Malangan Cultural Exploration: Mask Carving & Gamelan

Welcome to the Malangan Cultural Exploration program! This cultural and educational tour package is specially designed to introduce, explore, and let you directly experience Malang’s signature traditional arts: the Malangan Mask Dance and Gamelan orchestration.

Activity Rundown:

Day 1: Introduction to Malangan History & Cultural Philosophy

- 09:00 - 10:00: Participant welcome at a traditional studio in Malang, introduction to local instructors and masters.

- 10:00 - 12:00: Lecture session on the history of the Singhasari Kingdom, the origins of Malangan Masks, and the philosophy of classic character types (Panji, Gunungsari, Bapang, and Dewi Sekartaji).

- 12:00 - 13:30: Break and traditional Malang culinary lunch.

- 13:30 - 15:30: Introduction to the Malangan-style Pelog-Slendro Gamelan instruments, song structures, and regional laras/pathet scales.

Day 2: Malangan Mask Crafting & Basic Dance Techniques

- 09:00 - 12:00: Malangan Mask carving and painting workshop. Participants learn how to carve facial details and apply base colors following traditional mask character guidelines.

- 12:00 - 13:00: Lunch break.

- 13:00 - 16:00: Basic Malangan Mask dance training (lampah, tanjak, and ngelier movements) accompanied by live Gamelan music.

Day 3: Gamelan Performance Practice & Mini Showcase

- 09:00 - 12:00: Intensive Gamelan playing practice (learning how to hold mallets and master rhythms for the kendang, demung, saron, and bonang).

- 12:00 - 13:00: Lunch break.

- 13:00 - 15:30: Dress rehearsal for the Malangan Mask dance collaboration with Gamelan music played live by the participants themselves.

- 15:30 - 16:30: Closing mini showcase, performance evaluation, and certificate presentation.