Zapin Dance

Zapin is one of several types of Malay Dances that still exist today. This dance is inspired by the descendants of Arabs who came from Yemen. Historically, the dance was originally a dance of entertainment among the kings of the castle after being taken  from Yemen by merchants of the early 16th Century.

Malay Community, including artists and the humanists has a high creativity. It can be seen from the development Zapin Dance creations that are identical with the Malay culture and in terms poem. This traditional dance is instructive and entertaining at the same time.

Zapin dance musical accompaniment consist of two main tools , the stringed musical instrument and three small drumpercussion instrument called Marwas. Another version of the dance is accompanied by a musical ensemble consisting of marwas players, drum, flute, violin, accordion, dumbuk, harmonium, and vocals.

Marwas

Before 1960, Zapin only danced by male dancers. But now commonly danced by female dancers, even mix of men and women. Zapin dance very wide variety of dance movement, although the basic motion is basically the same Zapin, danced by the people in Borneo.


Source :
www.dansing.org.sg/?page_id=110
jimmy-malay.blogspot.com/2011/09/malay-dance-zapin.html
http://artfolder.blogspot.com/2008/11/zapin-malay-dance.html