Pusat Seni Pentas Tradisional (PuTRA) which was established on 24 June 2014 was launched by the social and Cultural Advisor of the Government of Malaysia at that time, YB Senator Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Raise Orphans. PuTRA is a continuation of efforts that are very relevant since the establishment of ASWARA in 1994 to produce graduates who are competitive in the creative industries and have a very large significance in the agenda of the preservation of Traditional Arts in the country.
PuTRA offers specialized academy core courses in traditional arts to all Aswara Diploma and Bachelor’s degree students. PuTRA provides a holistic traditional arts course covering theoretical, practical and philosophical aspects in mastering traditional knowledge through the concept of learning by studying with Adiguru which is practiced in PuTRA.
The role of Putra
To preserve traditional arts through learning, activities and programmes with the application of new ideas with the principle of ‘tradition at the root of modernisation’.Educate students who are balanced between practical and academic knowledge, have a high aesthetic value, it is pure and has good values.Collecting materials and works related to Adiguru and various traditional arts.
Objective Putra
Be a center that produces adiguru coatings and performers in a variety of skills, professional, bold and bold in traditional art.Become a reference Center for Adiguru and various traditional arts.Become a center for the collection and documentation of various traditional arts.
ADIGURU
Specialty in PuTRA is the concept of teaching and learning with Adiguru where students have the opportunity to gain knowledge directly from Adiguru-adiguru in PuTRA. Adiguru is an experienced and highly skilled instructor in his field. There are five Adiguru people under PuTRA, namely Adiguru Makyung, Wayang Kulit, Gamelan and Ethnomusicology.
Che Mohd Nasir Yusoff
has over 50 years of experience in Kelantan arts.Born on 15 April 1955 and received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kg. Kill, Kill, Kill. He received tutoring from the country’s art figures, namely the First National Artist Shadow Puppet teacher Pak Hamzah Awang Amat, the Main Teri teacher Pak Soh Tok Minduk, the Makyung teacher Mahmud Tok Payung and the Dikir Barat teacher Seman Wau Bulan.His expertise is as Tok Dalang in the traditional art of Wayang Kulit Kelantan, Tukang Karut and Tok Joghro in Dikir Barat. Skilled in playing musical instruments pergendangan Kelantan, role in the show Makyung role and Tok Teri in the show Play Teri.Being a consultant in the field of Kelantan arts to researchers from local and foreign universities and often invited to hold performances at home and abroad.He was the recipient of the Pingat Seri Mahkota Kelantan (SMK) on 30 March 2002 awarded by D.Y.M.M. Sultan of Kelantan, recipient of the Aswara Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and 2011.He has been appointed as a lecturer at ASWARA since 1995 and has been awarded as the recipient of the Adiguru ASWARA Special Award 2021.
Nik Mustapha Nik Md Salleh
has more than 50 years of experience in the field of ethnomuzicology involving research and scientific writing.Born on 13 May 1944 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan and received his early education at Sekolah Padang Garang, Kota Bharu Kelantan and Sekolah Inggris Islah, Kota Bharu Kelantan. He went on to study at The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) London in 1982 and received Grade 8 (Final Grade).His expertise is in the field of traditional and modern music as well as in the field of scholarly writing on music and traditional musical instruments. Among his books are:traditional musical instruments in the Malay community in MalaysiaJoget Pahang-Malay Gamelan (co-authored)Asian and Pacific musical instruments (organized by ACCU / UNESCO, Tokyo Japan – – has Published 3 series of videos and writing on the manufacture of musical instruments Rebab, Serunai and Gambusmusic Silat Baku Malaysiannually appointed as a member of the Society of Ethnomusicology (SEM) at Indiana University, Michigan USA (1984 – 2002), cultural trainer in the field of traditional Malay Gamelan music at the National Cultural Complex (KBN) (1982), head of music Program, Art guidance Institute at the KBN Education Unit (1986) and head of Traditional Performing Arts Center (PuTRA) Aswara (2015).He has been appointed as a lecturer at ASWARA since 2005 and has been awarded as the recipient of the Adiguru ASWARA Special Award 2021.
Abdul Khalil Hassan
experienced more than 50 years in the field of Malay Gamelan music.Born on 11 April 1946 in Teluk Intan, Perak. His highest education was LCE in 1962 and had participated in a short-term course in Gamelan music at the Kerawitan Arts Academy Solo, Indonesia Sponsored by the Asean Fellowship.His specialty is in Malay Gamelan music. He began his career as a musician at KBN, then was appointed as a music coach at the Cultural Center, University of Malaya, then became a cultural officer at DBKL and MBSA. He formed combos and orchestras as well as being the performance coordinator of DBKL Cultural Tours to Indonesia, Tokyo, Korea, Hong Kong, Turkey, Europe and Taipei.He is a recipient of the Medal of the Mahkota member of Pahang( Pahang), Mahkota member of Perak (Perak), Mahkota member of Selangor (Selangor), Member of Mangku Negara (Federal Government) and selected Pekerti medal (Perak).He has been appointed as a lecturer at ASWARA since 2007 and has been awarded as the recipient of the Adiguru ASWARA Special Award 2021.
Abd Wahab Othman
has more than 50 years of experience in the field of Traditional Music and traditional art Makyung.He was born on 1 September 1957 in Tumpat, Kelantan and received his LCE education. He started his career as a Makyung, Silat, Wayang Kulit and Dikir Barat coach in USM, Penang (1990 – 1993), musician in DBKL and KBN (1993-1997) and Makyung lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and performance at UPSI (2015).He was appointed by the Department of youth culture and sports as a Makyung Conservation course instructor and became a trainer for the Natural music manifestation workshop at JKKN Sabah (2007). He has represented Malaysia in Medan Dance Festival, Indonesia (1999), Yogjakarta Gamelan Festival, Indonesia, Tehran International Cultural Festival, Iran (2001), represented Malaysia in Cultural Promotion in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2003) and represented Malaysia in New York Arts Festival, USA (2005).He is responsible for creating makyung traditional performances with the Makyung Seri Nilam Istana Budaya Group and the group is actively performing Makyung Dewa Indera Indera Dewa, Endeng Tejeli, King’s son two similar and more.He has been appointed as a lecturer at ASWARA since 2015 and has been awarded as the recipient of the Adiguru ASWARA Special Award in 2021.
Fatimah Abdullah
experienced over 50 years in the traditional art of Makyung.Born on 7 August 1959 in Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu. He started getting Makyung traditional art education at the age of 10.Began to be active in the traditional art of Makyung in Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur (1967 – 1990). Continuing his career by becoming the head and mentor of Makyung performances in conjunction with UNESCO recognition as a masterpiece of intangible heritage of Humanity (Intagible, Culture Heritage of Humanity) in Kg, Telok Bachok, Kelantan.He has been a lecturer and advisor for Makyung performances organized at ASWARA, Ministry, Yayasan Seni Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Customs, University of Malaya Cultural Centre, Department of culture and Arts, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Petronas Arts Department, Nilam Sari group of Istana Budaya and National University of Malaysia Cultural Centre.He has been appointed as a lecturer at ASWARA since 2000 and has been awarded as the recipient of the Adiguru ASWARA Special Award 2021.ACADEMY CORE COURSE STRUCTURE (TRADITIONAL)
The power of traditional art courses in PuTRA
The traditional art courses offered have received national recognition through figures raised in their respective fields, namely the National Artist Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar or Rahman B (Bangsawan), the late Khatijah Awang (Makyung) and the late Hamzah Awang Amat (Wayang Kulit).
Makyung has been recognized on the world stage by the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) in 2005 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Humanity.
Traditional art production courses that must be taken by students there are various elements such as dance, drama, music, story, singing and production management where these elements are in accordance with the expertise of students from each faculty.
NETWORK COOPERATION AND EXPANSION PROGRAMS
In an effort to disseminate, preserve and uphold traditional arts such as Wayang Kulit, Makyung, Bangsawan, Randai and Mek Mulung, PuTRA giat cooperates both at the domestic and foreign levels for academic activities and programs and performances involving public and private higher education institutions, schools, art schools, government and private agencies, art activists, Aswara alumni, figures and invited artists. Among the foreign countries that PuTRA has collaborated with are New York University (2016), Kyoto University of Arts and Design, Japan (2016), East West Center, Hawaii, United States (2016), University of Wollongong, Australia (2017), PadangPanjang Art Institute, Indonesia (2021) and Korea National University of Arts (2021). PuTRA also organizes programs such as performances Caklempong, Gamelan, Ghazal, Dondang Sayang, Keroncong, original music, puppet making, Serunai as well as accessories and Traditional Art Props.