Getting To Know The Types of Balinese Mask Character

Traditional performing arts have unique and special roles in Balinese culture. Arts such as theater and dance not only serve as entertainment only. Some of them become components and supplements of religious rituals or even positioned as a ritual event itself. This diversity makes Balinese art so rich with many variations. One of its forms can be seen in the diversity that exists in the craft Balinese mask.



Balinese mask made of wood. The type of wood used in making this mask is kenanga and pule. In the process of making it, there are several stages of carving that must be till until it actually becomes a mask. In addition, the existence of a certain grip in the description of the character traits makes the mask craftsmen must have special skills.



Mask became the main property in mask dance, which is the art of traditional Balinese dance. In this mask dance, each dancer's performances will come up with a special outfit and wear a mask. The mask worn by the dancers shows the character he wore in a performance. The story that will be performed in this mask dance usually comes from historical narratives or legendary stories.



Based on the social strata of the play displayed, masks can be grouped into several types of masks. Types of masks include hard masks (figures of fighter), masks bondres (ordinary people), old masks (figures elder), and mask queen (the nobility).



In addition to the type of mask, there are also special mask types such as mask jauk, mask Calonarang, and mask telek. The mask of jauk is shaped like a transition between a giant human and a violent giant. This mask represents the creature that helps the Barong in the face rangda. The Calonarang mask shows the ugly, fangled, and wide-eyed and symbolic of evil. Like jauk, mask telek is an ally from barong, but a figure with a smooth face and character.



Today, Balinese masks are made not just as important properties in mask dance performances. But it has been sold freely to tourists who visit Bali and to be used as souvenirs.

Sintren Dance, Mystical Dance From Cirebon

Sintren is a traditional dance originating from Cirebon, West Java. Dancers in this sintren art will dance to be possessed by the spirits. This sintren dancer will faint if exposed to the money thrown in the direction of the dancer's body.



With gamelan accompaniment and beautiful clothing, the dancers are usually equipped with modern accessories, such as wearing glasses and ties, so that this sintren dance becomes very exotic and also mysterious. This art is very famous for the north coast of West Java and Central Java, such as Majalengka, Jatibarang, Berebes, Indramayu, Cirebon, Pemalang, Kuningan, Banyumas, and Pekalongan.



Sintren art is famous as a dance with a mystical or magical fragrance that comes from a Sulasih love story with Sulandono. The history of sintren is actually there are several versions, one of which is in the past there was a pair of lovers R Sulandono with Sulasih, they did not get the blessing of both parents R sulandono who at that time was regent of Mataram.



To be able to unite with sulasih, Sulandono then tapa and given a handkerchief, while sulasih must be a dancer in full moon ceremony. When sulasih is dancing, R sulandono then descends from his hermitage and throws a dancing sulasih, then sulasih fainted and entered by spirit, at that moment the body of sulasih is taken away, then they can continue the relationship.



The word sinten itself is built by 2 words, that is si and trends, said si or he and trends or tri which can mean "princess, so its meaning is" he daughter ", actual intention of dancing is not the dancer sintren, a daughter named sulasih, or commonly called R. Ratnamsari.



This Sintren show is played by a girl who is still holy and assisted by a handler accompanied by gending 6 people. In its development, dance sintren today only as a cultural entertainment which is then equipped with accompaniment dancers and also bodor (lawak).