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.
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| 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’.
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| 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.
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| 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’.
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| The captivating Sumazau dance |
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| 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
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| 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
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| The courting couple of the Joget Sabah dance |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| The female dancers of the Magunatip dance |
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| The dancers of the Magunatip dance |
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| The skilled male dancers of the Magunatip dance |
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| Guests trying their luck at the Magunatip dance |
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| Photography session with the Magunatip dancers |
If you
wish to go to Sabah and experience their lifestyle, please contact us at
03-2260 3667 / 4667 or email us at leisureincentivetours@gmail.com.
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