Melemang

The Melemang is categorized as a folkdance of Riau society. It is estimated that the melemang dance has been introduced since Bentan Kingdom period. This estimation means that the melemang dance emerged and became popular in the 12^th century. The dance, which was performed usually by ladies-in-waiting, was popular exclusively among royalties, courtiers, and kingdom officials. Therefore, most of ordinary people did not recognize this type of dance. The melemang dance was performed when king was going to take rest.

The folkdance is called melemang since during the dance performance, the dancers attempted to show their skills at picking up something (kerchief, coins, etc) by melemang (a position within which the dancers stand and bend down their body backward). In Tanjungpisau, the folkdance is popular with the name “Melemang Penaga” or “Tari Melemang Bintang Penaga”.   

Since the main purpose of the dance was to entertain the kings, the melemang dance mostly depicted the daily life of a king in certain kingdom. Some dancers acted as kings while other as queen, princess, ladies-in-waiting etc. To add more color and attractiveness of the performance, the melemang dance was combined and interspersed with beautiful music and song. 

As noted in history, the melemang dance developed in the Bentan kingdom. Eventhough the kingdom had ruined long years ago, the dance is still ‘alive‘ and performed by many people especially Tanjungpisau Penaga society. And also, nowadays the dance has become popular among Daik-Lingga society. In other words, most common people begin becoming delighted in this past exclusive dance. Usually, the melemang dance is performed in one hour duration. 

Besides for entertaining the king, the melemang dance was also purposed to enliven marriage ceremony. However, this folkdance is rarely performed in present marriage ceremony. Many Malay art and culture festivals (usually held on the initiative of local governments, cultural centers and other pertinent bodies) exhibit the melemang dance as their shows.

The melemang dance involves at least 14 participants:

1. a participant acts as a king
2. a participant acts as a queen
3. a participant acts as a princess
4. Four participants play the music during the dance (accordion, percussion, piul/violin and drum)
5. a singer, and
6. six dancers

The participants usually wear teluk belanga and baju kurung (Malay traditional dresses) which are designed exclusively according to their role in the performance. (HQ/ter/22/7-07)

Source:

• Galba, Sindu dan Siti Rohana. 2002. Peta Kesenian Rakyat Melayu Kebupaten kepulauan Riau. Tanjungpinang: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.
• Rohana, Sita. 2004.  “Tari Melemang: Catatan dari Kampung Nelayan Tanjungpisau-Penaga,” dalam Majalah Srinthil Edisi VI.

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