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GF L1240 BL 68, SL 3 Jalan Kampung Pinang,
Block A, No. 3, Commercial Shophouse Boulevard Setia Raja Mukah,
96400 Mukah, Sarawak
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Introduction and history
Menyak means the manner sago flour is produced. Tarian Mengarang Menyak, initially was a traditional Melanau dance depicting how they lived on the shores of Sarawak. One of its portrayals was processing the sago, known as sei in local language.
It is vital to preserve this dance to strengthen the Malanau identity.
Thus two foundations in Mukah conducted research and later choreographed a newer and livelier tarian mengarang menyak. The foundations are Mukah Cultural Heritage Group (WARISMU) with their director then, the late Abdul Latip bin Mohti, and secondly, Persatuan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Sri Ritma Borneo, led by Tahiri Jasmin Smith.
These days, tarian mengarang menyak is danced at events, primarily to portray the life of traditional Melanau.
Mengarang menyak dancers don the Melanau traditional black clothing, like the community official wear to weddings or welcoming distinguished guests. What differs between the dresses of these two occasions are the length of the sleeves and legs, and the use of buttons. The sleeves and trousers are three quarter length of the arms and legs, like what worn by workers in the forest and at seas. Female dancers will wear terendak/tapou whilst the male tie their heads with bandannas.
The menyak dancers wear like those worn by workers preparing the menyak sans dull colours. They, instead, wear bright and cheerful.
The props for the dance are the mengkuang mats. In the old days they played the keromong, one-faced long drum, two-faced long drum and the round drum to back the dance. While at present, pre-recorded track is used
The dance emulate all steps in sago processing: cutting, scraping, and treading the reeds (to ensure the lemantak flour fully attained). The dance also portrays the harmony, teamwork spirit and joy of the workers.
1. Amirrullizam Hossen bin Hipni
• Cultural Artist (Training) at Ministry of Culture and Arts, Sarawak, 2002 – 2020 on contract basis.
• Choreographer of the Menyak dance at Inspitari 2013 and dancer at MaTiC, Kuala Lumpur, 5th October 2013.
Reference Source
i. Encik Amirrullizam Hossen Bin Hipni
Pegawai Kebudayaan (Unit Protokol, Istiadat dan Pengurusan Acara Sarawak)
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Encik Boniface Anak Babai
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sarawak
Tingkat 5 Bangunan Sultan Iskandar,
Jalan Simpang Tiga,
93000, Kuching,
SARAWAK
019-2399682/082-422006
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