History and Background of Cultural Dances (Malay,Chinese and Indian)

ZAPIN

 A Malay dance formed that is popular in Malaysia especially in the state of Johor, Pahang and Selangor ). It is believed to have been introduced by Arab Muslim missionaries from the Middle East in the fourteenth century.

In the old days, only males were allowed to perform nowadays female dancers are included. It used to be performed for religious ceremonies but it has become a form pf traditional entertainment,hence the participation of female dancers is allowed. The dancers usually perform in pairs and are accompanied by a traditional music ensemble which normally consists of gambus, accordion, rebab, maraws, rebana and dok.

                                 

FAN DANCE

Chinese Fan dances start out as ceremonial rituals whereas the dance moves haven't changed, the dance uses has. Fan dances represent beauty, grace, skill, tradition, delicacy and history. They also express feelings of joy and fans are recognized as good luck charms and expressions of generosity. Even all these years, fan dances are still used at ceremonies and Chinese celebrations (such as MoonCake Festival, Chinese New Year). Now, it even transformed into unique modern workouts. Fan dance consists constant changing of rhythms and body positions. The feather fans and silk fans are used in the dance that began since the Han Dynasty, c. 206 BC.

                               

INDIAN DANCE

The Indian dances are broadly divided into Classical dances and folk dances. The Classical dances of India are usually spiritual in content. Though the folk dances of India are also spiritual and religious in content but the main force behind the folk dances of India is the celebratory mood. Dances are a form of coherent expression of human feelings. Like the Indian culture, Indian classical dances are equally diverse in nature. There are numerous classical dance forms in India and innumerable folk dances. Each dance form can be traced to different parts of the country. Each form represents the culture and ethos of a particular region or a group of people 

The most popular classical dance styles of India are Bharatnatyam of Tamil Nadu, Kathakali and Mohiniattam of Kerala, Odissi of Orissa, Kathak of Uttar Pradesh, Kuchipudi of Andhra Pradesh and Manipuri of Manipur.

                        

                        INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE (BHARATANATYAM)

                        

                                       INDIAN FOLK DANCE (GARBA)