Fly! Sumazau Fly!

Traditional dance is an art that can attract a big crowd. Sabah has its fair share of traditional dances which includes ritual dances as well as modern ones. Like other states, Sabah is rich in traditional dances.
Among the most popular and well-known traditional dances are the sumazau.

This type of dance is one of the most well known traditional dances in Sabah as well as throughout Malaysia. It belongs to the Kadazandusun tribe. This ritual dance serves varied functions such as thanksgiving for bountiful paddy planting and harvesting, prayer against evil spirits, honouring the spirits as well as to cure illness. The movement and rhythm of this dance is elegantly soft and slow.

The dancers, male and female, will face each other, move their feets in small movements and move their heels up and down to the beat of the music. While dancing the dancer will spread up their hands and move it up and down just like a bird spreading their wings to fly. The Sumazau is usually performed during festive occasions and gatherings.