Cultural dancers taking the lead at the start of the roadshow in Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang, before the public join in.
MUSIC and dance transcend cultural barriers and bring people together.
This was evident at a Ronggeng Roadshow held at Gurney Paragon Mall in Penang, organised by Nusantara Performing Arts Research Centre (NusPARC).
Many of the 100 participants came dressed in traditional garb.
Once the music began, hands and feet started moving.
That attracted some onlookers who improvised movements of their own.
Though a light drizzle kept participants inside the mall’s building in the beginning, they quickly spilled out into the open-air areas around the Festive Square after skies cleared up.
These joyful scenes encapsulated the shared, communal experience and entertainment that Malaysians from all walks of life used to enjoy in the olden days.
Crowds dancing in the open-air areas around the mall’s Festive Square.
NusPARC executive director Prof Mohd Anis Md Nor said it was heartwarming to see people of all ages dancing together.
“What’s unique about ronggeng is that it encourages the audience to be part of the performance.
“You don’t have to be a dancer to do ronggeng. There are no rules on how you should move.
“However, the music goes through a cycle of three tempos – the slower senandung, moderate inang and faster joget,” he explained.
He said ronggeng was anchored in Malay music traditions and could be traced back to the Portuguese period in Melaka.
Prof Mohd Anis says ronggeng is a living tradition.
In modern times, it spread to urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh as well as neighbouring Singapore.
The expressive social dance had its heyday during the early to mid-20th century.
It was an integral part of community life and was performed at events ranging from weddings to festive celebrations.
Locals even kept it up during the Japanese Occupation in the Second World War.
This longevity naturally led to it absorbing influences from other cultures.
In places like Melaka and Penang, Portuguese and Peranakan traditions were part of its evolution.
The advent of television and cinema further enriched ronggeng’s style and rhythms, though it eventually faded from popularity by the 1960s as newer forms of entertainment stole the limelight.
Malaysians of all ages and backgrounds grooving together.
But with cultural scholars like Prof Mohd Anis championing its value as a living tradition and reflection of Malaysian collective identity, there is every chance it may enjoy a resurgence.
“Today was about sparking interest in our cultural heritage among younger generations and giving back to the community what we inherited from our forefathers,” he said.
The roadshow in Penang was one of three scheduled sessions.
One was held at Stadthuys in Melaka and the other at Semua House in Kuala Lumpur.
NusPARC organised the event under a grant from Arts for All Seasons (ArtsFAS), powered by Hasanah Foundation in collaboration with Finance Ministry.
Other partners include Nyala Dance Theatre, Penang Arts Council, Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation and the National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN).
Penang Arts Council chairman Joe Sidek said the good turnout showed that multicultural participation was possible when people had something to connect over.
“Occasions like these allow us to reconnect with our history and keep traditional art forms alive,” he added.
