
In an effort to preserve and revitalize the traditional arts of Ranuyoso Village, Ranuyoso District, Lumajang Regency, the 2023 Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Doctoral Service Program team, consisting of the dean and lecturers of the Faculty of Cultural Studies (FCS), including Hamamah, Ph.D., M. Andhy Nurmansyah, M.Hum., Fredy Nugroho Setiawan, M.Hum., and Scarletina Vidyayani Eka, M.Hum., carried out the activity of Changing and Documenting Hybrid Traditional Art which was held in Ranuyoso Village.
This program aimed to explore and to document the traditional art within the region, while recognizing that without proper care, the traditional art may face the risk of extinction.
One of the projects that was undertaken involved the modification and combination of Jaran Kencak tradition with the Glipang Dance. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the elements in need of improvement in the performance of these traditions, resulting in the creation of a digital product in the form of a hybrid dance that combines these two traditions. The team hope to present this product to Provincial Education Department and have it chosen as a tradition introduced to the younger generation.

“I hope that the outcome of this hybridization can serve as a tradition which in turn can be introduced to the younger generation as a crucial step to preserving local culture and preventing it from extinction,” stated M. Andhy Nurmansyah.
The Glipang dance, originally a rain-prayer dance, has variations in purpose and movements across different cities in the East Java region. In addition to its dance movements, this traditional dance also incorporates the art of silat (martial arts), which is used to emphasize the plea for rain during times of water scarcity, to the extent of drying up local dams.

Apart from the aspect of dance movements, the philosophy of the costume has also evolved. While the tradition of wishing for rain was traditionally performed by men, now it has acquired a more feminine touch, allowing female dancers to participate in the performance as well.
Moreover, the Jaran Kencak Dance also serves the same purpose: to invite rain. In most cases, men are the performer in this dance, in which the dance moves also include movements representing jaran (horses) jumping up and down in an attempt to invoke rain. The philosophy of this dance symbolizes a plea to nature and the gods for rain, which is essential for agriculture and survival. In some variations, elements of silat are also incorporated, adding a more aggressive dimension to the rain invocation effort.
The hybridization process involved reducing the duration of both dances. Originally, the total duration for both dances was 26 minutes, but after combining the 7-minutes Glipang Dance and the 18-minutes Jaran Kencak Dance, the new hybrid dance has a duration of only 5 minutes.