard that encircled their waists. While the figures of Rama, Sinta, Ravana, Hanuman, as well as general Sugriwa wear on the show ketoprak.

In this dance, rhythmic sounds spoken by the dancers bring an aura of mystical enough for the audience. Especially after the Ramayana story in this dance is complete staged, joined by dance performances and Sanghyang Jaran Sanghyang Dedari which the dancers believed to be possessed by spirits, which are immune when dancing in the embers of the fire. 

This dance is a dance to ward off evil spirits are staged by two girls who were virgins. While Sanghyang Jaran is a dance performed by men who possessed pranced like a horse's behavior and dancing in the embers of the fire. Because the hallmark of this Jaran Sanghyang Dance, Kecak Dance is also known as Kecak and Fire Dance (Kecak and Fire Dance). The final performances of this kind of bonus that can invite click amazed the audience. After the show, spectators are also welcome to take pictures with the dancers.
Kecak Dance Bali has continued to experience changes and developments since the 1970's. Progress can be seen is in terms of story and staging. In terms of story for staging not only based on the one part of the Ramayana but also other parts of the story from the Ramayana.
   
Then in terms of staging also began experiencing growth not only found in one place like the village of Bona, Gianyar but also other villages in Bali started to develop so that the Kecak dance in Bali there are dozens kecak group whose members are usually members of the banjo. Activities activities such as Kecak dance festivals are also often held in Bali either by governments or even by the art school in Bali. And the largest number of dancers who had performed the Kecak dance was recorded in 1979 which involved 500 people dancing. At that time kecak staged by taking the story from the Mahabharata. But the record is broken by the Government of Tabanan regency which organizes Colossal Kecak dancers to 5000 on 29 September 2006, at Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali.

Balinese Kecak Dance is the creation of a famous Balinese dancer, I Wayan Limbak, and a German painter, Walter Spies, the 1930's. At first, these two artists fascinated by the ritual dance in which the dancers danced Sanghyang in spirit possessed conditions (trance). Sanghyang ritual itself is a Balinese ritual derived from pre-Hindu tradition in order to resist the plague. This ritual was later adopted by I Wayan Limbak and Walter Spies became a performing arts to the public for display in various countries in Europe under the Kecak Dance.
Kecak Dance is played by a number of dancers (mostly men), between 50 to 150 people, with a duration of between 45-60 minutes. This dance compose vocal instrument of the dancers (a Cappella) with sound "cak, cak, cak ..." as he raised both arms to accompany the Ramayana epic story that became the main story in this dance. Therefore the spoken chorus dancers are considered similar to a monkey sound, then the foreign tourists often refer to this dance as "Mongkey Dance".
Snippet epic Ramayana is the source of the story is the story of abduction Dewi Sinta (Rama's wife) by King Ravana from Lanka country. In this dance described how Rama fought to free her lover, Dewi Sinta, who was kidnapped and taken away by Ravana. The story is getting exciting because the struggle of the Rama was assisted by Hanuman (the White Ape) and Sugriwa. In addition to enacting the epic story Ramayana, the Kecak Dance Dance also features Sanghyang Dedari and Sanghyang Jaran as closing the show. That is the uniqueness of Balinese Kecak dance.

Cirebon Mask Dance History

Cirebon mask dance, this art is original art Cirebon area, including Indramayu and Jatibarang. Cirebon mask dance is one of the dances in the Tatar Parahyangan. Called the mask dance, because the dancers use masks when dancing. As a result of cultural, Mask Dance has entertainment value that contains a message - hidden messages, because the elements - the elements contained in it has a symbolic meaning which, when translated very touching various aspects of life, so too has the value of education. Variations may include aspects of human life such as personality, wisdom, leadership, love and even anger and describes the journey of human life from birth until adulthood.

At Sunan Gunung Jati reign as head of Islam in Cirebon, then came the attempt to undermine the power of Cirebon in West Java. People of the culprit is Prince Welang from Falkirk area. This figure was very powerful and has a heritage of a sword named Curug Sewu. Cirebon ruler and his supporters and no one can match the magic Prince Welang. in critical condition it was decided that separately deal with an enemy that must be faced with such magic arts of diplomacy. After a mutually agreed upon between Sunan Gunung Jati, Sunan Kalijaga Prince Cakrabuana and art team is formed with a very beautiful dancer of Nyi Mas Gandasari provided dancers wear mask / mask.

Begin this team performing arts into every place as usual now called ngamen. arts team in a short time has become so famous stinky Prince was curious and interested to watch it. After the prince stinky witnessed permissibility of the dancer, he also instantly fall in love, Nyi Mas Gandasari even pretend - pretending to welcome his love and in stinky Prince When applying the proposed Nyi Mas Gandasari requested by Sword Curug Sewu. Prince stinky blurted heirloom handed sword, along with it then lost all the magic Prince stinky.

In the weak state of helpless limp Prince stinky total surrender to the dancer Nyi Mas gandasari and begged forgiveness of Sunan Gunung Jati so as not to be killed. Sunan Gunung Jati pardon on condition that must be converted to Islam. Once converted to Islam Prince stinky made official tax collector and he changed the name to Prince Graksan. While the followers of Prince stinky who do not embrace Islam but want to live in Cirebon, Sunan Gunung Jati by ordered to guard the palace - palace of Cirebon and surrounding areas.
(This story is taken from the book Babad Cirebon branch overall status and ever staged by smacking Marionette Puppet show by puppeteer Aliwijaya in Kacirebonan Keraton Cirebon).

Seeing the success of the mission of art mask can be used as an antidote to the attack of forces - the forces of evil then the ruler of Cirebon arts apply this mask to meruat suati areas that are considered haunted. And it goes art masks are still used in the village - the village for visitors ceremony, nadran, alms and other earth - other.

Once a community receives meruat tradition that, in addition there should also be leather puppet show featuring dance mask, then grow suburlah dancer - dancer in Cirebon mask. But the first - first dance mask dance is mostly the skin before puppeteer puppet stage, at noon the puppeteer must dance mask first. Therefore, the wayang kulit puppet masters who were born before the year 1930 diwajubkan to explore dance mask first before becoming a puppeteer skin. In relation to the palace always involve the arts to the media propaganda in the spread of Islam, and the palace gave the name Ki Ngabei to artists who also preach.

Cirebon mask dance art run by religious proselytizing side footing to explore ordinances of Islam in Cirebon that has 4 (four) levels is commonly called: Sareat, Order, The nature and Ma'ripat.

Broadly speaking Cirebon mask dance is composed of :
1. Dance that is a giant (Danawa)
2. Dance that is krodan (stout) for example: Ravana, Kangsa
3. Dance Tumenggungan
4. Tari Panji

From the fourth mask dance tradition can be developed, which has its own distinctive like :
1. Panji Dance
2. Samba Dance
3. Tumenggung Dance
4. Rumyang Dance
5. Kelana / Ravana Dance
6. Jingga Anom Dance
7. Pentul Dance
8. Tembem Dance

However, hitherto known is the Dance Panji, Samba Dance, Dance Tumenggung, Dance and Dance Rumyang Kelana / Ravana.

Mask Dance is actually a philosophy describes the disposition of human life.

Dance Panji : describes a holy man like a King, a wise leader, fair and wise and always doing good deeds. 

 

Samba Dance : describes the glitter of worldly, possessions, women, bermewah - luxurious, glamorous. Therefore, this dance look lively and rich in movement and rhyth

Tumenggung Dance : is a picture of the soldier's life attitude and valiant heroism. full dedication, loyalty and high responsibility.

Kelana / Ravana Dance : describe anger, human nature is greedy and justifies any means to achieve his personal ambitions. But he also was the leader of a wealthy, have a tough worldly.

Rumyang is one of the characters in the mask of Cirebon, West Java. Until the early 1970s this dance is rarelya one dancing alone ,he is a continuation or replacement of dance Pamindo ,and therefore in the area commonly referred Pamindo Indramayu Abang , knowing the color of his face is usually red . In some areas, dance Rumyang ahir shown almost at the show, after the dance mask Klana. But now the general Rumyang mask as a separate dance, accompanied by song which is also called Rumyang. Dance lively, lanyap or "flirty," like dance Pamindo. Plain without hair mask as a mask Panji only a more cheerful expression.

Seeing the mask dance tradition, our observations can not be separated with equipment that is used as mentioned below :

    1. Mask / masks made ​​of wood and how to wear it with a biting rubber pads on the inside of her.
    2. Sobra as headgear equipped with jamangan and two sumping.
    3. Sleeved shirt.
    4. Tie which is equipped with a pin Ukon (ancient currency)
    5. Mongkron lokoan made ​​of batik.
    6. Stagen belt equipped Badong.
    7. Limited pants below the knee.
    8. Sampur / shawl
    9. Bracelet hand
   10. Kris
   11. White knee socks
   12. Batik fabrics
   13. Sometimes - sometimes equipped with boro (epek)

In addition to the above completeness clothes sometimes - Mask Dance Tumenggung occasionally to use additional form of ikat cloth headgear and is equipped with a cap and glasses.

Gamelan accompaniment barreled slendro or prawa usually consisting of :

    1. One pangkon bonang
    2. One pangkon saron
    3. One pangkon titil
    4. One pangkon kenong
    5. One pangkon jengglong
    6. One pangkon tap
    7. One pangkon klenang
    8. Two kemanak
    9. Three gong (kiwul, Sabet and telon)
   10. A set kecrek
   11. Drum set consisting of: kempyang, gendung, ketiping. Everything is played with a bat, except for the   Mask Dance Tumenngung ordinary drum that is played in slap / hit with a hand.

Song - songs that accompany are :

     * Kembangsungsang to Panji Mask
     * Kembangkapas to Mask Pemindo
     * Rumyang to Mask Rumyang
     * Tumenggung to Mask Tumenggung
     * Barlen to Mask Jinggaanom
     * Gonjing to Kelana Mask

Sintren Dance History

Sintren is the art of Javanese traditional dance, especially in the town of Pekalongan.Art is famous on the north coast of Central Java and West Java, among others in Pemalang, Pekalongan, Brebes, Banyumas, Kuningan, Cirebon, Indramayu, and Jatibarang. Arts Sintren also known as lais. Arts Sintren known as the dance with the scent of mystical magic that comes from love story Sulasih with Sulandono.

Sintren is a dance that smells mystical / magical love story sourced from Sulasih and Sulandono.Tersebut in the story that is the son of Ki Baurekso Sulandono his marriage with Goddess Rantamsari results. Raden Sulandono Sulasih love with a girl from the village Kalisalak, but the love affair does not get the blessing of Ki Baurekso. Finally R. Sulandono go and Sulasih choose to become dancers.

Although such meetings are still ongoing between the two natural malalui goib. The meeting was organized by the Goddess Rantamsari who died when his body disappeared in goib, that is the way that at every event where Sulasih appeared as a dancer then Goddess Rantamsari enter into the body Sulasih angelic spirits, at the same time R. Sulandono being summoned spirits imprisoned his mother to meet Sulasih and there was a meeting between Sulasih and R. Sulandono, that is the way that at every event where Sulasih appeared as a dancer then Goddess Rantamsari enter into the body Sulasih angelic spirits, at the same time R. Sulandono who was imprisoned spirits summoned his mother to meet Sulasih and there was a meeting between Sulasih and R. Sulandono.

Since then each held Sintren show, the dancer must be entered into the spirit of an angel by his keeper, with remarks that it is done when the dancers really still in a state of pure (virgin). Sintren played by a girl who is still sacred, assisted by the handler and accompanied gising 6 people, according to the development of dance as an entertainment culture Sintren then fitted with a dancer companion and bador (comedy).

 Forms Show :

Sintren played by a girl who is still sacred, assisted by the handler to the accompaniment of gising 6 people. In the development of dance as an entertainment culture Sintren, then equipped with a dancer companion and bodor (comedy).

In the game folk art was influential among other Lanjar Goddess in the game Sintren, the handler (mastermind) often invite the Spirit Goddess Lanjar to get into the game Sintren. When, the spirit of Goddess Lanjar successfully invited, then the dancers Sintren will look more beautiful and bring more agile and enchanting dance.