Saba dance (Malay: ''Tarian Saba'') is a traditional Malay dance originated in the state of

Terengganu Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay: ''Tranung'', Jawi: ), formerly spelled Trengganu or Tringganu, is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, ''Dāru l- Īmān'' ("Abode of Faith" ...

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

. It is a ritualistic dance that was used for healing purposes. The dance are usually performed in the evenings which can be held for about two or three days. Before such performance could be held, the lead performer called ''Abang Peduang''Pengurusan persembahan tari Saba di Daerah Hulu Dungun
/ref> needs to do of what is called ''Upacara Memanggil Dewa'' (God calling ceremony) so that the healing process can be done smoothly. During the Saba ceremony, performers make various animal movements around the Saba tree made out of young coconuts in order to appease spirits and also for bountiful harvests for the next season. The Saba musicians usually use traditional musical instruments such as

Gong A gongFrom Indonesian and ms, gong; jv, ꦒꦺꦴꦁ ; zh, c=鑼, p=luó; ja, , dora; km, គង ; th, ฆ้อง ; vi, cồng chiêng; as, কাঁহ is a percussion instrument originating in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Gongs ...

Rebana The rebana or terbangan is a tambourine that is used in Islamic devotional music in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The sound of the rebana often accompany Islamic ritual such as the zikir. The name ...

and

Umbang The ''umbang'' (Jawi: اومبڠ), also known as buluh keranting, is a traditional bowed string instrument originated in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. It is mainly used for Saba dance performance. Description The ''umbang'' is made o ...

(including ''Anok Umbang'', a musical instrument unique to the dance).

History

Saba healing rituals have already existed in Terengganu since the 13th century during the transitional period from Hindu-Buddhist beliefs to Islam. The modern form of Saba dance according to historians are said to have been created by a local ''bomoh'' (shaman) by the name of Che Mek Comot in the early 18th century in what is now

Kuala Jengai Kuala is a town and administrative district of Langkat Regency in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. It borders Selesai to the north, Salapian to the west, and Sei Bingai to the south and east. Most people in Kuala are Javanese people, with a signific ...

Dungun Dungun is a coastal district of the Malaysian state of Terengganu. Kuala Dungun is the capital of the district. Dungun is made up of eleven 'mukim', or subdistricts: Abang, Besol, Jengai, Jerangau, Kuala Dungun, Kuala Paka, Kumpal, Pasir Raja, Ra ...

district on the southern part of the state. Based on its rituals, the dance incorporated pre-Islamic beliefs and rituals which existed since the time before Islam first arrived in Terengganu, of which the local people at that time still adhere to Hindu-Buddhist beliefs syncretize with ancient animistic (and later Islamic) beliefs.

Saba Dance Songs

There are originally 33 songs used for Saba dance, below are the ones that are most widely used. The names of these dances are written in Terengganuan (the language used for most of Saba songs and rituals) along with

Standard Malay Malaysian Malay ( ms, Bahasa Melayu Malaysia), also known as Standard Malay (Malay: ''Bahasa Melayu Standard''), ( English translation: Malaysian language), or simply Malay, is a standardized form of the Malay language used in Malaysia (as o ...

translations; * ''Anok Bughong Baniong'' (Anak Burung Baniong) * ''Anok Tedung'' (Anak Tedung) * ''Awang Kasing Gile'' (Awang Kasim Gila) * ''Nong Sakti'' * ''Mude di Awang'' (Muda di Awan) * ''Anok Udang'' (Anak Udang) * ''Ghaje Budok'' (Raja Budak) * ''Anok Ujang'' (Anak Hujan)

External links

Saba Dance Documentary (Malay language)

Saba dance performance

Anok Bughong Baniong

Anok Tedung

Nong Sakti

Awang Kasing Gile

Anok Udang

References

{{reflist Terengganu Dances of Malaysia Malay dances Malay culture Culture of Malaysia