SISINGAAN

Sisingaan (Sundanese Traditional Arts Society)

Origin
Sisingaan is a distinctive arts community Sundanese (West Java) featuring 2-4 stuffed lion that was carried by the players while dancing. On top of the stuffed lion that carried it usually sits a boy who would be circumcised or a public figure. There are several versions about the origin of art that grew and developed in the community of West Java. The first version says that sisingaan appeared around 70s. It was at the bridge of West Java in TMII displayed art gotong lion or sisingaan the shape is still modest. And, from the appearance on the bridge of West Java sisingaan art that later became known by the public until now.

The second version says that the art sisingaan invented around 1840 by artists from areas Ciherang, about 5 km from the city of Subang. At that time, Subang regency was once the "property" of the Netherlands and England by establishing P & T Lands. This causes as though Subang into an administration area double, because politically controlled by the Dutch, but the economy is under the influence of employers P & T Lands. As a result, the people of Subang to great suffering. Under these conditions, the arts sisingaan born as a form of popular resistance against the occupiers of both countries. And, to assert that art is a form of resistance sisingaan, then used two stuffed lions, a symbol of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Therefore, to this day in every game sisingaan always displayed at least two stuffed lions.

In a further development, the arts sisingaan not only spread to other areas in Subang district, but also to other districts in West Java, such as Regency Bandung, Purwakarta and Sumedang. Besides spread to some areas, this art is also experiencing growth, both in the form of a lion puppet refinement, the arrangement of dance, costume players, as well as waditra and songs played.

Player
The players sisingaan generally men who are members of a group consisting of: 8 penggotong stuffed lion (1 doll carried by 4 people), a leader of the group, some players waditra, and one or two people jajangkungan (players using a long wooden 3-4 meters to walk). These players are the ones who have special skills, both in dance and play waditra. Specific skills that need to be owned by any player because in a collective show sisingaan needed a solid team that played all the dance moves while carrying a stuffed lion to be in harmony with the music played by the nayaga.

Points and Gaming Equipments
Sisingaan art is generally shown at noon with around the village at the time there was the circumcision ceremony, welcome guests, the inauguration of the village head, the celebration of independence day and so forth. The duration of a staging sisingaan usually takes a long time, depending on the area or whether the village will be surrounded.

Equipment used in the game sisingaan are: (1) two or four stretchers stuffed lion. Order and head dolls lion stretcher is made of wood and bamboo wrapped in a cloth and given a seat on his back. Whereas, for feathers in the head and tail are made of raffia thread. For the record, the first lion-shaped stretcher is made of wood with a feather from the rafters and fireworks are usually made impromptu at a time will be performing. So, first sisingaan not permanent, but only used once and then discarded; (2) a set waditra consisting of: two large drums (drums and percussion child ovaries), a trumpet, three tap (bonang), a kentrung (kulanter), a small gong, and a kecrek .; and (3) fashion players consists of: trousers shucks / pangsi, iket barangbang Semplak, clothing and footwear tarumpah taqwa or salompak.

Performances of Sisingaan
Sisingaan show begins with words of welcome group leaders. After the group leader gives a speech, then the child will be circumcised or community leaders who will be paraded welcome to climb stuffed lion. Furthermore, the tool accompaniment sounded to bring the songs are rhythmic dynamic to mark the beginning of the show. Then, a number of 8 players will start carrying two stuffed lions (one doll carried by 4 people).

After the penggotong stuffed lion ready, then the leader will start giving cue that they start doing the dance movements simultaneously and concurrently. The penggotong doll was immediately perform acrobatic movements are quite thrilling. Dance movements usually played by penggotong stuffed lion is: igeul ngayun glempang, post / horses, mincid, padungdung, gugulingan, bangkaret, put up, kicking two steps back, Kael, EWAG, jeblang, Depok, solor , sesenggehan, genying, turn taktak, nanggeuy lion, lifting jungjung, ngolecer, emblem, pasagi tilu, literacy cau, nincak rancatan, and kakapalan.

Meanwhile, the songs played by the interpreter kawih to accompany the dance is usually taken from art Tap Tilu, Doger, and Kliningan, such as drought, Song, Titipatipa, Gondang, Kasreng, Gurudugan, Mapay Roko, Flower yam, Kangsring, Kembang Beureum, fruit Kawung, Gondang, Tenggong Petit, Sesenggehan, Badudud, stumps Kawing, Side Butut, Sireum Beureum, and the song interlude (Siyur, Tepang Sono, Durable Rajet, Fibre Salira, Honey and Poison, Mr. Wonderful, Goyang Dombret, Warudoyong etc. ).

Performing this sisingaan done walking around the village or the village, and finally returned to its original place. And, with the arrival of the dancers in the first place, then the show was over.

Culture value
Art as an expression of the human spirit, of course, contains the aesthetic value, including traditional arts sisingaan who fostered and promoted by society Ciherang Subang district. However, when examined in depth sisingaan contains not only the aesthetic value, but there are other values ​​which in turn can be used as a reference in everyday life for the community supporters. These values ​​include teamwork, teamwork, discipline, perseverance dam. The value of their collaboration visible unity in preserving the cultural heritage of its predecessors. Compactness and order value is reflected in a staging that can run smoothly. The value of hard work and perseverance is reflected in the mastery of dance movements.