Getting to Know Sintren Dance, a Mystical Cultural Heritage from Cirebon
CIREBON-ASWINNEWS.COM – Sintren Dance, one of Cirebon’s traditional arts, continues to be a cultural attraction that is full of mystical elements and a long history.
This dance not only functions as public entertainment, but also has strong spiritual values.
As explained by Bahrudin bin Suwali (deceased), Head of Peguron ‘Setia Putra’ on Jalan Kalijaga, Kalijaga Pesantren Village, Harjamukti, Cirebon City when talking to Abah Roy, from aswinnews.com, Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Bahrudin continued, Sintren is known as a dance that involves magical elements, where a young girl dances in a trance after going through a special ritual.
“This process is led by a shaman who recites a mantra while burning incense. Uniquely, in a trance, the dancer magically wears dance clothes without being touched by anyone,” he said.
According to legend, Sintren Dance originated from the love story of Sulasih and Sulandono, which was hindered by the blessing of their parents.
Sulandono’s mother, who was a powerful ascetic, finally gave Sulasih supernatural powers so that she could meet her lover in the form of a spirit that possessed the body of the Sintren dancer.
In the past, Sintren Dance was often performed in traditional ceremonies and entertainment events for the coastal communities of Cirebon, Indramayu, and Brebes.
However, along with the development of the times, Sintren performances began to be packaged more modernly by reducing mystical elements, making it more of a performing art that can be enjoyed by all groups.
However, the preservation of Sintren Dance still faces various challenges.
The lack of young people who are interested in learning this dance is one of the main factors that threatens its existence.
Arts and culture activists continue to strive to revive Sintren through various festivals and regional art performances.
The Cirebon regional government has also taken steps to preserve this culture by including the Sintren Dance in the regional arts performance agenda and encouraging the younger generation to get to know more about the cultural heritage of their ancestors.
“Sintren is not just a dance, but also a reflection of the culture and history of the Cirebon people. Preserving this dance is important so that it is not lost in time,” said Bahrudin.
With various revitalization efforts being made, it is hoped that the Sintren Dance will continue to exist and continue to be known as part of the cultural wealth of the archipelago that should be maintained and preserved.
Author, AbahRoy
Chairman of DPC Aswin, Cirebon City
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