Recount Text : Sintren Traditional in Pemalang City

Sintren Traditional in Pemalang City

      Sintren is a traditional Javanese dance, especially in Cirebon. This art is famous on the north coast of West Java and Central Java, including in Indramayu, Cirebon, Majalengka, Jatibarang, Brebes, Pemalang, Banyumas, Kuningan Regency, and Pekalongan. Sintren art is also known as Namalais. Sintren art is known as a dance with a mystical / magical scent.
Sintren is a combination of two syllables: "Si" and "Tren" Si means He, while Tren means princess. Princess. So Sintren means the princess. Putri is the main actor in the Sintren performance.

   Sintren's history begins with the story of Sulandono as Ki Baurekso's son as a result of his marriage to Dewi Rantamsari. Raden Sulandono combined his love with Sulasih, a daughter from Kalisalak Village, but the love affair did not get the blessing of Ki Baurekso, finally R. Sulandono went to meditate and Sulasih chose to become a dancer. Even so the meeting between the two is still ongoing through the supernatural.

   The meeting was arranged by Dewi Rantamsari who put the spirit of an angel into Sulasih's body, at that time also Sulandono who was imprisoned was called by his mother's spirit to meet Sulasih and there was a meeting between Sulasih and R. Sulandono. Since then, every time a dancer's performance is held, the dancer is sure to be entered by the spirit of an angel by her handler, with a note that this is done if the dancer is still in a holy condition.

   This form of presentation of sintren is divided into three, namely pre-performance, dupan, and sintren. In the pre-performance stage, the accompaniment starts playing gamelan that intends to call the audience. After that, proceed with Dupan, the stage where the handler requests a prayer for salvation. The last stage is Sintren, which is the stage where the handler brings the prospective dancer along with four other ladies in waiting.

   The stages to become Sintren, first the handler holds both hands of prospective dancers, then is placed on the incense smoke, then the prospective dancers are tied with ropes all over the body. After that, prospective dancers are put into a chicken cage together with sintren clothing and makeup equipment. Furthermore, after there is a sign (the cage sways), the cage is opened, the sintren is released from the string and ready to dance.

   In this Sintren art, there is a term called Balangan, which is a situation when a Sintren dancer is dancing, and then the audience throws something towards Sintren. Every time he gets hit, the sintren dancer will faint. In addition, there is also the term Temohan, wherein a sintren dancer with a tray or tray approaches the audience to ask for a sign of gratitude in the form of money.

   For dancers' clothing, clothing that is used is divided into two, namely, clothing before performing the show that is everyday clothing and clothing when dancing, namely clothes, sampur, cloth, glasses, etc.
The instrument used in Sintren art is a large roof. However, because of the times, musical instruments have become more modern. Many accompanists use gamelan, even a single organ.

   The right time to display the Sintren Show is at night on the full moon or on Friday night kliwon.

   The function of the existence of Sintren art is as a means of public entertainment, namely, Appreciation of art and aesthetic values ​​of the community. It is also to enliven the commemoration of major holidays, such as the anniversary of independence, anniversary.