INDIGENOUS CULTURES FROM PURBALINGGA

"Recommended For: Teachers and Students"

Not much Purbalingga people in present day know Dames. it's an indigenous culture from Purbalingga that consist of 8 to 10 people and basically same as Rebana art. Dames players play rebana and gendang (traditional drum) and be combined with Shalawat (praise to our prophet Muhammad SAW) that taken from Al-Barjanji book. Sometimes, the lyrics imitates Campur Sari song. But, today Dames can't be found easily because the society are closer to pop culture (we say "modern culture") and think that Dames isn't proper to be watched because it's "out of date" culture or too ancient. They also more like watching "Organ Tunggal" or music concerts. The only Dames group today is Sinar Sari group led by Mr. Karsidi. Unfortunatelly! Other indigenous cultures from Purbalingga are Rodat and Lengger Santi. Basically, Rodat same as Dames, but it accompanied by a dance which is adopted from from Pencak Silat. And Lengger, maybe you have heard that it's a famous culture. It became very famous after a book entitled Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk by Ahmad Tohari was published. Lengger or Ronggeng is very famous in foreign countries too. Moreover, because the book had been translated into many languages.