Puppet People

Puppet People is the art of dance drama that takes the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata as the main story.

In terms of story, Puppet People is the embodiment of dance-drama Wayang Kulit Purwa. In the beginning, the middle of the 18th century, all the dancers Wayang is a male dancer, there is no female dancers. So rather like the show ludruk in East Java today.

In various books about the culture of wayang mentioned, the Puppet People was created by Duke Kangjeng Prince Arya Mangkunegara I (1757-1795). The players at that time consisted of palace courtiers.

The first time it performed Wayang is limited to the year 1760. However, the barn on the government Mangkunegara Wayang V show was more popular in the community, although still limited enjoyed by the relatives of the palace and its employees. Corrections art Wayang almost coincided with the birth of dance drama Langendriyan.

In the reign of Mangkunegara VII (1916 -1944) art Puppet People was introduced in the society outside the walls of the palace. Business popularize this art more and more rapidly when Sunan Paku Buwana X (1893-1939) initiated the Wayang performances for the general public in Balekambang, Taman Sri Wedari, and at the Night Market held in the square. His players too, not just the servants, but also people outside the palace of talented dance.

Operation of commercial Wayang performances started in 1922. At first, with the aim of raising funds for cultural congress. Then in 1932, was first included in the Puppet People radio broadcast, that is Solosche Radio Vereeniging, which received great response from the community.

Puppet People also spread to Yogyakarta. In the reign of Sultan Hamengku Buwana VII (1877 -1921) twice shew palace of Yogyakarta Wayang performances for family viewing palace. At that time lakonnya is Sri Suwela and Pregiwa - Pregiwati. Puppet People in Yogyakarta are called Wayang Wong Mataraman.

Clothing dancers Puppet People at first are very simple, unlike tidakjauh palace traditional clothes everyday, only added to the shawl dance. New at the time of Mangkunegara VI (1881-1896), dancer-Irah Puppet People wearing leather irahan carved trim, then disungging with tinsel.

In line with the development of Wayang. created a new dance movements created by the artists dance experts palace. New dance moves that include worship, sabetan, lumaksono. ngombak banyu, and srisig.

As it turns art Puppet People get a warm welcome from the public, various associations bermunculanlah Puppet People, at first with amateur status, then become a professional. Puppet Society who are old enough and famous, among them Wayang (WO Sriwedari in Surakarta and Semarang WO Ngesti Pandavas. Wayang Sriwedari is the first group of commercial culture in the arts Puppet People. Founded in 1911, this association held a stage Wayang : are still in the `gardener king 'which is owned commercial amusement park Kasunanan Keraton Surakarta.

Please also note, the role of Chinese community in Surakarta and Malang is actively developing the arts Puppet People. They joined the art club PMS (Surakarta Society) who periodically conduct dance and exercise at certain times hold performances for fundraising and charity.

The development of art in Surakarta, Wayang is more popular than in Yogyakarta. Creative artists of Surakarta to complement the dance clothes Wayang, led to the 'glamorous' with the luxury of the stage. To cast puppet bambangan like Arjuna, Abhimanyu, and the like, used female dancers. While in Yogyakarta still maintaining male dancer.

In Jakarta, in the year 1960 - 1990, had also established several associations Puppet People, among them the Word Sri Utama, Ngesti Culture, Ngesti Wandawa, Cahya Kawedar, Adi Luhung, Ngesti Widada, Panca Murti, and the longest lasted Bharata.

Performing arts Puppet People also gave birth to dance artists who stand out, among others Sastradirun, Rusman, Darsi, and Surana of Surakarta; Sastrasabda and Nartasabda from Semarang; Samsu and Kies Slamet from Jakarta.