Kuda Lumping (Leather Horse, because the main tool used for dancing in origin is a big puppet made of leather, but at present leather no more used and changed with bamboo or rattan) is an Indonesia traditional dance origin. Kuda Lumping has much synonymous; Kuda Kepang, Jaran Kepang, Jathilan, or Ebeg another name of Kuda Lumping in Banyumas cultural region, a region located in western part of Central Java. In Bali, this similar dance named Sanghyang Jaran (Jaran=Kuda=Horse).
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| Ready for Dancing |
Kuda Lumping is a rural Javanese grassroots community famous art, this art not only relating to entertainment but also with wider social perspective. This dance was born to symbolize spirit and power of soldiers in a war to face the royal enemy (because this dance born when empires still exist). Dancers can be man or women. But at the peak of the dance commonly only man dancer will be possessed by supernatural spirit.
Today the dance performed not only in a royal or governmental celebration, but also acted as a form of merry entertainment, Independence Day, and other social or mass events.
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| The Gamelan Orchestra |
Kuda Lumping performed by a group of dancers commonly drawn from the local community, the group can number from three up to eight (as usually happens on a group of army).
Symbolization of a group of army perform in dance by riding a horse puppet together, the dancer dance accompanied by Gamelan Orchestra a traditional Indonesia music. Not as is Javanese dance, Kuda Lumping dance not perform in gentle, but danced roughly but still harmonic. By riding the “horse,” the dancer jump up, and roll on the ground.
Supernatural Element |
| Moving fast in trance |
One of unique in Kuda Lumping entertainment is that this dance also has supernatural element. When the peak of the show coming, dancer will dance in trance, all dancers will possessed by external spirit. They will keep dancing for several minutes before peak of trance happens and began to eat everything from glasses, fire, stripping coconut by his teeth and many other depending on ‘unusual stock’ available on the spot.
This action actually the part that most wanted by audiences. From the psychological perspective, it could be a psycho war to the enemy. We are the more than only strong soldier!
In many occasion the audiences also influence by supernatural element, to the audiences who also possessed thy will come down joint with the dancer and dancing in trance together. Of course, this is the most commotion part of the show. They all will keep in trance until The Dukun (The Supernatural Master and The Leader of The Group of Kuda Lumping) feel that show is enough and the trance must be endend.
Finally The Dukun will use his supernatural power to pick out the extra energy from everyone who possessed by The Indang (Indang is name of the supernatural visitor who come possessing the dancers and audiences).
If you would like to a Kuda Lumping video on You Tube please click here.
