Asli Dance

This dance is based on the Malay asli songs like Makan Sireh, Gunung Banang and Sapu Tangan, Asli Selendang, Bentan Telani and Asli Abadi.In the Tepak Sireh Dance for example, all the dancers wear Malay costumes and bring the betel leaf sets on the stage while making graceful dance movements to the tune of asli beat.

These dances are popular all across Malaysia especially in Peninsular Malaysia. The dance features slow, flowing and elegant movements and resembles the Asyik Dance (court dance), but its movements are simpler and danced to a modern music ensemble.

Ulik Mayang From Trengganu

Ulik mayang is a traditional dance, derived from a form of pujaan called Puja Pantai (worship the spirit of the sea). It is well known that Puja Pantai is based in Trengganu state, Malaysia.
The dancers use 'mayang pinang' (strings of arecanut's flowers). While dancing, the 'mayang pinang' will be shaked until the person holding it feels that the 'mayang pinang' alives or moves by itself then it is given to another dancer!!!
The dancing always begins with a person who is suffering from illness.
The patient will then healed by a bomoh, a “doctor” in the traditional way. Seven actors beautifully dressed represent the 7 princess who come to visit the patient when the bomoh is treating him. Kemenyan will be burnt together with chanting of pantun and dancing through the whole performance. Although Tarian Ulit Mayang was once a folk ritual ceremonial in the Malay society, with its gentle and graceful movement, it has become one of the beautiful traditional dancing in Terengganu culture.


Some of these dances remain part of the agenda during certain occasion or ceremony, such as in a wedding or in a formal official function during which the complete set of music instrument will be used and the entire story of the dance will be carefully performed.

However, nowadays the belief in spirits has vanished and the dance is performed purely for entertainment.

Lyric: Ulik Mayang
Umbut mayang di umbut
Umbut dengan jala-jemala
Ulit mayang diulit
Ulit dengan puterinya satu

Puteri satu berbaju serong
Puteri satu bersanggul sendeng
Puteri satu bersubang gading
Puteri satu berselendang kuning

Ulit mayang di umbut
Ulit dengan jala-jemala
Jika sambut mayang disambut
Sambut dengan puterinya dua

Puteri dua berbaju serong
Puteri dua bersanggul sendeng
Puteri dua bersubang gading
Puteri dua berselendang kuning

Ulit mayang di umbut
Ulit dengan jala-jemala
Jika sambut mayang disambut
Sambut dengan puterinya tiga

---

Ku tahu asal usul mu
Yang darat balik ke darat
Yang laut balik ke laut
Nasi kuning hamba sermbahkan

Pulih mayang ku pulih
Pulih balik sedia kala

Single Presentation: Mak Yong

Mak Yong is a traditional acting combined dancing, singing, drama, romance and comedy in a single presentation. The theatre is believed to have originated from Kelantan several centuries ago. Most of Mak Yong's performances involved acting therefore no documentations were ever made, for the stories were usually memorized by a handful of actors, musicians and comedians who have performed the Mak Yong countless times.
A favourite form of entertainment in the palace courtyard of Kelantan and Patani. Malaysian Mak Yong is arguably different from its counterparts in Indonesia, Thailand and old Cambodia in terms of stories, music, dances as well as the costumes used.

The performing troupe usually has four leading actresses who would play the parts of the King, the Hero, the Queen and the Heroine. Other actresses played the parts of the palace maids or 'dayangs' or even the roles of prince as well as princesses, while the men were usually given the parts as the comedians. Two of these men would play lead comedians, while the others would act as supporting roles.
Acting similarly as court jesters with their witty and astute antics, the comedians also act as narrators during the performance, constantly letting the audience know what is about to take place next. These men are known as the 'Peran' and are considered as having the most important roles in a Mak Yong performance.
Combining all the elements of human emotion such as sadness, humour, anger, joy and love, the actors and actresses expressed them beautifully throughout the entire show, at the same time, flawlessly reciting their lines in Kelantanese.

The performance took place in a spacious hall where most of the audience sat on the floor. The actors and actresses sat against the wall and when it was their turn to act out a scene, they would just proceed to the middle of the hall and start acting.
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