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19 Dec 2015 — Kuda kepang and barongan are the two popular dances among the Javanese in Johor. These two folk dances were brought in to Johor by Java migrants centuries ago and have spread among the Malays since then. The two dances have strong elements of trance and totemic worship and are performed at weddings and other cultural events. They are also popular Indonesia and Singapore. Kuda kepang consists of nine dancers or ‘horsemen’ who ride woven bamboo-made and colourful horses. When performing, the dancers often go into a trance. While in a trance, the dancers display unusual powers, such as peeling coconut husks with just the teeth and eating glass. Barongan, on the other hand, depicts the dance of a tiger and a peacock. The dance grew out of the legend of a tiger seeing a peacock spreading its train and shocked, peacock jumps onto the tiger’s back. The two dance together and when an escort of a princess spots them, he joins in. The dance harks back to prophet Sulaiman’s time when animals could speak. Johor folk have preserved both dance forms with the younger generation taking over the traditions, such as Kumpulan Barongan dan Kuda Kepang Warisan Gemilang Parit Bugis in Batu Pahat. The Malaysian Insider photographer Nazir Sufari spent some time with the group and caught its members at ‘play’.
‘Bujang Ganong’, a character in a barongan dance, waiting for his turn while training which is often done on weekends at Kampung Parit Kemang in Batu Pahat, Johor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Young singers practising the Cicak Rowo, Ilir-ilir, Perahu Layar and Pepeleng songs at a training session. These songs are about good deeds, prayers, good advice and light entertainment. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Youngsters practising the gendang, an instrument used by the traditional musicians in the kuda kepang and barongan dances. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
‘Bujang Ganong’, a character in barongan, stretching and exercising. The character requires a performer to do a lot of stunts and acrobatics. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Kuda kepang dancers getting ready for their training in Kampung Parit Kemang, Batu Pahat, Johor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Kuda kepang dancers in a trance-like state. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A barongan dancer in costume while training in Kampung Parit Kemang, Batu Pahat, Johor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
The ‘jamang’ being placed on a jathil dancer. Two jathil escort the barongan. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Jathil dancers waiting to join the stage. They are the cavalry and are usually performed by those who are yet agile and nimble. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A barongan is incomplete without traditional musicians. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A barongan dance being performed at a wedding in a village in Batu Pahat, Johor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
This mask is worn by a barongan dancer playing the role of Bujang Ganong, who is often energetic, a master in martial arts, smart, jovial and possesses magical powers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A jathil dancer getting into the spirit of things while escorting the bride and groom. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A silat show performed by a ‘Ganong’ in front of a newly wed couple. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
According to Javanese legends, barongan derived its name from Pateh Singo Lodro Barong Seto who was cursed and turned into a tiger by Kloro Sewandono in a battle over the hand of a princess, Puteri Songgo Langit. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
The kuda kepang dancers get ready before performing in front of the spectators at a village in Batu Pahat, Johor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Before the opening ceremony of a kuda kepang dance, the shaman burns the kemenyan as a way to call out the spirits to energise the dancers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer takes a drink from a kettle that contains incanted water by the shaman to protect them from any bad spirits entering their body. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Kuda kepang dancers stand in line before their performance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Kuda kepang dancers performing a sequence known as ‘gerakan pusing gelanggang’. It is just before they enter a state of trance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
This kuda kepang dancer getting into a trance-like state as he approaches the kemenyan. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer getting into a trance when he jumps up on the ‘horse’ blessed by the shaman. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Eating raw eggs is one of the must-do rituals before dancers perform the kuda kepang dance. Some, however, eat flowers, such as bunga kenanga. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer feels no pain when whipped during a performance. The whipping is to ‘wake’ a dance back to a normal state of mind. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
When in a trance, a kuda kepang dancer can perform feats, such as ‘eating’ a fluorescent tube. Later, there will be no traces of glass in this man’s stomach, lending the kuda kepang a mystical air. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer in a trance can peel a coconut husk using his teeth. The shaman keeps an eye on the dancers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
The shaman holding a whip to ‘control’ kuda kepang dancers who stray out of the boundary while in a state of trance. He is the only person allowed to whip them back into the arena. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A member of the audience with the ‘saka’ in the body is possessed during a kuda kepang dance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A young kuda kepang dancer carries off a spectator’s helmet when he is a trance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang doing a 'wheelie' on a motorcycle. He has no idea he is pulling of such stunts when in a trance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
When in a trance, kuda kepang dancers may start doing silat moves. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Dancing the kuda kepang in a trance is exhausting and even a kettle of water is not enough to quench the thirst. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
Bringing a kuda kepang dancer out of his trance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer is 'healed' by a shaman. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A kuda kepang dancer in trance is healed by a shaman. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
A shaman uses kemenyan, talc and flowers to bring kuda kepang dancers out of their trance-like state. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 19, 2015.
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