Sisingaan dance

The art of Burok

The art of Burok is a traditional art typical of the Pantura. Previously, Seni Burok was used by Sunan Kalijaga for preaching. Now Seni Burok has developed according to the area where Seni Burok is performed. In Cirebon, Burok art is used for entertainment for circumcision events. Burok is usually paraded on the street to each other's house, which is located far from the event house and is accompanied by traditional Cirebon tarling dangdut music.

The typical Cirebon burok is made with the face of a beautiful woman and is dressed in a veil. Maybe because it was used for da'wah needs, the head of the burok was wearing a veil. The distinctive feature of Cirebon Burok Art is the accompanying music, namely Tarling Dangdut music. With this typical pantura music accompaniment, burok swayed to the beat.

Nowadays Burok art does not only feature burok, but also other animal forms such as bulls, tigers, birds, horses and many more as accompaniment to burok performances. These animals are the attraction and uniqueness of each of the burok arts groups.

Formerly, Singa Gotong or Gotong Singa or Singa Barong was a separate performance art from Seni Burok. Now, all kinds of animals and even the forms of "dedemit" are busy accompanying the burok, even the Barongsai, a traditional Chinese dance, also exists.

At the end of the event, Seni Burok is usually followed by a Rahwana performance. On the same body the head of the burok is replaced with the head of the Rahwana. This Rahwana performance has a story like a puppet story. Apart from Rahwana, there is also a white monkey named Hanoman. Usually Rahwana asked for a pillow and then threw the pillow onto the roof tile of the house. The end of the story of this performance is that Rahwana is killed by Hanoman by slashing Rahwana's head.

There are many groups or Art Burok groups in various Cirebon areas such as Seni Burok MJM, PKC, Pesona Nada, Burok Ayu, Pandawa and many more. Usually played by young people, especially men.

Generally, circumcised brides are dressed as wayang characters. The bride and groom choose the horse to be circumcised. The horse was chosen because it is relatively safer to ride. The horse is designed like Singa Gotong, there are handrails and footrests. Apart from lions and horses, there are also birds that accompany the burok. Usually, the brothers of the circumcision bride rode this other.

We often meet the figure of a man in green uniform at village events. That is Hansip or civil defense. In some places, his uniform has changed to a striped pattern. Usually there are two to three security guards guarding this fugitive procession.