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TARIAN MELENGGOK
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Introduction and history
The Melenggok dance is a traditional dance for the Cocos community, which is an ethnic minority in Sabah who mostly live in Tawau and Lahad Datu districts. According to history, this dance originates from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Australia, which has a long history of migration and close ties with the local community in Sabah in the early 20th century (Romtie et al., 2021). This dance is specifically danced by male dancers only with the act of 'Melenggok', which means 'swaying' or 'twisting' the body inspired by the movement of birds on the coast. This is accompanied by Silat movement elements at the beginning of the performance as well as a combination of the dance moves of Cocos, who stomp their feet while clapping their hands.
Originally, Melenggok was performed as part of an exchange of poems between two groups. When the group members are 'selling' or 'buying' the poem, the group members have to place one of their group members in the middle to perform the Melenggok dance. Dancers will take turns to roll until there is a group that loses in the rhyme or a member of the dancer who can no longer dance. Early in the day, the Melenggok dance is often performed during public ceremonies such as weddings, welcoming guests and large celebrations for the cocos ethnic community as an effort to preserve the performance art tradition that continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
Male dancers will wear clothes known as 'Baskat', which is a shirt similar to the design of a Blazer (Bush Jacket). It has been modified with ruffles on the sleeves called 'Frill' or, in the local language called 'Peril'. Men's Baskat shirts usually have shorter sleeves or so-called half-sleeves. This outfit will be worn with a white pagoda layer shirt on the inside. The use of the Baskat will be matched with long white pants made of satin material and matched with 'Sepatu', which are black high-heeled shoes.
The additional use of batik cloth, or in the local language called 'Ken Batik'. It is trimmed like a short skirt at knee level and a scarf tied around the waist called 'Sabok', which aims to give an impression of the value of Malay aesthetics in the use of this traditional clothing. As an additional decoration, a handkerchief will be tied as a neck decoration to replace the Neck Tie that is usually worn with a Bush Jacket or Blazer. As for headdresses, Songkok is used as a symbol of Islamic values in this ethnic group.
The musical instruments used to accompany the Melenggok dance consist of violins, drums, and tambourines, which provide a dynamic rhythm when it is performed. Dancers arrange movement patterns according to the rhythm of the music being played, and sometimes, they also let out a boisterous chorus or repeat verses of the poem while dancing.
Melenggok Dance will start with a simple Silat movement as the opening movement of the performance. Then, male dancers will swing the scarf hung on the shoulder to the left and right in various formations and floor patterns. Sometimes, the basic movements of this Melenggok dance will also be added by stamping the feet while clapping the hands before repeating the movement of swinging the scarf in a balanced and slow manner following the rhythm and accompaniedt by the music.
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Reference Source
Romtie, I., Amat, A., & Samad, L. A. (2021). Nyanyian Panton Sebagai Medium Hiburan Dan Pendidikan Masyarakat Cocos Di Sabah. MANU, Jurnal Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa (PPIB). https://doi.org/10.51200/manu.v0i0.1876
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Puan Nurshahrinna Syahrial
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sabah
Kompleks JKKN Sabah,
Jalan Tasik off KM4 Jalan Penampang,
88200 Kota Kinabalu
SABAH
088-205070
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