Sabah's Multi Cultural Dance Performance

Sabah has the largest indigenous ethnic group with 55 different languages and about one hundred different dialects. Among the 32 ethnic groups are the Kadazan Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Suluk, Malay and Chinese. Each group has their own culture traditions and customs, resulting in a rich multi dance rituals, song and unique traditional costumes.

DALING-DALING AND IGAL-IGAL DANCE

This dance is famous among the Suluk community from the east coast of Sabah, Semporna. The Suluk or Sea Bajau is seafaring people in this part of the world’s most beautiful beaches and the renowned Sipadan Island.

The handsome couple of the Daling-Daling dance

It is a Suluk love story between the Prince and Princess of Bohey Dulang. A beautiful and lively courting dance called ’Daling-Daling (derived from the English word Darling). The Prince seems to do the ‘Silat (Malay martial art) to woo his sweetheart! This dance is usually performed during festivals, wedding ceremonies and also used to welcome guests.

The Princess wears full custom accessories from head to toe; the Crown called ‘Mahkota’, long finger nails called ‘Janggal’ and a Sash or Shawal known as ‘Sablai’. Whereas the Prince wear a distinct tall headdress called ‘Tengolok’

The Igal-Igal is similar to’Daling-Daling’ in terms of costumes and origin, the difference is that there is no Prince and Princess. It is accompanied by the sounds of traditional music instruments called ‘Kulingtangan’, ‘Canang’, ‘Gendang’ and three different types of Gong. The dance is very similar to ‘Daling-Daling’ but is more graceful and is normally performed in the Regatta Lepa ceremonies where the Bajau will decorate their ‘Lepa’ or boat with colorful flags.

SUMAZAU PENAMPANG

The Sumazau dance is a very well-known dance among the locals and is the traditional dance of the Kadazan Dusun community in Penampang. The Sumazau means dance in the Kadazandusun language is usually performed in the month of May during the Harvest Festival or ‘Pesta Kaamantan’.

The female Sumazau dancer

The female dancer wears a black traditional dres called ‘Sinuanga’ accompanied with two chain belts called ‘Himpogod’ and ‘Tangkong’ and a crossed red sash called ‘Sandang’ around their shoulders. The ‘Himpogod’ is made with coins whereas the ‘Tangkong’ with rings.

The male and female Sumazau dancers

The male dancer are dressed in black with a colorful piece of cloth around his waist called ‘Hinonol’, a head dress on his head called ‘Siga’ and a bundle of dried leaves sling across his shoulder called ‘Is’aad’.

The captivating Sumazau dance

I wish I can fly ...

The dances perform in pairs with the male dancers leading the way during the dance. Both male and female dancers start off with rhythmic movements on slightly bent knees and arms swinging by the sides. With a loud cry ‘Pangkis’, the male dancer will lift his arms likes wing outstretched and change his step to the alternating ‘sole and toe’ movement with the female following suit a gentler manner

THE CHINESE FAN DANCE

The graceful Chinese Fan dance

The origins of the Chinese fan dance can be traced back to the era of the Han dynasty, which dates back around 200 A.D. The Chinese Fan Dance or ‘Xan Tze Wu’ is a representation of beauty, grace, skill, traditions and history. This creative Chinese dance can still be performed to entertain people during festive celebrations such as during the Chinese New Year or during wedding ceremonies or any social occasions.

JOGET SABAH

The courting couple of the Joget Sabah dance

The lively Joget Sabah dance

The Joget is a traditional Malay couple dance and the tempo is fairly quick wit the feeling of teasing and playing between the partners. It was influenced by the Portuguese dance of Branyo which is believed to have been spread to Melaka during the era of the spice trade. The dance is performed at cultural festival, wedding and other social occasions.

BAJAU DANCE

The male dance wears a head dress on his head called ‘Tanjak’ and a piece of cloth around his waist called ‘Selendang’ whereas the female dancer, the head dress is called ‘Sarempak’ which gold in color.

Welcome dance and Kuda-Kuda dance

As for the Welcome dance is only performed by the female dancer to present colorful food cover made from ‘Silad’ leaves, the famous traditional handicraft of the Bajau Sama tribe.

The ‘Kuda-Kuda’ or Horse dance id performed by the male dancer. On the left hand, he will hold a traditional spear called ‘Bujak’ and on his right hand, he will hold a horse whip called ‘Pasut’. He will dance energetically by moving around the stage with great skill by imitating the movement of the horse.

Kuda Pasu dance

The ‘Kuda Pasu’ or Porcelain Horse is performed by couples. It was originally preform by skilled horsemen of the Bajau tribe and inspired by the horses of the tribe.

In this dance, the hands of the male dancers are slightly more angular by bending at the elbow and wrist with the palms flat. The back of the wrist of one arm is placed at the hip while the other is held around the shoulder level.

The female dance uses a pair of scarves that they swing in a vertical circle beside her body or in semi circles with her arms loosely at the sides of her body.

The Bajau dance is accompany the traditional musical instrument called ‘Kulintangan’ which is a set of nine small kettle gongs, three hanging gongs and two double headed drums called ‘Gandang’. All the dancers will dance to the beat of the traditional musical ‘Bertitik’ rhythms called ‘Tigad-tigad’.

MAGUNATIP DANCE

The Magunatip dance is performed by the indigenous people of the interiors of Sabah, including the Dusun of Tambunan, the Kujiau Dusun of Keningau and many of the Murut ethnic groups.

Magunatip is derived from the word ‘Atip’ which mean ‘to press between two surfaces’. Two bamboo poles are laid across and are hit and clapped together while the dances, first test the waters with their toes, leap in and out the clapping poles, first alone then with their partners. It is dance of happiness performed at social occasions and to honor distinguished guests.