tradition. (1)

ttrraaddiittiioonn..
NOVEMBER 2021

page 17

unique musical
instruments that
played during the

dance




5 DDAANNCCEESS One of tourist
biggest
yyyooouuu ssshhhooouuulllddd kkknnnooowww
attraction

page 1

UUDNNAIINQQCUUESEE
OF MALAYSIA

You should

!check out

unique dance.

Table Of Content

1 Ngajat 1-3
4-5



2 Ulek Mayang

3 Kuda Kepang 6-7
8-9
4 Magunatip 10-11
dance

5 Fan dance

6 Reference 12

unique dance.

NGAJAT.

popular family of dances among the Iban people in Sarawak

1

unique dance.

The Iban community created the They will also wore beads and cowrie
'Ngajat' dance, which has been passed shells necklaces around their chest and
down through generations. Although ceremonial cawat or loincloth. The
the origins of this traditional Iban dance dancer will start with slow moves, to
are uncertain, it is believed to have symbolize stalking the enemy. Then, they
existed with the Iban tribe since the will do a dramatic prances as though he is
16th century. It is believed that warriors leaping forward to attack. The
performed the Ngajat dance when they performance will be compabnied by the
returned from a battle. This dance is music from tribal musical instruments,
usually performed to commemorate like the enkeromong, benday, canang and
Gawai Dayak, the most important dumbak or ketebong. The musician can
harvest festival, and to welcome be either of the gender.
important guests in the longhouses and
other places.



To perform the dance the male dancers
will wear a headwear that were made
from the tail feathers of the hornbill but
nowadays they use artificial one to save
the birds. They will hold a long sword in
one hand and a decorated shield in
other hand.

2

unique dance.

Next, the female dancers have to wear an elaborate
headdress, chains, beads and a specific dress that
reaches under their knee that have small weaving. In the
beginning this dance is only for men dancers but now
the female dancers can join it too because the dance
only arranged in straight lines and in a circle and doesn’t
involve those dramatic leaps and jumps that were
performed by the men. Both Iban men and women have
different style of Ngajat dance. The ngajat is
characterised by a large number of precise body-turning
movements.
For men, the ngajat is more forceful, depicting a man
going to war or a bird flying (as a respect to the Iban god
of war, Singalang Burong). Ngajat for ladies is made up
of smooth, flowing motions with very accurate body
twists. The taboh, or body, is always present with each
ngajat.

3

unique dance.

ULEK MAYANG

The Ulek Mayang is said to have its origin in Tand put an end to it."I know your origins,”
an ancient tale about a sea-princess who fell says the eldest princess, and she commands
in love with a fisherman. The princess everyone, "Let those from the sea return to
abducted the fisherman's soul, leaving his the sea, and those from the land return to
body unconscious. His friends entreated a the land."The grateful bomoh and the
bomoh (shaman) to heal him. When the fisherman’s friends present the princess
bomoh conducted the healing ritual to bring with coloured rice as an offering to the
the fisherman's soul back, the princess spirits of the sea. This practice, along with
appeared and responded by calling on five of the Ulek Mayang dance, continued until the
her sisters to her aid. The battle between the Islamization movement of recent decades.
bomoh and the six princesses continued
until seventh and the eldest princess
appeared

4

unique dance. Before , there is no instruments used .
It just a song accompanied the dance.
The costume of Ulek Mayang dancers has The sharman will burnt the Kemeyan
two type of clothes, six of the seven female and chanting the pantun altogether.
dancers will normally wear a traditional In these days , in order to perform this
dress such as a long sleeve songket (a silk dance , the instrument used are
material blouse), selendang (a long scarf) traditional instruments and modern
that wore in the waist and finger, sanggol instruments . The traditional
(a hairknot), subang (an earring) and long instruments are gongs , percussion
songket skirt in the lower body with and for the modern instruments , they
others accessories. The main character of used violin and accordian .
the dancer that played as a Tuan Puteri
(Madam Princess) or Puteri Tujuh (7th This dance performed during certain
Princess) will used the same dress and occasion such as wedding or other
accessories like the six others dancers but related formal function . Yet, it is still
the different thing is she will wear the being perform but for only
short sleeve songket blouse and the color entertainment purposes and cultural
of her dress also are different. Usually she appreciation.
will wear the yellow dress. This is to
illustrate that she is the main princess of 5
the dancer. While the male dancers they
will wear the traditional Malay male shirt
like Baju Melayu (a Malay male shirt.

unique dance.

Another unique dances in Malaysia is Kuda Kuda
Kepang. Kuda kepang dance is so named
because of its movements, which resemble a
galloping horse. Kuda Kepang is a
traditional folk dance that was first
introduced here in the early 20th century
when Javanese immigrants, who brought
this unique dance, first arrived in the
southern tip of the peninsula. This dance
was to be said as heritage dance culture for
the Javanese and influenced with Islamic.
There are many stories regarding the origin
of Kuda Kepang dance. One of the stories is
Wali songo who live in the land of Java in
15th Century makes his effort to expand
Islam in rural areas where he is facing
difficulties to approach them. Then, he got
an idea which is to dance like riding.

Besides that, Nine Saints, who was
instrumental in spreading the religion of
Islam in the Indonesian island of Jawa also
created this dance. The dance dramatizes
tales of holy wars won for Islam long time
ago. The dance, now popular in the state of
Johor. Other than being known as a cultural
dance, Kuda Kepang is also known as
famous traditional game among Johor
society. The dance usually performed by
nine to 15 dancers where all the dancers
garbed in Javanese clothes. The dancers are
usually all men.

6

unique dance.

angklung

In this dance, they use various types of
instruments. There are three main props of this
dance. Firstly, is horses which the imitation are
made of cowhide and will be decorated with paint.
The usual colour is red, white and grey. Secondly,
is whip which is made of several span bamboos
that function as trapping the entrance of the
dancers, directing and keeping them in the stage.
Lastly, is rope where the measurement is 30
meters. It is used to form rectangle fence so that
the trance dancers will not hang around and not
harming audience. Meanwhile, the other musirc
instruments used in this particular dance are
Angklung, Drum and Gong. Usually Kuda Kepang
performed at wedding and feast occasion. It is also
being included in major celebration in Johor such
as Johorean Government festivals, culture displays

Kepangand Sultan of Johor’s birthday celebration.

7

unique dance.

Magunatip Dance

One of the traditional dances found in Malaysia is the bamboo dance. It is famous in the
state of Sabah and is a unique dance danced by the Murut people. It is also known as the
magunatip dance. This Magunatip dance is a traditional dance of several Murut tribes in
the interior of Sabah. The purpose of the Magunatip dance performed is to persuade the
spirits of their ancestors to take care of them and on Magavau day to worship the spirit
of paddy.

The word Magunatip is taken from the word
“atip” which means pressing between two
surfaces. We can see this dance performed by
the Melanau people under high houses at
certain times. They also perform this dance
at their main cultural shows. It is now a
common dance at cultural events and
festivals throughout Sabah. Usually this
dance does not require musical
accompaniment because the sound of the
bamboo being fought will produce a strong
sound as well as an interesting beat and
rhythm. This dance is a dance performed
during certain ceremonies in honor of guests.

The costumes worn by the dancers are colorful and decorated with beads of various
kinds have added more specialness to the dance. Female dancers wear "salupai" worn on
the head, "pipirot" which is a belt, bracelets and legs, chains and so on while male
dancers wear clothes made of wood bark and "tupi sinulatan" worn on the head

8

unique dance.

Magunatip dancers need good skill and
agility to dance across reeds that are
beaten simultaneously to produce the
sound and rhythm of the dance. Two
dancers sit opposite each other while
holding two pieces of bamboo. Slowly they
began to knock on poles on the floor,
creating a rhythm. Add the sound of gongs
and the Magunatip dance is ready to begin.
Two Murut dancers wearing traditional
costumes and hats jumped among the
reeds clapping. People are amazed at their
agility as the dancers move in parallel and
avoid hitting the bamboo. Slowly the
tempo increased. The applause was getting
faster. From a distance, the dancers almost
looked like they were floating with their
mesmerizing speed of movement.
Suddenly, the fun ended without injury to
the cheering crowd. This is the Murut
Magunatip dance.

Never done for a returning head
hunter. It is now a common dance
at cultural events and festivals
throughout Sabah. Usually this
dance does not require musical
accompaniment because the sound
of the bamboo being fought will
produce a strong sound as well as
an interesting beat and rhythm.
This dance is a dance performed
during certain ceremonies in
honor of guests.

9

unique dance.

Fan Dance

Chinese dance is an art performing involves This fan dance has been categorized in two
rhythmic body movements that combined music ways which are civilian and military. Mostly,
and costumes. It is a detailed and graceful dance a fan dance performance are viewing the
such as ballet but it use fans and other props like civilian form. The military-based fan dancing
feathered banners to make it more beautiful. The does not use fans at all. They have taken the
cue from civilian fan dancing by using
扇子舞first recorded fan dance, or in Chinese known as coordinated group movements for military
(shànziwǔ ), was during the Han Dynasty. exercises and exhibitions. Sometimes you will
see military members using their weapons
same to how civilian performers use fans.
They use the same movements in a more hard
and valid style.

10

unique dance.

There are some purposes of the Chinese fan dance. Firstly, it is used to help pass down
traditions and stories of Chinese culture. Tourists and younger Chinese generations can
learn about classic tales and lore of China's from the fan dance. Secondly, fan dancing also is
an entertainment. They are using fan as props and wearing brightly-colored costumes for
an eye-catching of movement. Lastly, Chinese fan dancing is an exercise to discipline the
participants. Like the other forms of dance, the choreography that represent around with
fan dancing requires physical fitness and ability to memorize each step. Another form of
personal discipline is being responsible to attend regular rehearsals and performances. This
can be a way for beginner Chinese dancers to improve their bodies and minds with an
activity.

Since fan dancing is used for storytelling, the
costumes are often are based on the part of the
tale being told. Some dancers may be dressed in
individual costumes to help the story, but all of
the fan dancers are dressed in a matching
costume. They used fans to highlight the
dancer’s movements and costumes. The fans
bring more attention to the choreography and
add a beauty that cannot be duplicated by other
forms of dance. They are rarely simple paper fan
to add the overall effect.

朝 鲜The dance originated from Chaoxian, (Chinese: ;

pinyin: cháo xiǎn) a minority group, which is one of the

ethnic groups in China. Fan Dance usually has been

performed by female dancers. Normally,they used

subtle and harmonic sound and some traditional

Chinese instruments. For example, the pipa which is

similar to a guitar, the erhu that known as Chinese

violin, gongs and bamboo flutes are instruments that

used frequently in fan dance. Chinese fan dance is

usually performed in celebration of Chinese culture and

can expresses the feelings of joy.

11

REFERENCE

-https://sites.google.com/site/1132702789v1/kuda-kepang
-https://www.thestar.com.my/travel/malaysia/2011/04/13/kuda-kepang/
-https://goingplaces.malaysiaairlines.com/mesmerising-movements-the-ancient-art-of-kuda-
kepang/



-https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/8-mesmerizing-chinese-dances-that-you-
should-know/
-https://ourpastimes.com/traditional-chinese-fan-dance-12329107.html
-https://dance.lovetoknow.com/chinese-fan-dance
-http://www.cnyccc.org/?p=7661
-https://study.com/academy/lesson/chinese-dance-history-music-costumes.html

12

MEMBERS

HUMAIRA ADRIANA AZRIN AZWANI
F01712 F01727

WRITER OF KUDA WRITER OF BAMBOO
KEPANG DANCE

FARRAH DANIA ALYA HUDA
F01702 F01732
LEADER EDITOR

WRITER OF ULEK WRITER OF
MAYANG NGAJAT

AINUL SYAZANI
F01723
EDITOR

WRITER OF FAN
DANCE