Cirebon school fights to keep traditional arts alive

By Ida Indawati Khouw

CIREBON, West Java (JP): If you ask townsfolk if they know about the karawitan (traditional music) school inside Cirebon's Kasepuhan palace, the answer probably will be no.

The Pakungwati Karawitan High School's lack of recognition is partly because of its location within the palace complex.

But even many of those who know of the school are skeptical about the future of its alumnae. The karawitan school has only one specialty: Cirebon traditional dances.

Its lack of popularity is obvious. The first grade has just three students, the second has five students and the third only three students.

The school building is very modest: basically a long hall with the three classrooms separated by wooden partitions, and a staffroom.

But the principal, Hadi Soerojo, said Pakungwati would continue even if it had only one student. "Our prime goal is preserving the Cirebon culture," he said.

And the students keep coming, while the teachers never lose their enthusiasm even though they are paid a mere Rp 6,000 per hour. There is no such thing as the monthly salary enjoyed by teachers at regular schools.

The Pakungwati school is named after Ratu Ayu Pakungwati, the wife of Syech Syarif Hidayatullah, popularly called Sunan Gunung Jati, and one of the nine Islamic saints who propagated Islam in Java.

It was built in 1991 by the Keraton (palace) Kasepuhan Foundation, which was established on Nov. 11, 1988, and also manages the school.

The foundation's mission is to preserve Cirebon's cultural heritage through tourism and the arts.

Interest in the school was at first "not bad", Hadi said, with 30 students in 1991 and 20 in 1992 and 1993.

Skepticism in the future of graduates is one reason student numbers have dwindled to 11.

But people are also reluctant to send their children to a school that is privately owned (let alone by the palace).

The private ownership forces students to go to the Bandung State Karawitan School to sit exams.

"The laws require that there be only one state Karawitan school in each province. Cirebon is allowed to have one because it has a peculiarity, the palaces," Hadi said, referring to the four keraton in Cirebon: Kasepuhan, Kanoman, Kacirebonan and Kaprabonan.

The school's final practical exam is held in Bandung, about 180 kilometers from Cirebon. Students have to pay the cost of transport and accommodation for themselves and the musicians, which can amount to Rp 400,000 per student.

Seeking donations

Most students come from poor families. Hadi said one student unable to afford the transport costs often had to stay away from school.

"That's why we are always seeking donations, to keep the costs low.

"Last year we were able to subsidize the exam fee because we received funds from the city administration."

Every year the school receives Rp 15 million in operating funds from the city administration, but the Rp 10,000 monthly tuition fee is still too expensive for many students.

However, financial hardships do not seem to dampen the students' commitment to preserving the Cirebon arts.

Student Nani is a good example. Her father is a topeng (mask) maker from Kapetakan village.

"My father will do everything to send me to this school," she said. "His dream is to see me become someone who contributes to the Cirebon arts.

"I always attend classes, except when another inter-village fight (involving Kapetakan) breaks out," said Nani, who is carrying on an arts tradition from her father and grandfather.

Kapetakan is a notorious place, where residents of several villages are often involved in street brawls.

The schools' only male student, Dodi from Gesik village, said: "I want to continue my study to the higher arts school, then I want to dedicate myself to preserving the arts."

He agrees that preserving the arts does not provide a decent living.

"That's why I hope I can have a side job, maybe as flower trader like most people in my village."

Desi has a different dream. "I want to become 'ambassador' in arts and travel abroad introducing our culture," she said.

Another student, Elis, is optimistic about her future. "Teachers of Cirebon dances are much sought after," she said, adding that even now she could earn money from dancing.

"Students here can earn between Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000 for each Cirebon dance, so I think I can live from dance," she said.

The school's curriculum is similar to that of regular schools, but involves extra hours learning and practicing dances.

The dances are divided into three categories: Topeng (mask), Tayub (sensual folk dance) and Wayang (puppet).

Topeng dance teacher Rusiyanti said Cirebon boasted 19 genres of traditional dances.

The school's teachers are professional dancers, and some have academic degrees in traditional arts.

Despite the constraints on staffing and finances, the school has pioneered the preservation of such cultural heritage as Gamelan Sekaten, the music orchestra that once propagated Islam in Cirebon.

It also hosted a seminar last June featuring dance and music experts from villages with arts communities, such as Bongas, Gegesik and Indramayu.