Lengger Mask Dance - Wonosobo Traditional Dance

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Lengger Mask Dance - Wonosobo Traditional Dance

Wonosobo regency is a district in Central Java Province. The capital is Wonosobo. It is adjacent to Temanggung and Magelang regencies in the east, Purworejo regency in the south, Kebumen regency and Banjarnegara regency in the west, and Batang regency and Kendal regency in the north.

Wonosobo district stood July 24, 1825 as the district under the Sultanate of Yogyakarta after the battle in the Diponegoro War. Kyai Moh. Ngampah, who helped Diponegoro, was appointed as the first regent with the title of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (K.R.T.) Setjonegoro.

Natural tourism 

Natural attractions in Wonosobo Regency are: 

1. Dieng Tourism Area 

2. Wadaslintang Reservoir 

3. Sikarim Waterfall 

4. Lake Menjer 

5. Curl Winong 

6. Anget Times 

7. Sikunir 

8. Mount Prahu 

9. Summit of Sindoro and Sumbing Mountain 

10. Muncar Waterfall

Family Tour

Wonosobo is very minimal family tourism. No tourist attractions are really well managed. It seems that the Local Government needs to work with private parties to come up with interesting sights in Wonosobo regency.

Family attractions in Wonosobo Regency are:

1. Agro Tambi 

2. Hot Water Baths Manggisan 

3. Outbound 

4. Bathhouse and swimming pool Mangli 

5. Hot Water Baths 

6. Kalianget Tourist Bath 

7. Sukorejo Kebondalem hot water bath

Art and culture

Wonosobo district has several cultural arts, namely: 

1. Sontoloyo Dance 

2. Bundengan 

3. Lenggeran 

4. Ruwatan Hair Gimbal 

5. Lumping Horse 

6. Calung

Lenggeran or Lengger Mask

Lengger mask dance is a paired dance, in accordance with the name and story. "Mask" refers to men, while "lengger" to women. Meanwhile, philosophically, "lengger" comes from "lenggeran" which is short for "elingo ngger marang gusti pangeran" which can be interpreted as remember you to the creator.

Lengger Dance which belongs to Dance Folk category is certainly has its own philosophy. Lengger means tledhek male. This dance is semi traditional dance, which has been very long known in the middle of Java.

In this dance, each dancer can play a different role. Women can play male characters. And vice versa, men can portray a female character.

Although considered as a sacred dance, there is no special time for this dance performance. Lengger mask dance can be performed anytime and anywhere, by giving an offer before starting the show.

In addition, if you want to watch this dance is not recommended to wear clothes that are red. During the show, the dancers will be possessed. And when possessed, dancers will pursue anyone who is wearing red clothing.

The mask dance along with its lenggernya ngetrend called penthulan (Wonosobo city), which still existed to be entertainment of some areas of Central Java society every hajatan is one of the cultural heritage since ancient times, with the accompaniment of gamelan music that is not standard as dikeraton because this dance itself was born from Modification of the commoners.

Lengger himself is a female dancer, the main dancer, in the time of walisongo, at that time the awareness of Islam is good lengger played by men,, now to add interest so that more interesting in sensuality lengger back to original with female dancers. Usually in the full package this performance is celebrated lengger dance + kuda lumping or called embleg (kedu) or also ebeg (banyumas).

History In Lengger Dance

Some sources say lengger dance comes from the Kingdom of Kediri. It is said, Princess of King Brawijaya - Dewi Sekartaji - escaped from the house because it would be mated with King Klono of the kingdom of Sebrang. Rajapun held a contest. Whoever was bound to bring home the Princess if a woman was made a brother and if the man would be made her husband.

So princes from the kingdom of the archipelago rushed to find him. Short story was only two participants who are Raden Panji Asmara Bangun disguised as Joko Kembang Kuning from the kingdom of Jenggala and Prabu Klono himself.

So Joko Kembang Kuning and his bodyguards were disguised as mobile dancers who moved from one village to another. They play the role as a man who wears a woman mask and accompanied by sober music. It turned out that each pementasanya received a rousing welcome and finally named Lengger from Ledek (dancer) and geger (uproar / crowded)

Finally in a village, Dewi Sekartaji out of hiding and watch the dancers - Lengger dancers who actually was Joko Kembang Kuning. But Prabu Klono also knew the where abouts of the Princess and sent her sister, Retno Tenggaron and her soldiers to applying Dewi Sekartaji. Of course the application was rejected. They fought the victory by the Princess.

At the end, Joko Kembang Kuning and Dewi sekartaji were married. But King Klono did not accept and invited a fight Joko Kembang Kuning. Of course won by Joko Kembang Kuning. And their marriage takes place with Lengger dance entertainment.

How to Perform Lengger Dance

Lengger dance is usually not separated from the face mask called Topeng. Dance with mask accessories is usually staged by two people, men and women, men wear masks and women wearing traditional clothes even they used to use populist clothing that is still very simple.

This dance consists of several rounds. Duration of dancing usually takes about 10 minutes in each round. Currently already experiencing the development of this lengger dance accompaniment. Although included in the category of Folk Dance, but the current dance of this dance is usually accompanied by the music of gambang, saron, kendang, gong, and others or with a set of gamelan.

Female dancers dressed up like ancient Javanese court princess using kemben and scarf. Male dancers perform with masks. This Lengger dance by people is now named the Lengger Mask Dance or Tayub Mask.

The difference between Tayub Topeng (Lengger) and Tayub. The difference lies in the dancers. For Tayub Dance, Female Dancers are usually virgins, but for Lengger Dance women can be male. But over the times, the rules have started to change.

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