Kebon Alas, the Spirit of Dalang and Nayaga on Cirebon Mask Performance

Abstract

Kebon Alas refers to things or properties decorating a stage of Topeng Cirebon Dance (Cirebon Mask Dance) performance. To the crew of Topeng performance, Kebon Alas is the energy to boost the spirit of the performance. The absence of Kebon Alas in a performance gives emptiness feeling (mangmung) to dalang and nayaga. The study aims to reveal the meaning of symbols on Kebon Alas especially for the dalang and nayaga. The method applied in this study is taking esoteric approach, that is a teaching in religion or philosophy may only be understood by certain community. The result shows that the understanding toward things or properties on Kebon Alas is all related to the moral and religious teaching in Islam. This is in line with the function of Cirebon Mask Dance in the early of Islam in Java that is as the media for spreading Islam.