Dalang

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A dalang manipulating puppets - The Indonesian Embassy in Australia
A dalang manipulating puppets - The Indonesian Embassy in Australia

The dalang (Javanese: dhalang) is the puppeteer in wayang kulit performance of Indonesia.

In a performance of wayang kulit, the dalang sits behind a screen which is used to project the shadows. In front of the dalang is a plangkan (a type of table with holes punched in its surface), on which the necessary puppets sit ready for use.

In addition to moving the puppets and speaking their lines, the dalang is also responsible for giving cues to the gamelan. This is done principally by playing the kepyak, a set of bronze plates played with his foot.

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