Costume Design of Beksan Wireng Bambangan Cakil Mangkunegaran Style: Study of Protagonist and Antagonist Visualization in Javanese Dance at Mangkunegaran
Costume Design of Beksan Wireng Bambangan Cakil Mangkunegaran Style: Study of Protagonist and Antagonist Visualization in Javanese Dance at Mangkunegaran

Summary/Abstract: The Beksan Wireng Bambangan Cakil in the Mangkunegaran style is performed by two dancers, each portraying characters with opposing traits and natures. These two characters symbolize the contrast between good and evil. The character Bambangan represents goodness or intellect, while Cakil represents evil or uncontrolled desires. The costume design plays a significant position in visualizing these two characters with their contrasting traits. This article aims to describe the costume designs of Bambangan and Cakil characters in Beksan Wireng Bambangan Cakil in the Mangkunegaran style. This is deemed important to reveal how Javanese people (particularly those from Mangkunegaran) visualize protagonist and antagonist characters as representations of good and evil based on their beliefs and ideas. This research employs an ethnochoreological approach with a qualitative research design. The data collection techniques used are participant observation supported by literature study and interviews. The results show that, as the protagonist, Bambangan is visually represented as a handsome knight with calm movements, while Cakil, as the antagonist, is visualized as an ugly and even frightening giant with dynamic movements. Through this visualization, it demonstrates one way in which Javanese people (especially those from Mangkunegaran) depict the contrast between good and evil. Visually, through the iconographic costume designs, the dance movements are reinforced to depict a person with a noble spirit in accordance with norms and ethics, and vice versa.

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