MAGAZINE FULL FINAL

DANCEJUNE2022LIFE

WHAT IS

CULTURE
DANCE?

DIFFERENT The Cultural
Symbol of Sabah,
TYPES OF
PERFORMANCE Sumazau

ARTS IN Here’s 10
Fun Facts About
MALAYSIA
Dancing

BHARATANATYAM

of life

“See the music,
hear the dance”

CONTENTS 04

05 12

08

Editorial Letter 02

Whats is culture dance? 04
06
Different types of Performance 10
Arts in Malaysia 14
Joget
The Cultural Symbol of Sabah, 16
Sumazau

TABLE OF Here’s 9 Fun Facts About
Dancing

IT’S QUITE A THRIL you’ve come to count on finding in
our pages: fashion, jewelry, travel, the
to take my place as the newest editor arts, decorating and, of course, your
in chief of this great magazine. I’ve horoscope, Think of this magazine as
been readingTown & Country since the most interesting party any. one
I was at college,in the first class of could ever go to. It takes time to make
men at Vassar. It was the late Age your mark on a magazine, but little by
of Aquarius, and my friends and I little we’re going to get to know each
were living it through the wit and other well. For now, let’s just say I hope
glamour of Town & Country’s you like Champagne, because I plan to
silken world. If onlyour own lives give you a tall glass of it every month.
had been as frothy. The entire
culture was rebooting around us;
in an unimaginably short time,
the social order rearranged itself
before our eyes. It was all very
exciting, Only once, maybe twice
in your life are times that dramatic,
enough to makeyou aware that
the world is teetering between
what has been and what’s coming.
I believe this is one of those
moments again, and that I have
the good luck to take the reins
of Town & Country on the verge of
another big cultural turning point,
We’ve shaken off the newness of the
21st century; it finally seems ready to
reveal what it has in store for us. A great
time for a magazine like this, wouldn’t
you say? Town & Country is going to
be reporting more on these big social
and cultural changes as they surface,
along with all the pure pleasures of life

Rupphendran

RUPPHENDRAN, Editor Of Chief

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3

WHAT'S IS CULTURE
DANCE?

Many people find that traditional dance Cultural dance is a special type of

unites the mind, body and community. dance that is shared by a community. It
There are many different and unique can have specific uses and meanings.
These include rituals, ceremonies like
forms of dance across the world, and marriage and birth, paying respect to

many are found in Africa. For some ancestors, or simply for enjoyment! The

communities, dance is a way of life. dance is unique to a certain people and

their traditions.

4

TRADITIONS
OF DANCE

Many types of cultural dance in DANCE AND THE
Africa are dances of ancestors. INDIVIDUAL
They can be hundreds of years
old. The types of dance are hugely Dance has a wide range of health
diverse and each region has benefits. This includes both
different traditions. This makes physical and mental health.
each community’s dance unique It is a form of aerobic exercise,
and special. meaning that it increases the heart
rate and causes the body to take
Playing the drum is very common DANCE AND THE in more oxygen. Some African
in African dance. Dancers will COMMUNITY traditional dances are some of
often move to its rhythm. The the most high-intensity cultural
beat of the drum can be like the Dance can be seen as a form of dances in the world. This helps to
‘heartbeat’ of the community. communication. It can be more keep the body strong and healthy.
Another common feature of expressive than speaking or As well as this, it can feel good to
African dance is polyrhythm. This writing. It allows members of a move, reducing stress and anxiety.
means that there are two or more community to interact with each A scientific study has shown that
different rhythms being played other and express themselves. people dancing to an African
at the same time. Sometimes The structure of a dance can reflect drum beat find it helps them to
different dancers follow different the structure of the community. For feel ‘release’.
rhythms, or a single dancer may example, a dance might separate Every traditional dance is
follow different rhythms with people into groups according to different. It is a unique and
different parts of their body age, sex, family, or status. This can precious part of the culture that
Although the above broad make these groups stronger. has benefits for the individual and
definition covers all forms of As well as strengthening the bonds the whole community.
the art, philosophers and critics with others, traditional dances can One of the most basic motives
throughout history have suggested represent ties with ancestors. It can of dance is the expression and
different definitions of dance that help us learn about our culture and communication of emotion.
have amounted to little more our history. This gives us a sense of People—and even certain
than descriptions of the kind of identity and pride. animals—often dance as a way of
dance with which each writer was releasing powerful feelings, such
most familiar. Thus, Aristotle’s as sudden accesses of high spirits,
statement in the Poetics that dance joy, impatience, or anger.
is rhythmic movement whose
purpose is “to represent men’s 5
characters as well as what they do
and suffer” refers to the central
role that dance played in classical
Greek theatre, where the chorus
through its movements reenacted
the themes of the drama during
lyric interludes.

DIFFERENT TYPESOF
PERFORMANCE ARTS
IN MALAYSIA

Malaysian arts and culture
are as diverse as the
population. Watch shadow
puppetry, Chinese opera,
classical Indian dances or
join in Borneo’s bamboo

dances.
TheMalaysianPhilharmonic
Orchestra housed in the
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
accompanies the world’s
finest musicians while
theatre groups regularly
stage plays and satire in the
National Theatre or Istana

Budaya.

6

The gamelan music had its the dance beats which are often live audience, including theatre,
origins in Indonesia hut is accompanied by singing and music, and dance.
common in traditional Malaysian clapping of hands. Popular village Theatre, music, dance and object
performances. pastimes such as silat, the Malay manipulation, and other kinds
It is dominated by melodious art of self-defence, are interesting of performances are present in
drum beats and gongs and often to watch as it is also a dance form. all human cultures. The history
accompanies dances. Catch many of these performances of music and dance date to pre-
The joget is a popular Malay dance amid demonstrations at the historic times whereas circus skills
performed at cultural festivals and Malaysia Tourism Centre (MTC) date to at least Ancient Egypt. Many
weddings. in Kuala Lumpur or cultural performing arts are performed
The bhangra dance is very much centres in the respective states. In professionally. Performance can
a feature of the Sikh community. East Malaysia, head to the Sarawak be in purpose built buildings,
It is a vibrant and colourful dance Cultural Village or the Monsopiad such as theatres and opera houses,
accompanied by a medley of folk Cultural Village in Sabah to witness on open air stages at festivals, on
songs and musical instruments these events. stages in tents such as circuses and
such as a tambourine. The performing arts are arts such on the street.
The graceful Sumazau dance as music, dance, and drama which Live performances before
is the national dance of the are performed for an audience. an audience are a form of
KadazanDusuns of Sabah while It is different from visual arts, entertainment. The development
Datun. Julud is a popular dance which is the use of paint, canvas or of audio and video recording has
of Sarawak. In the latter, the sape, various materials to create physical allowed for private consumption
a musical instrument renders or static art objects. Performing of the performing arts. The
arts include a range of disciplines performing arts often aims to
which are performed in front of a express one’s emotions and
feelings.

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BHARATANATYAM
OF LIFE

“You must have “ According to the Hindu tradition methods of acting and gestures.
the name of the dance form was One of the five great epics of
class you to give derived by joining two words, Tamil Literature, ‘Silappatikaram’
birth to a ‘Bharata’ and Natyam’ where (~2nd century CE) has a direct
‘Natyam in Sanskrit means dance reference to this dance form. The
dancing sister and ‘Bharata’ is a mnemonic Shiva temple of Kanchipuram that
comprising ‘bha’, ‘ra’ and ‘ta’ which is decorated with carvings dating
-Friedric Nietzsche- respectively means ‘bhava’ that back to a period between 6th to
is emotion and feelings; ‘raga’ 9th centuries CE manifests the
Bharatanatyam, a pre-eminent that is melody; and ‘tala’ that is development of this dance form by
Indian classical dance form rhythm. Thus, traditionally the around the mid first millennium
presumably the oldest classical word refers to a dance form where CE. Many ancient Hindu temples
dance heritage of India is bhava, raga and tala are expressed. are embellished with sculptures of
regarded as mother of many other The theoretical base of this dance Lord Shiva in Bharatanatyam dance
Indian classical dance forms. form, which is also referred as poses. The eastern gopuram of
Conventionally a solo dance Sadir, trace back to ancient Indian the 12th century Thillai Natarajar
performed only by women, it theatrologist and musicologist, Temple, Chidambaram, of Tamil
initiated in the Hindu temples Bharata Muni’s Sanskrit Hindu Nadu dedicated to Lord Shiva
of Tamil Nadu and eventually text on the performing arts called bears sculptures depicting 108
flourished in South India. ‘Natya Shastra’. The text’s first poses of Bharatanatyam, referred
Theoretical base of this form complete version was presumably as karanas in ‘Natya Shastra’, that
traces back to ‘Natya Shastra’, the completed between 200 BCE to are intricately carved in small
ancient Sanskrit Hindu text on 200 CE, however such timeframe rectangular panels. Another
the performing arts. A form of also varies between 500 BCE and notable sculpture can be seen in
illustrative anecdote of Hindu 500 CE. According to legends Lord the Cave 1 of Karnataka’s Badami
religious themes and spiritual Brahma revealed Bharatanatyam to cave temples dating back to the
ideas emoted by dancer with the sage Bharata who then encoded 7th century where a 5 feet tall
excellent footwork and impressive this holy dance form in Natya sculpture of Lord Shiva is depicted
gestures its performance repertoire Shastra. The text that consists of as Nataraja doing Tandava dance.
includes nrita, nritya and natya. thousands of verses structured in The 18 arms of the Shiva sculpture
Accompanists include a singer, different chapters divides dance in expresses mudras or hand gestures
music and particularly the guru two specific forms, namely ‘nrita’ that are part of Bharatanatyam.
who directs and conducts the that is pure dance comprising of In 1932, E Krishna Iyer and Rukmini
performance. It also continues to finesse of hand movements and Devi Arundale put forward a
inspire several art forms including gestures, and ‘nritya’ that is solo proposal to rename Sadiraattam,
paintings and sculptures starting expressive dance that comprises of also known as Parathaiyar Aattam
from the spectacular 6th to 9th expressions. According to Russian or Thevarattam (Tamil) The term
century CE temple sculptures. scholar Natalia Lidova, ‘Natya “Natya” is a Sanskrit word for
Shastra’ elucidates several theories “dance”. The compound word
of Indian classical dances including Bharatanatyam is seen to connote a
that of Tandava dance, standing dance that harmoniously expresses
postures, basic steps, bhava, rasa, bhava, raga and tala.

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TO DANCE IS TO BE OUT OF YOURSELF.
LARGE, MORE

BEAUTIFUL MORE
POWERFUL

-AGNES DE MILLE-

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Joget

Tradisional Folk Dance

The Joget dance (also called the Ronggeng) Archipelago, the Joget has been known as a
was introduced to the Malays in Malacca fast-paced popular dance and is performed
during the early 16th century. Its origins may at cultural festivals, wedding celebrations and
be traced back to two popular Portuguese folk many other social functions. Its catchy beat
dances, the Branjo and Farapeirra. Throughout and cheerful combination of fast hand and leg.
Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and the Riau

10

INSTRUMENTS

For Joget , the musical instruments used consist The dance vividly shows the customs
of violin, a knobbed of gong, a flute (optional) of the Malayan true nature and life
and two rebana (at least). There are two types style. The dances are divided in to
of two traditional orchestras, the Gamelan two main categories; the original which
and Nobat which plays lilting melodies as it depicts Malay region and highlights
uses an ensemble of gong-percussion the characteristics of Sumatra,
and stringed instruments is considered Malay Peninsula, Singapore, the Riau
a royal orchestra that plays a Archipelago and Borneo. The other
more solemn music. Another type of category is the adopted which is i
special Malaysian music is Kompang nfluenced by foreign cultures due
which is one of the most prominent political and historical events; the dance
traditional instrument used in a variety is well known for its beats and rhythm.
of social occasions such as national
day parades and official functions
and weddings. The hand drum used “You must have
is played in large ensembles where
various rhythmic compose patterns class you to give
and produce several layers of rhythms.
birth to a “

dancing sister

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Chinese Lion Dances: What Is It?
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in
of the lion. It is distinguishable from the
Chinese culture and other Asian countries in dragon dance which is performed by many
which performers mimic a lion’s movements people who hold the long sinuous body of
in a lion costume to bring good luck and the dragon on poles. Chinese lion dance
fortune. The lion dance is usually performed fundamental movements can be found in
during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese martial arts, and it is commonly
Chinese traditional, cultural and religious performed to a vigorous drum beat.
festivals. It may also be performed at There are two main forms of the Chinese
important occasions such as business opening lion dance, the Northern Lion and the
events, special celebrations or wedding Southern Lion. Both forms are commonly
ceremonies, or may be used to honour found in China and around the world
special guests by the Chinese communities. especially in Southeast Asia, the Southern
The Chinese lion dance is normally operated Lion predominates as it was spread by the
by two dancers, one of whom manipulates Chinese diaspora communities who are
the head while the other forms the rear end historically mostly of Southern Chinese.

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The Origin and popular with the rise of Buddhism During the rule of the
History of Lion in the Northern and Southern legendary “Huang Di”
Dynasties (420–589). In the Tang (“Yellow Emperor”), a
Dances Dynasty (618–907), the lion dance monster called “Nien”
was one of the court dances. appeared in China,
Opinions about the origin of the After that lion dances continued attacking people and
Chinese lion dance are widely to become a popular performance the animals. It was
divided. among the people, to pray for good so fast and fierce that
In traditional Chinese culture, luck during the Spring Festival neither dogs nor tigers
the lion, like the Chinese dragon, or during other celebrations. could beat it. In despair,
was only an animal that existed The lion dance is an excellent the people asked the
in myth, and there were no actual example of Chinese folk culture, lion for help. The lion
lions in China. Before the Han which has spread across the bravely rushed towards
Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD), only a world with Chinese immigration. the monster and
few lions had reached the Central Overseas Chinese in Europe, wounded it. The “Nien”
Plains from the western area of America, etc. have established many fled, but declared to
ancient China (now Xinjiang), lion dance clubs, performing on come back to take
due to the Silk Road trade. Chinese festivals or big occasions, revenge.A year later,
particularly Chinese New Year. the “Nien” returned.
Without the lion’s protection this
time, the people produced a “lion”
out of bamboo and cloth. Two men
crawled inside and approached
the “Nien”. The “lion” pranced and
roared, driving the monster away
again. From then on, lion dances
have become a yearly tradition
to frighten evil away nities.

At that time, people mimicked the “God is good,but“
appearance and actions of the newly
arrived lions in a performance, never dance
which developed into the lion with a lion
dance in the Three Kingdoms
Period (220–280) and then became

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Sumazau Dance, the Cultural
Symbol of Sabah

Sumazau is the iconic dance of Sabah. It’s a traditional most classic version is by Kadazan Penampang, one
dance originated from the Kadazan and Dusun (or of the sub-ethnic of Kadazandusun living in west
Kadazandusun) people, the largest indigenous group coast of Sabah. When Malaysians talk about Sabah,
of Sabah. The dancers imitate the eagle in flight by an image of Kadazan Penampang couples dancing
stretching their arms to both sides and swing them Sumazau would appear in their mind. Sumazau dance
up and down like bird wings. Usually Sumazau is is a traditional dance of the people of Sabah that is
danced in group of male and female partner as pairs, very famous in Sabah and throughout Malaysia. It is
who move with rhythm of beating of gong and drum. a traditional dance of the Kadazandusun tribe that
Normally Sumazau is performed in cultural events and is often performed at Tadau Kaamatan or at festivals
celebrations. Sumazau is a generic term for “dance” other than Tadau Kaamatan which means Harvest
in Kadazan. It can be called Sumayau, Mongigol Day which is celebrated in the state of Sabah every
and Maragang in other Kadazandusun tribes and it May. The end of May was chosen based on the fact
comes with several styles (more on this later). The that traditionally in the past, paddy cultivation only

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Sumazau dance in Kadazan language, and Sumazau dancers consisting of men and women
usually wear all-black clothes decorated with
sumayau in Dusun language. Sumayau in the village interesting patterns using gold-colored thread. The
language means to dance, can be associated with the female dancers are adorned with shawls and belts
word minsayau, meaning to jump around. The number (hinogot) made of silver coins (trade dollars) and a set
of dancers is not set, but must be in pairs, the more the of tangkong made of copper. Male dancers will usually
merrier. Sumazau/sumayau dance varies according to wear tanjak in addition to all -black clothes and hang
ethnicity. Gong beats also vary by ethnicity. Its ritual dried silad leaves at the waist as a substitute for paddy.
dances fulfill various functions such as the sumazau Now the Sumazau dance is held in many ceremonies
dance which is danced to recite according to the such as weddings, celebrations to welcome the
district and village. arrival of dignitaries, where it is also danced by all
This dance is danced with both hands raised to shoulder those present regardless of race and age to enliven
level and fluttered like a bird’s wing fan, according to a the ceremony without wearing clothes. traditional
rhythm that is played slowly and gently. A pair of male b means to dance, can be associated with the word
and female dancers dance facing each other and they minsayau, meaning to jump around. The number of
move their feet with small steps, while the heels of the dancers is not set, but must be in pairs, the more the
feet are raised and lowered according to the rhythm merrier. Sumazau/sumayau dance varies according to
of the song, depending on where the breadfruit of the ethnicity. Gong beats also vary by ethnicity. Its ritual
kadazandusun tribe comes from. When dancing the dances fulfill various functions such as the sumazau
hand is pushed out, as if it is flying but the wrist is dance which is danced to recite according to the
waved. This situation can also vary according to the district and village.lack.
district. Sometimes when dancing the dancer can as
far as swinging or waving. Nowadays the sumazau/
sumayau dance is danced at every ceremony and the
crowd welcomes the hard crowd, but the original
purpose of this dance is to welcome the arrival of
“Bambaazon” (rice spirit) which is usually done after
the rice harvest.

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9 FUN FACTS ABOUT
DANCING

1. The “Dancing Plague”of 1518 was a mania that 6. The dance world is full of superstitions. By saying
lasted a month and killed dozens of people in things like “break a leg” before a show, people are
Strasbourg, France through exhaustion or heart saying the exact opposite of what they hope will
attack. People just danced uncontrollably until they happen on stage.
collapsed!One other famous case involved people 7. Hindu religion has very close relationship to
dancing on a bridge. Eventually so many people dance and music. This connection can be seen in their
danced that they broke the bridge and fell into the river. countless Bollywood movies that all celebrate dancing.
2. A world record for the longest conga dance 8. African slaves that were brought in Brazil 300-400
line was set by 119,986 people in Miami in 1988. years ago were prohibited from practicing martial
3. An English man tragically died during an office arts. Therefore, they developed the mix of dancing
Christmas party. The cause of death? He overexerted and fighting that is known today as capoeira.
himself dancing to Psy’s megahit Gangnam Style. The 9. Breakdancing was first created as a “less lethal”
lesson here is that if you have certain health conditions, form of fighting between warring African-America
you should not stray outside of your comfort zone. street gangs in 1970s Bronx area of New York City.
4. You may know Tupac Shakur as the late This form of dancing re-emerged into worldwide
rapping legend of the late 80s and early 90s, but popularity during 1990s.
what you may not know is that he used to do
ballet! He became a member of the 127th Street
Ensemble, a Harlem based theater company.

5. In 2008, the world’s first “sustainable” dance
floor opened at Club Watt in Rotterdam. The
floor’s tiles each sit on springs hooked up to
generators. The harder people dance, the more
the springs are compressed and this converts into
energy, which runs the LED lights in the floor.

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““Dance is the hidden language of the

Soul, of the body.

Martha Ganam