SUMAZAU DANCE-DUSUN RACE

SUMAZAU DANCE
Traditional Dances of Sabah- Sumazau

Sumazau dance is a traditional dance of the Kadazans in Sabah. It has been widely danced in most ceremonial occasions, especially in Kadazan’s weddings and of course, the Kaamatan or the Harvest Festival. That particular friend of mine then showed me how simple it was to dance the Sumazau.

This traditional dance, Sumazau, is invariably associated with the tribe of Kadazandusun, a tribe that inhabits the state of Sabah. Those from the Penampang distric are especially well-versed in this sort of dance.




Fly Like A Bird

This type of dance is frequently performed during the Harvest Festival as a thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest. It can also be seen at wedding functions occassionally.




Let's Do the Sumazau

The distinguished features of the dance are the slow rhythmic undulatory movements of the dancers’ heels while the hands float gracefully like a bird soaring up the sky. The dance is accompanied by a gong ensemble. And the dance troupe will somehow at some stage do, what I consider, the blind-leading-the-blind dance formation. What exactly this signifies, I have yet to find out. But it’s kind of cool, no less.



That Mystical Dance Formation

And just like it would take two to tango, the Sumazau dance would see a couple, male and female, paired up performing the birdie dalliance.



Sumazau

The Sumazau dance can be considered the state dance of Sabah. The arm gestures are likened to that of a bird and it floats gracefully at approximately shoulder level with gentle bending of the elbow and wrist or alternatively is swung gently like a pendulum, parallel at the sides of the body.

The costumes are authentically Kadazan and are usually black in colour and made of a velvet type material adorned with the appropriate accessories.
The music is provided by gongs of different size.