StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Swaying Body: Use of the Body in the Malay Dances - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Swaying Body: Use of the Body in the Malay Dances" tells that the Malay dance is interesting because they do incorporate the cultures of other traditions. This is relevant as it emphasizes who they are and they also get a chance to portray their tradition and customs through dance…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.8% of users find it useful
The Swaying Body: Use of the Body in the Malay Dances
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Swaying Body: Use of the Body in the Malay Dances"

Task: The swaying body: Use of the body in the Malay dances The Malay dance was performed, mostly by the people from Malaysia. It incorporated a diverse culture from the peoples of the Peninsular and East Malaysia. In addition to that, it also comprised of the incorporation of the Hindu-Buddhist dance and drama culture. These were practiced in the early royal courts1. The Malay dance is interesting because of the fact that they do incorporate the cultures of other traditions such as Chinese, Japanese and Islamic, thus the creation of the Malay dances and song. This is relevant as it emphasizes who they are and they also get a chance to portray their tradition and customs through dance. Matusky and Sooi (2004) studied the Malaysian dance and commented that the Malaysian musical traditions were always accompanied with dance or dance drama that did not have any dialogue as its essence was to engage the audience to the set act so that they could derive a meaning out of the performance. This acted as an act that included the attributes of the classical or folk music2. As a result, the dance incorporated the use of the body more so the hands and the feet. Thus through their traditional Malay music, the Malay dancer(s) introduced the use of hands as they swayed their hands from side to side or up and down as a form to express emotion and attachment to the song. Malay classical dance history and characteristics The early Malay dances incorporated various dance forms such as mak yong, mek mulung and manohra and these were practiced often in the courts thus their origination. The mak yong comprised of a much dramatized dance act that depicted the stories of the princes and princesses. The women who acted as princesses wore royal costumes while the men wore the same costumes and an additional male clown. Their dance was also accompanied by drums, gongs and a serunai. The dance is also related to Puteri, which is an ancient ritual that was believed, that when it was performed by the dancers, it was prone to release supernatural powers and as a result, the kings did not follow much on that, rather they adopted the dance that was related to theatrical performances. This dance involved the simple act of a female and a male at the courts. Manohra also shares some aspects with mak yong such as the dance that consists of the female and the male and it also incorporates more of dance rather than the story that is behind to the dance set being performed. Manohra also served as a traditional and respected ritual and it was also believed to have the aspect of super natural powers. When the dance was performed, it was always accompanied with the serunai, two gedung, two gedumbak, kesi, bamboo or wood clappers and gongs. As of today, there exists only two active manohra groups’ in Malaysia and tey happen to occupy the parts of Kelantan. Mek mulung on the other hand involved a dance drama that depicted a local legend that had happened in the community. As a result this dance also had the same aspects in meaning and body gesture when compared to mak yong and manohra. When the dance was performed, it was always accompanied with the use of the serembong, gong, serunai and ceruk. The oldest surviving Malaysian performance traditions can be dated back to the peoples of the Orang Asli communities of Peninsular Malaysia who are very scarce in numbers in the region. Some of the community sub groups include the Negrito communities that include the Bateq, Jahai, Kensui, Kintak, Lanoh and Mendriq peoples and they are located in the Kelantan, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu regions. The Senoi include the Che Wong, Jahut, Mahmeri, Semai, Semoq Beri and Temiar peoples who are located in Kelantan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor, and the Proto-Malay peoples incorporate the Jakun, Orang Kanaq, Orang Laut, Orang Seletar, Semelai and Temuan) majoritively in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. The Orang Asli performances involved the incorporation of music, song and dance and they were preformed mainly at social events such as birth, male initiation, female puberty, courtship, marriage, warfare, a good harvest and death. Their music was accompanied with musical instruments such as flutes that were made from bamboo, bamboo zithers, bamboo stampers, jew's harps, metal mouth harps and the usual Malay instrument, that is the gong3. Some of the characteristics related to this dance include the movements that depict, “heroic princes, swaying trees and aroused elephants”. The dancers also learn how to perfect these transformations so as to clearly depict the true meaning of the dance that they are performing4. In the video posted by Sanjib Duttaon on YouTube, the Malay dancers are seen to dance with their bodies as they sway around the dance stage like swaying trees and they also use their hands in upward, downward and side movements and well as their feet to move from one position to another. Conclusion It can be concluded that, song and dance in the Malay performances had many different forms and meaning. This is because they had been derived from different cultures such as Indian, Chinese, Arabic and Javanese traditions. According to Llyn de Danaan (1986), “it can be studied as a purely physical mechanical phenomenon in terms of how gesture operates to relate the human body to gravity, space, earth, and other bodies involved in the same dance performance”. Llyn de Danaan added that, “dance gesture as an expression of the poetic or dream part of the human mind, functioning as a vehicle of communication between the beholder and the gods, carrying a more or less unconscious message enveloped in a veil of metaphor and allusion”5. It can be concluded that, the Malay dance is a rich subsequent of other dance genres thus it becomes very involving for the dancer to portray emotion and attachment into the music. This is clearly depicted in the video posted by Sanjib Duttaon on YouTube. Bibliography Sanjib, Dutta. Malaysian dance at Asian Heritage Fair 2009. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6TAnZcbrPk [accessed on 5 May 2013] Dari, Disalin. Malaysian Arts-An Overview. Web. Retrieved from: http://silat.8m.com/msianarts.html [accessed on 5 May 2013] Llyn de Danaan, The Blossom Falling: Movement and Allusion in a Malay Dance. Asian Theatre Journal Vol. 3, No. 1, Traditional Asian Play Issue Part II (Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1986), 110-117 [accessed on 5 May 2013] Matusky, Patricia A., and Sooi, Beng Tan, The Music of Malaysia: The Classical, Folk and Syncretic Traditions (UK: Ashgate Publishing, 2004), 107 [accessed on 5 May 2013] Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Close reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words”, n.d.)
Close reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1475648-close-reading
(Close Reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words)
Close Reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1475648-close-reading.
“Close Reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1475648-close-reading.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Swaying Body: Use of the Body in the Malay Dances

Expression of Values and Attitudes towards English

The essay "Expression of Values and Attitudes towards English" focuses on the critical analysis of how people's values and attitudes towards English are expressed in different parts of the world.... The English language is the most widespread and it relishes the status of global language.... ... ...
12 Pages (3000 words) Essay

Managing Small Business in Halal Foods Industry

While this study "Managing Small Business in Halal Foods Industry" will focus on all important aspects of managing a halal business, management techniques and business practices related to the successful operation of a local, small halal foods store will be the primary interest of this study.... ....
8 Pages (2000 words) Dissertation

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

It can also affect any part of the body including blood cells, nervous system, skin, joints, and kidneys.... Pathophysiology Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus usually have a complicated range of abnormalities concerning their body defense system.... Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Course: Tutor: Date: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune syndrome which occurs due to interplay of genetic vulnerability and triggers arising from environmental factors (Soldevilla, Briones & Navarra, 2012)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Analysis of Lung Cancer Disease

"Analysis of Lung Cancer Disease" paper explores the types, causes, and signs of lung cancer as it develops in the human body.... If the malady is not spotted and treated at its early development stages, it extends beyond the lung to other varied tissues and body parts making, hence becoming worse for the victims (Stewart 109).... Conversely, the other is more aggressive and spreads faster to other body parts.... The most common and highest cause of this predicament is tobacco use mostly through direct or passive smoking....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

After the tan lines have aded

hile some may be cured with the use of the latest technologies,others are just too severe that several treatments are not an assurance that a person will live a normal life .... While some may be cured with the use of the latest technologies, others are just too severe that several treatments are not an assurance that a person will be able to live a normal life after undergoing a number of therapies and medicine intakes.... Nevertheless, in a recent survey conducted by American Academy of Dermatology, over 10,000 young people ages 12-18 from all 50 states, found that the use of sunscreen on sunny days was practiced by only 34....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Thailan dances

The main language spoken in Thailand is ‘Tai', also involving other spoken languages such as; Chinese, Lao, Mon-Khmer and malay.... Women are to use cotton wraparound & men are to use the underwear for the purpose of outdoor bathing (SUWANVANICHKIJ, 2009) ...
7 Pages (1750 words) Admission/Application Essay

Issues Surrounding the Three Key Chronic Illnesses Including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Lupus

"Issues Surrounding the Three Key Chronic Illnesses Including Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Lupus" paper offers an in-depth overview of the disorders, their causes and symptoms, and the treatments for the same.... It also presents evidence of the most suitable treatments for each illness.... ...
13 Pages (3250 words) Coursework

Development of Modern Drama in Indonesia

Bebasari play was the first original play was written by malay Opera, a native Indonesian and its target audience was educated elite in the urban.... The paper "Development of Modern Drama in Indonesia" is an outstanding example of a performing arts case study.... Indonesia has a very diverse population with different socio-cultural and historical backgrounds....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us