Tumpang: Sanggar Seni Mangun Dharma

The Sanggar Seni Mangun Dharma is an important centre of East-Javanese culture. The director is Mas Soleh, dhalang (puppeteer), dancer and expert gamelan player. His young American wife, Karen, is a pesindhen (singer of gamelan music) and dancer. She often sings during wayang performances and is renowned for her Tari Ngrema, a long and complex dance in which the female solo dancer plays a male role.

The padepokan has numerous pupils (cantrik), mainly from dance and music academies in East Java, but also from abroad.

Visitors may see performances of east-Javanese mask dances (wayang topeng, a specialty of the sanggar) or witness a wayang kulit performance with mas Soleh as dhalang or with Karen as one of the pesindhen (usually there are at least three female singers during a wayang kulit performance which lasts all night).

You may take lessons at the padepokan in mask carving (teacher: Pak Trisna) or batik or dance or gamelan playing (any instrument).

If you are a gamelan player or dancer, please visit the sanggar on a Wednesday afternoon when there is a latihan starting at around 3 p.m.
Enjoy a chat with the players and dancers and of course meet Mas Soleh and Karen. The leader of the gamelan is Pak Kusnadi (see photo below)

You will find the atmosphere very pleasant, the people hospitable, warm, friendly and very approachable. Highly recommended!

More about Tumpang here

IMAGES


To download or view large image: right-click on picture.

Contents:
Front row: Ki Soleh, Karen, Bp. Kusnadi Mas Soleh
Tari Ngrema by Karen, Malang 7:10:2000 Wayang Topeng

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