Is Opera Dance the specialty of Malaysia?

Malaysia's most distinctive feature is also the opera dance. The Malaysian opera culture is mainly absorbed from foreign opera elements, originated from the people who migrated from China. The Chinese brought very distinctive local operas to Malaysia when they migrated, so the most popular operas in Malaysia are still mainly in Chinese. Opera has had a significant impact on the arts in Malaysia, and Chinese culture is not only rooted here, but also in the development of Malaysia's absorption of the sister art of opera - theater. Malaysia's heterogeneous cultural soil cultivated in the theater and dance, fully embodies the infiltration of a variety of traditional Chinese culture.

Like many dramas in Southeast Asia, dance plays a role in adding color and regulating the atmosphere, and is an indispensable part of drama. The famous Malaysian dance drama Ramayana is an example of an art that combines music, drama and dance closely, as well as with inherent beliefs and rituals.

Theater dance began to develop at the same time that court dance was developing. Like the dances of many countries, it only played an integral role in the drama by adding color and regulating the atmosphere. In plays such as "Marong," "Maenara," and "Maemulong," the best part of the dance was often the beginning of the dramatic performance, and the plot followed a strict program. As the play developed, it became shorter and shorter in order to emphasize the opening atmosphere of the play.

Ancient Malaysian theater dance, which combines elements of music, dance, movement, singing, and storytelling, originated in the Malaysian state of Kelantan and southern Thailand, and was appreciated only by kings and aristocrats until the 20th century. The origins of ancient Malaysian theater can be traced back to the primitive religious ceremonies of the Malay people in ancient times. In the 14th century AD, shadow theater began to flourish in the Malay region. Malay theater and dance as a comprehensive art emerged in the 1880s. The development of Malay theater was very slow due to the constraints of conservative forces. It was not until the 20th century that Malay theater made progress, and it mainly experienced the "Bangsawan Drama", "Early Drama", "Realistic Drama" and "Contemporary Drama". "Contemporary drama".

Theatrical Dance