The fascinating Klaten-Based art form, which features dance and dialogue accompanied by music, has, however, lost popularity since the 1980s.

The acts performed on Wednesday were fragments based on Cerita Panji (Tales of Panji), which tells the heroic love story of two characters, Raden Inu Kertapati (Panji Asmarabangun) and Dewi Sekartaji (Galuh Candrakirana).

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“In Klaten, topeng dalang used to be a crowd favorite. It was customary for anyone who held celebrations to include topeng dalang, including puppet masters,” said Bambang Suwarno, a puppet enthusiast from Klaten.

Bambang Suwarno shows two masks typically worn by 'topeng dalang' dancers. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

However, after the 1980s, the ancient art form became difficult to find. A lack of regeneration, combined with the public's preference for organ tunggal (a top 40-cover singer accompanied by a keyboardist) saw topeng dalang become a rarity. 

Last week, Komunitas Omah Wayang Klaten (Klaten Puppet Community) once again performed topeng dalang. According to the community’s head, Ki Suwito Radyo, the performance was an effort to revive the traditional art from.

Suwito said that in the last five years, the community had made ongoing efforts to reintroduce topeng dalang to the public, traditional musicians and puppet masters. 

In the 15-minute performance at Trunuh, a pair of male and female dancers performed alternately accompanied by gamelan music. The female was draped in jarik (traditional Javanese cloth) and kemben (breast cloth), while the male’s face was covered with a mask.

The show told the story of King of Jenggala, Lembu Amiluhur (played by Slamet Wardono), and his nursemaid (Giyah Supanggah).

Giyah Supanggah, 50, dances as Emban Raja Jenggala in Klaten, Central Java, on Wednesday. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

“Giyah is the only female puppet master in Klaten. Her love has made her invested in the art form for years,” said Suwito.

Suwito has held a similar show at Pura Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta. In 2017, choreographer Irawati Kusumorasri performed the dance at the International Mask Arts & Culture Organization International Conference in Laos.

“I chose topeng dalang as this art form is very interesting and can only be found in Klaten,” said Irawati.

Wardono, a 33-year-old puppet master from Klaten, said that the Klaten regency government had paid proper consideration to topeng dalang.

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“In its own birth place, topeng dalang is in a sorry state. The government is not even aware of its existence, even though the traditional art from has been around for hundreds of years,” said Wardono after the performance.

He also said that topeng dalang, as in other traditional art forms, was rich with philosophical themes, and that ethical, moral and life lessons could be found in the dance.

Wardono and Giyah were born to a family of topeng dalang artists.

“We try to perform whenever we can, no matter the occasion or the location. If not the young generation such as us, who else will preserve this art form,” he said. (wng)