KLANA TOPENG (MASK DANCE)

Klana mask dance is a men's single dance that originated from Yogyakarta city (Java). Klana mask dance always uses the mask and usually made of wood and colored red. This dance depicts a king named Prabu Klana Sewandana from Pudhak Payung kingdom who has fall in love with the goddess of  Sekartaji.

According to an existing story, Klana mask dance was originally a folk dance. In its development, the Kingdom of Yogyakarta sees something interesting in the Klana mask dance and then retrieved, repaired and finally was adopted into a palace dance. Finally, Klana mask dance from a folk dance becomes a palace dance in Yogyakarta kingdom.

The costumes are: cloth (Java: jarik), pants cindhe, sampur, headdress (Java: Bledhegan), buntal and a dagger (Java: keris).

There is a specific movement of  Klana mask dance and it became a characteristic of this dance. That movement is kicked a cloth folding (Java: sepak wiron) and followed by the movement of  the waist (Java: ogek lambung). Klana Topeng dance usually accompanied by gamelan music and a special song, it’s name is Bendrong who have a great character and dignity.

Golek Dance

Golek dance is from Yogyakarta city (Java). The movements such as flowing water (Java:mbanyu mili). There are various kinds of the Golek dance but basically it can be describe that Golek dance is a women's single dance and usually tells about a princess who is being stepped on adolescence. Some of visualizing the motion of the girl who stepped on adolescence are beautify themselves like wearing powder for the face (Java : tasikan), installing headdress (Java:atrap jamang), installing the ear ornaments (Java : atrap supe) and combing the hair (Java:ngore rigma).

Golek dance classified into the type of classical dance in Yogyakarta Palace. In the development, this dance goes out of the castle wall and can be learned by anyone, including students in formal art schools and colleges.

Classical dance looks more elegant and sophisticated and no doubt about its quality. Having a class and level of extraordinary beauty in terms of motion, fashion and philosophy.

The costumes are:cloth (Java:jarik), a vest decorated with gold sequins, headdress in the form of a bird made of leather combined with the feathers and sequins. Wearing ornate necklace made of leather, bracelets, earrings accessories and also use a sampur that serves as a personification of flying, mirror and so forth.

INDONESIAN DANCES

Many kinds of Indonesian dances. Primitive, traditional and classic dance have become the breath of Indonesian arts and culture. Cultural heritage must be preserved, conserved and developed in accordance with the era. Apart from being the pride of heritage, it is important to maintain the existence of arts and culture. Each regions has a dance popular in their respective regions. For example: Saman Dance from Aceh, Rantak Dance from Sumatra, Klana Topeng Dance from Java, Margapati Dance from Bali, etc.

Saman Dance

Saman dance is a traditional dance from Aceh. This dance is a dance group and need some dancers to present it. At first, Saman Dance served to proselytizing, the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW, and important celebration of customary law. In its development, this dance is often performed in welcoming guests and other special performances.

Saman dance does not use the music but just use the song, shouts, applause and pat of the body like the chest and thighs as the source of the music. Appearances motion looks attractive, dynamic, tend in a fast tempo, simultaneous and equal.

Saman dance uses the same costumes, usually using the kind of long clothes with ornate trinkets, pants “Galembong” combined with Sarung and headband. Saman dance can be done by men, women or men and women simultaneously.

Rantak Dance

Rantak dance is a single dance. This dance can be done by one person but it can be done by many people. Rantak dance originated from the island of  Sumatra. The source motion of Rantak dance comes from the Indonesia's traditional martial art (Pencak Silat) which have had  stylization. Movement is clear, sharp and dynamic.

Rantak dance using the kind of long clothes with ornate trinkets, pants “Galembong” combined with cloth Sarung and headband. This dance uses traditional music of Sumatra.

ANGKLUNG

Another traditional music instrument that Indonesia is known for is the Angklung. Angklung is a musical instrument made out of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved so that they have a resonant pitch when struck. The two tubes are tuned to octaves. The base of the frame is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. This causes a rapidly repeating note to sound. 

Thus each of three or more Angklung performers in an ensemble will play just one note and together complete melodies are produced. Angklung is popular throughout Southeast Asia, but originated from Indonesia (used and played by the Sundanese since the ancient times). The most interesting part of Angklung is that Angklung can be played by as many people as you want and has the same philosophy as gamelan which is the togetherness. The more people play the Angklung the better and thundering sound it produces.

When Angklung is played in a band that consist of other instruments also made of bamboos such as the bass and the xylophones is called Arumba.

GAMELAN

Gamelan, as one of number of traditional music instruments of Indonesia, is a cultural product which basic meaning is a set of traditional music instruments (Java / Bali), who barreled Slendro and Pelog where how to play it by beated. This kind of music is already very familiar to the people of Indonesia, especially Java community that the majority of Indonesia’s population. In rural, gamelan is a means to channel a sense of art and friendship

In playing gamelan, besides learning about the beauty and harmony of tone as well as learn about the nature of society. There is a togetherness, mutual respect, appreciate, listening each other, there is no mutual stand out. All have their respective roles and together achieve the goals of togetherness and unity in harmony. This is a noble value in playing gamelan.

As a cultural product, gamelan at the moment became a world music orchestra in addition to modern music orchestra in western countries. Why is that ? Because the gamelan at the present time has “worldwide”. The gamelan is not only popular in Indonesia but widely known and studied world community. Various countries such as America, Holland, Japan and Argentina have known gamelan music instruments and be able to play it.

As means of artistic activity, the gamelan music can act as a medium to interact, socialize, promotion and diplomacy. Good relations between nations will give a larger space for artistic expression.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF CLASSICAL JAVANESE DANCE

THE PHILOSOPHY OF CLASSICAL JAVANESE DANCE - SOLO DANCE

Solo dance means itself in a symbolic, ideal and magic of dancing, feeling of dancer and appreciation of artistic audiences. In symbolic means, solo is roundness, veracity, capacity and perfection. Ideal because it’s one of target, theme, dancer. The dancer responsible to dance and to explain content of the dancing as good as possible and audiences can feel what they saw. Magic because values of dancing and soul of dancer to be one. So there are Patut (suitable), Pantes (fit), Antep (heaviness), and Nges (enormous). 

DUET 

The duet dance (Java called:Beksan of Pethilan) is usually the importance thing of the story. The theme of duet usually fighting between good and bad characters. In the end good character will be a winner. 

SACRED DANCE 

The sacred dance is a dance who performed in the special time. The dancers have to fast before to dance and also clean of themselves. This activity is a rule to do sacred dance. The female dance use magic make up like bride.