The Mask, the Ritual, and the Woman Who Dances Her Ancestors | Nani Topeng Losari | TEDxBandung
This dance isn’t only art - it’s a breath from spiritual legacy and maintained history from generation to generation.
Nani Topeng Losari, a mask artist from Cirebon, is a descendant of Tari Topeng Losari tradition from her grandmother. Since childhood, she has dove into art through various spiritual stages, such as fasting and casting spells. In 1998, Nani was officially promoted into a Dalang Topeng Losari as the 7th generation, after undergoing a series of rituals.Her performance begins with thumps of drums and gamelan tunes in Cirebon style that immediately caught the attention of the audience. The procession begins with a prayer for smoothness, followed by an opening dance movement as if "presenting herself" and conveying a greeting of respect before wearing the Topeng Losari mask which is more than a hundred years old. This dance is not merely a spectacle, but a manifestation of respect, spirituality, and perseverance in preserving a tradition inherited across generations. Nani Topeng Losari, seniman topeng asal Cirebon, adalah pewaris tradisi Tari Topeng Losari dari sang nenek. Sejak kecil, ia telah mendalami tari topeng, menjalankan berbagai tahapan seperti puasa dan merapalkan mantra. Pada 1998, Nani resmi menjadi dalang Topeng Losari sebagai generasi penerus ke 7 setelah menjalani ritual. Dengan dedikasi tinggi, ia menjaga tradisi Topeng Losari dan menganggapnya sebagai ritual untuk mendekatkan diri kepada Tuhan.
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Nani Topeng Losari, a mask artist from Cirebon, is the heir to the Topeng Losari Dance tradition from her grandmother. Since childhood, she has deeply studied mask dance, undergoing various steps such as fasting and chanting mantras. In 1998, Nani officially became the Topeng Losari master, after going through a consecration ritual in seven ancient wells. With great dedication, she preserves the Topeng Losari tradition and views it as a ritual to draw closer to God. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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