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TARIAN KADANDIU
Kampung Ulu Tomani, 89907 Tenom, Sabah
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Introduction and history
Kadandiu is a traditional dance of the Tidung ethnic community originating from the Tawau District, Sabah, especially in the Balung, Merotai and Kalabakan areas. This ethnic group also inhabits several districts in the Southeast region of Sabah, such as Beluran, Sandakan and Lahad Datu. Kadandiu, meaning 'my heart misses', is a dance inspired by the Batu Tinagat legend, which tells the story of Aki Bentawol and Dayang Dadalit, the youngest princess from heaven who came down to earth to bathe with her six siblings. This story begins when Aki Bentawol takes Dayang Dadalit's shawl, causing the princess to be unable to return to heaven.
It is also said that since Dayang Dadalit was on Aki Bentawol's land, the agricultural products, such as rice, were increasing, and thus Aki Bentawol decided to marry the princess. Then, they got married and were blessed with a child. However, after that, Princess Dayang Dadalit returned to heaven and left Aki Bentawol and their child, but she never came back to earth.
Because the legendary story inspires this dance, Kadandiu must be danced with a total of 7 female dancers and one male dancer, complete with golden attire in keeping with the image of a fairy princess as in the legend.
Traditionally, Kadandiu is performed as a symbol of respect for the story of the Legend of Batu Tinagat and as a ceremony to commemorate Dayang Dadalit. It is also a symbol of requesting blessings before carrying out rice harvesting activities. Now, the function of this dance has developed into one of the cultural dances performed in various festivals, official events, and celebrations of the Tidung community in general. The dance is believed to symbolize unity, respect for nature, as well as the community's belief in their legends and origins.
Typically, female dancers of the Kadandiu dance will wear gold-coloured clothes as a special sign of the princesses of the heavens. The set of female dancers' clothing is known as 'Entor Kesuma' and is matched with a sarong called 'Gabol'. On the chest, a 'Kubab Pempulu' will be worn, meaning a bird's chest that adorns the wearer's chest. This kubab pempulu is made of velvet cloth attached with gold thread decorated with beads and sequins.
For accessories on the head, female dancers will wear a gandik known as 'Makuta'. This Makuta has two layers of gandik, namely the front part called 'Makuta Tiara' and the back part called 'Jamong', which is pierced into the hair bun. Female dancers will also be fully equipped with jewellery such as earrings, Gelang Tawa (hand bracelet), and Geruncung (ankle bracelet) as well as 'Selukup udang', which is a decoration made of gold or silver worn on the arm with beautiful carvings such as the shape of birds and butterflies.
Male dancers will wear a cut of baju teluk belanga. However, now, in line with the time evolvement and the contemporary world, men's clothing is matched to the style of a Malay nobleman. The headpiece will use a tanjak known as 'Singal'. In terms of accessories, men's clothing will be worn with a belt called 'Panding' and a sash called 'Serebit'.
The musical instruments used in this dance are Kulintangan, Ketipung (drum), Gong and Violin. Usually, the Kadandiu dance is accompanied by the singing of the song 'Si Dayang Dalit', which is sung by men.
The Kadandiu performance will be danced by 7 female dancers and 1 male dancer. This dance uses many hand movements that alternate with foot movements. The hand movements are graceful and gently swung in either a standing or sitting position. Examining the variations found in the Kadandiu dance is the movement of descending to heaven, which depicts the princesses descending to earth. This includes the movement of joking around on the banks of a lake or river and bathing in the water. One of the female dancers will dance in pairs with a male dancer, showing the symbols of the characters Aki Bentawol and Dayang Dadalit.
Suhaimi Magi. (61 tahun). Kampung Ulu Tomani, 89907 Tenom, Sabah
Reference Source
Abdul Munir Hafizy Ladoni. (2012). Tidung. Dalam Kntayya Mariappan & Paul Porodong. Siri etnik Sabah ITBM-UMS: Murut & Pelbagai Etnik Kecil Lain di Sabah. Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia.
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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