First published in Sunday People, New Sunday Times
22 November 2008
22 November 2008
Mak Yong Showcase
by Max Koh
The traditional mak yong is modernised for the new audiences. MAX KOH speaks to the director and lead dancer of Endeng Tejeli
by Max Koh
The traditional mak yong is modernised for the new audiences. MAX KOH speaks to the director and lead dancer of Endeng Tejeli
THE words of the mak yong seem to echo through the ages as lead dancer and student Rosnan Abdul Rahman sings with his melodious voice: “Hai, ghoyak hile gak, Bele berio nok timbol gak laa, Ee, timbol sangat dengar nak ghoyak gak, Kalau soghe mu ghajo la cik we, Bele sebuah negeri gak tue we” (Of a Raja and a Minister, The Raja, he has an appellation, The Country, it has a designation).
I am at the Istana Budaya cafeteria as Rosnan, with his teacher, Fatimah Abdullah, explains the riches of the traditional Kelantanese dance-theatre form. Fatimah also directs the Endeng Tejeli production.
“Mak yong is an ancient dance-theatre form that incorporates dance, acting, singing, and storytelling. Endeng Tejeli tells the story of the titular character who must save Puteri Gak Petra, to be presented to Raja Sulong.
“However, the road is not easy as Endeng Tejeli must face the Nenek Sepat Petala Naga (dragon) and Raja Gergasi (giant) in his adventures,” explains Rosnan.
Endeng Tejeli is one of 12 core storiestold in the mak yong repertoire. These stories are told with the help of traditional Malay instruments such as the rebab, gendang, gong, canang and kesi.
Rosnan, the lead dancer in Endeng Tejeli
Mak yong has five main characters in its stories: Pak Yung (king), Pak Yung Muda (hero), Mak Yung (queen), Puteri Mak Yung (princess), Peran (clown), and Dayang-Dayang (court dancers). Rosnan plays the titular character while Fatimah plays the king in Endeng Tejeli.
“This is the third time we are staging the story. The first time we performed this was in Kedah and the show was sold out when we staged it at the Istana Budaya,” explains Rosnan who is part of the Kumpulan Mak Yong Seri Nilam Istana Budaya.
“All our dancers are resident dancers at Istana Budaya. The group (Mak Yong Seri Nilam) was started three years ago to help senior dancers learn and focus on the traditional dance style.
“We train them in hope that one day someone will carry on the tradition of this art form,” says Rosnan.
A new generation of mak yong teachers is a main concern for Fatimah who was raised in the dance form since birth. Her father, Abdullah Awang, owned of a mak yong group in Kelantan.
“I was born in Terengganu when my father’s group was on tour there. Traditionally, the group would stay at a town for three months before travelling to another venue. They would perform in and around the town during that time,” explains Fatimah.
Fatimah first performed at the age of 10 with the Kelantan Mak Yong Children’s Group in 1969. Her passion for the arts soon grew as she understood the grit and hard work involved in keeping the art form alive.
Mak yong doyenne Fatimah plays the king
“Back then, the dancers faced a lot of trials. The toke (group owner) often had to use his own money to keep the show, even at the verge of bankruptcy. I have seen this with my own eyes and it motivated me to study hard and bring the art tradition to the next level,” explains Fatimah.
Fatimah, who officially became a teacher at the age of 40, saw her dreams come true as her performance was documented in a Unesco World Heritage recording in 1994. Fatimah has also since performed before the Thai king and has seen her students perform overseas.
Rosnan, who has studied under her for eight years, has performed the mak yong in Paris and New York.
“For this show, the traditional elements are retained. Perhaps compared to the old days, the arrangement on the stage today is much neater with better lighting, make-up and costumes. But the set is still very minimal as we want the performers to carry the story,” explains Rosnan.
Endeng Tejeli will feature seven to eight songs including the mengadap rebab which lyrics were featured at the beginning of this article.
“This is really a shorter format as the traditional performance can last up to four hours and include 20 to 30 songs,” he says with a laugh.
“Originally, there was no script during the performance. The performers will follow the arc of the story and they can improvise the dialogue or sing as they want.”
While mak yong has evolved with the times, Fatimah is still concerned with the future. “We still need a generation of pelapis (mediators) to carry on the legacy.
“People have come and learnt the art form but there is still a need for those who will carry the mantle of the discipline and teach the next generation.”
What she said next was a revelation to me: “In every generation, two of three will be chosen to sembah guru and carry on the art form.
“After that, the guru cannot reveal his teachings to anyone anymore. It is the new heirs who can finally become teachers and carry the art form.”
After this show, the group will perform Raja Besar Senyaya in January which is the sequel to Endeng Tejeli.
“Mak yong is just like Harry Potter, except that it is the Malay version. There is a continuity in the stories and there are giants, dragons, heroes, and magic,” adds Rosnan, with another laugh.
Catch Kumpulan Mak Yong Seri Nilam performing Indeng Tejeli on Nov 28, 8.30pm-10.45pm, as part of the Mak Yong Extravaganza organised by the Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara. The extravaganza runs Nov 27-30 at the Malaysian Tourism Centre, Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.heritage.gov.my or call 03-20523600
ext 3616.
I am at the Istana Budaya cafeteria as Rosnan, with his teacher, Fatimah Abdullah, explains the riches of the traditional Kelantanese dance-theatre form. Fatimah also directs the Endeng Tejeli production.
“Mak yong is an ancient dance-theatre form that incorporates dance, acting, singing, and storytelling. Endeng Tejeli tells the story of the titular character who must save Puteri Gak Petra, to be presented to Raja Sulong.
“However, the road is not easy as Endeng Tejeli must face the Nenek Sepat Petala Naga (dragon) and Raja Gergasi (giant) in his adventures,” explains Rosnan.
Endeng Tejeli is one of 12 core storiestold in the mak yong repertoire. These stories are told with the help of traditional Malay instruments such as the rebab, gendang, gong, canang and kesi.
Rosnan, the lead dancer in Endeng Tejeli
Mak yong has five main characters in its stories: Pak Yung (king), Pak Yung Muda (hero), Mak Yung (queen), Puteri Mak Yung (princess), Peran (clown), and Dayang-Dayang (court dancers). Rosnan plays the titular character while Fatimah plays the king in Endeng Tejeli.
“This is the third time we are staging the story. The first time we performed this was in Kedah and the show was sold out when we staged it at the Istana Budaya,” explains Rosnan who is part of the Kumpulan Mak Yong Seri Nilam Istana Budaya.
“All our dancers are resident dancers at Istana Budaya. The group (Mak Yong Seri Nilam) was started three years ago to help senior dancers learn and focus on the traditional dance style.
“We train them in hope that one day someone will carry on the tradition of this art form,” says Rosnan.
A new generation of mak yong teachers is a main concern for Fatimah who was raised in the dance form since birth. Her father, Abdullah Awang, owned of a mak yong group in Kelantan.
“I was born in Terengganu when my father’s group was on tour there. Traditionally, the group would stay at a town for three months before travelling to another venue. They would perform in and around the town during that time,” explains Fatimah.
Fatimah first performed at the age of 10 with the Kelantan Mak Yong Children’s Group in 1969. Her passion for the arts soon grew as she understood the grit and hard work involved in keeping the art form alive.
Mak yong doyenne Fatimah plays the king
“Back then, the dancers faced a lot of trials. The toke (group owner) often had to use his own money to keep the show, even at the verge of bankruptcy. I have seen this with my own eyes and it motivated me to study hard and bring the art tradition to the next level,” explains Fatimah.
Fatimah, who officially became a teacher at the age of 40, saw her dreams come true as her performance was documented in a Unesco World Heritage recording in 1994. Fatimah has also since performed before the Thai king and has seen her students perform overseas.
Rosnan, who has studied under her for eight years, has performed the mak yong in Paris and New York.
“For this show, the traditional elements are retained. Perhaps compared to the old days, the arrangement on the stage today is much neater with better lighting, make-up and costumes. But the set is still very minimal as we want the performers to carry the story,” explains Rosnan.
Endeng Tejeli will feature seven to eight songs including the mengadap rebab which lyrics were featured at the beginning of this article.
“This is really a shorter format as the traditional performance can last up to four hours and include 20 to 30 songs,” he says with a laugh.
“Originally, there was no script during the performance. The performers will follow the arc of the story and they can improvise the dialogue or sing as they want.”
While mak yong has evolved with the times, Fatimah is still concerned with the future. “We still need a generation of pelapis (mediators) to carry on the legacy.
“People have come and learnt the art form but there is still a need for those who will carry the mantle of the discipline and teach the next generation.”
What she said next was a revelation to me: “In every generation, two of three will be chosen to sembah guru and carry on the art form.
“After that, the guru cannot reveal his teachings to anyone anymore. It is the new heirs who can finally become teachers and carry the art form.”
After this show, the group will perform Raja Besar Senyaya in January which is the sequel to Endeng Tejeli.
“Mak yong is just like Harry Potter, except that it is the Malay version. There is a continuity in the stories and there are giants, dragons, heroes, and magic,” adds Rosnan, with another laugh.
Catch Kumpulan Mak Yong Seri Nilam performing Indeng Tejeli on Nov 28, 8.30pm-10.45pm, as part of the Mak Yong Extravaganza organised by the Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara. The extravaganza runs Nov 27-30 at the Malaysian Tourism Centre, Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.heritage.gov.my or call 03-20523600
ext 3616.
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