1. Bidayuh Dance
Dances of the Bidayuh People DuringGawaiDayak
Throughout human history, ritual dance has been used in worship. Messages are
derived through the symbolic gestures performed with the various movements of the
different parts of the body. Ritual dance is common to the civilization of all people at all
times, and they are viewed as primarily functional and generally devoid of artistry.
Ritual dance is performed because through these dances, they could communicate ideas
and messages that cannot be said in ordinary words.
In the past, the Bidayuh believed in spirit and the world being populated by both good
and evil spirits . According to the traditional Bidayuh beliefs, these spirits are real and if
they are disturbed, they can do a lot of harm to the villagers and the environment.
Rajang Be’uh (Eagle Dance)
This dance is usually performed after the harvest season as a form of entertainment for
guests of the longhouse. The movements of the dancers with outstretched hands imitate
the movements of the eagles as they flap their wings in flight.
Rejangbeuh in Biatah dialect or langiinBukar-Sadung or tigalbitagi or sigarbouh in
Bau-Jagoi is usually performed by two male dancers. The dance originated when a
Bidayuh legendary hero, MaduSawan was ordered by the King of the Pleiades to fight
with the legendary bird of the sky known as TingkilangRamang(The Eagle Spirit). This
was to ascertain who has the right to take the King’s daughter, Dara Buda for a wife.
TingkilangRamangwere both accomplished dancers. They started to dance from each
end of the verandah, moving gracefully towards each other in various styles and
motions, following the slow and steady beating and rhythm of the gongs and drums.
Each time when they meet, they swoop down in a quick motion as if they are attacking
each other in a fight. During each of these moving encounters, the invisible poisonous
snakes and insects will come out from MaduSawan?s pockets and
attack TingkilangRamang until he fell down unconscious. Thus, in the
duel, TingkilangRamang lost and MaduSawan was declared the rightful husband
of Dara Buda.

2. TolakBala
Before the harvesting season, the community performed this dance to ask for blessing
for a good harvest and to protect the community from evil spirits.
Totokng
Performed during the harvest festivals to welcome the souls of padi from the hut and
paddy stubble in the padi fields to their respective homes. The dance is also performed
to welcome distinguished visitors to the village. The musical instruments used in the
dance are gongs, drums and the wooden instrument, gulintang.
LangiJulang
LangiJulang is a ritual dance performed at the closing of the harvest festival. The main
purpose of the dance is to give thanks to God for bestowing good health and rich
harvest. At the same time, it is performed to appease the unfriendly spirits so that they
do not harm or disturb the village and the villagers. The dance is also to call back the
stray souls of people and padi to return from the padi fields.
In the olden days, LangiJulang is also performed during a ceremony when a new chief
is installed. This is to give thanks to God and to give him the blessing so that he will do
his job well for the benefit of his people. The dance is also performed to welcome
distinguished guests to the village.