dhalang

The dalang, sometimes spelled dhalang, is the master puppeteer in Indonesian shadow theatre, most closely associated with the traditional art of wayang kulit. The dalang is the central figure in a performance, responsible for manipulating the leather puppets behind a white screen, narrating the story, and providing voices for the numerous characters. He coordinates with the accompanying gamelan orchestra, cues sound effects, and guides the tempo and mood of the performance.

In a typical wayang kulit presentation, the dalang sits behind the screen and uses a lamp to cast the puppets’ shadows. Through varied pitches, speech patterns, and characterizations, he differentiates protagonists, antagonists, and comic figures, often weaving in improvisation and audience interaction. The dalang’s skill combines storytelling, acting, musical timing, and technical manipulation, requiring extensive memory of episodes, genealogies, and verse.

Training for dalang is traditionally passed within families or apprenticeship lines, with a new master guiding a student over many years. Prospective dalangs learn hundreds of stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and local cycles such as the Panji narratives, along with regional customs and ethical traditions embedded in the performances.

Wayang kulit, featuring the dalang, is recognized as a key cultural heritage in Indonesia and is noted by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. While most performances center on male dalangs, there are contemporary instances of women participating in various capacities within the art form.