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DANCE
Malay Mak Yong
Originating from Patani in Southern Thailand, Mak Yong
was conceived to entertain female royalty, queens and princesses,
when their men were away at war. Combining romantic drama, dance
and operatic singing, tales of the golden age of the Malay
kingdoms are dramatised in enchanting performances.
Kuda Kepang
Kuda Kepang is a traditional dance brought to the state
of Johor by Javanese immigrants. Dramatising the tales of
victorious Islamic holy wars, dancers sit astride mock horses
moving to the hypnotic beats of a percussion ensemble usually
consisting of drums, gongs and angklungs.
Zapin
Islamic influence on Malaysian traditional dance is perhaps most
evident in Zapin; a popular dance in the state of Johor.
Introduced by Muslim missionaries from the Middle East, the
original dance was performed to Islamic devotional chanting to
spread knowledge about the history of the Islamic civilisation.
Joget
Malaysia's most popular traditional dance, is a lively dance with
an upbeat tempo. Performed by couples who combine fast, graceful
movements with playful humour, the Joget has its origins
in Portuguese folk dance, which was introduced to Melaka during
the era of the spice trade.
Tarian Lilin
Also known as Candle Dance, it is performed by women who do a
delicate dance while balancing candles in small dishes.
Silat
One of the oldest Malay traditions and a deadly martial art,
Silat is also a danceable art form. With its flowery body
movements, a Silat performance is spellbinding and
intriguing.
Chinese Lion Dance
Usually performed during the Chinese New Year festival, Lion Dance
is energetic and entertaining. According to the legend, in ancient
times, the lion was the only animal that could ward off a
mythological creature known as Nian that terrorised China and
devoured people on the eve of the New Year. Usually requiring
perfect co-ordination, elegance and nerves of steel, the dance is
almost always performed to the beat of the tagu, the
Chinese drum, and the clanging of cymbals.
Dragon Dance
The dragon is a mythical creature that represents supernatural
power, goodness, fertility, vigilance and dignity in Chinese
culture. Typically performed to usher in the Chinese New Year, the
Dragon Dance is said to bring good luck and prosperity for the
year to come. Usually requiring a team of over 60 people, this
fantastic performance is a dazzling display of perfect
co-ordination, skill and grace.
Indian Bharata Natyam
This classical Indian dance is poetry in motion. Based on ancient
Indian epics, this highly intense and dramatic dance form uses
over 100 dance steps and gestures. As mastery requires many years
of practice, some children begin learning the dance form at the
age of five.
Bhangra
Bhangra is a lively folk music and dance form of the Sikh
community. Originally a harvest dance, it is now part of many
social celebrations such as weddings and New Year festivities.
Typically centred around romantic themes with singing and dancing
driven by heavy beats of the dhol, a double-barreled
drum, the bhangra is engagingly entertaining.
Sabah & Sarawak Ngajat
The Warrior Dance is a traditional dance of Sarawak's Iban people.
This dance is usually performed during Gawai Kenyalang or
'Hornbill Festival'. Reputedly the most fearsome of Sarawak's
headhunters, the tribe's victorious warriors were traditionally
celebrated in this elaborate festival. Wearing an elaborate
headdress and holding an ornate long shield, the male warrior
dancer performs dramatic jumps throughout this spellbinding dance.
Datun Julud
The Hornbill Dance is a traditional dance of Sarawak's Kenyah
women. Created by a Kenyah prince called Nyik Selong to symbolise
happiness and gratitude, it was once performed during communal
celebrations that greeted warriors returning from headhunting
raids or during the annual celebrations that marked the end of
each rice harvest season. Performed by a solo woman dancer to the
sounds of the sape, beautiful fans made out of hornbill
feathers are used to represent the wings of the sacred bird.
Sumazau
Sumazau is a traditional dance of Sabah's Kadazan people.
Usually performed at religious ceremonies and social events, it is
traditionally used to honour spirits for bountiful paddy harvests,
ward off evil spirits and cure illnesses. Male and female dancers
perform this steady hypnotic dance with soft and slow movements
imitating birds in flight.
Bamboo Dance
Another highly popular and entertaining traditional dance is
Bamboo Dance. Two long bamboo poles are held horizontally above
the ground at ankle-height. They are clapped together to a
high-tempo drumbeat. Requiring great agility, dancers are required
to jump over or between the poles without getting their feet
caught.
Orang Asli
The traditional dances of the Peninsular Malaysia's Orang Asli
are strongly rooted in their spiritual beliefs. Dances are
commonly used by witch-doctors as rituals to communicate with the
spirit world. Such dances include Genggulang of the
Mahmeri tribe, Berjerom of the Jah-Hut
tribe and the Sewang of the Semai and Temiar
tribes.
The Portuguese of Melaka Farapeira
The Farapeira is a fast, cheerful dance usually
accompanied by guitars and tambourines, performed by couples
dressed in traditional Portuguese costumes.
Branyo
Favoured mainly by the older Portuguese generation, compared to
the Farapeira the Branyo is a more staid dance.
Male dancers dressed in cowboy-like costumes and female dancers
dressed in traditional baju kebayas with batik sarongs
sway to the steady rhythm of drums and violins. |
