Sabahan Dancers Show Off Killer Skills Practising For Traditional 'Anggalang' Performance

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Posted by a traditional and modern dance venture known as Sakag Budaya Papar (or SBP in short), the TikTok (@sbpapar) shows three male dancers practising a classical dance routine to the sound of drums in the background.

Showing off some killer hand-eye-foot coordination, the boys seamlessly glide over one bamboo stick to another, in total control of the entire practice session.

Magunatip, which also means 'Bamboo Dance' in English, is an energetic piece performed by those from the Murut ethnic culture. For the performance, dancers put their feet in and out between clapping bamboo poles without being trapped.

With two pairs of bamboo laid on the ground, two strikers on each end lift and separate the poles, slamming it downwards on the ground in thumps. The dancers often tease audiences by playfully shifting their feet into the gaps and removing it just at precise timing.

While the dance starts slow, the rhythmic claps and tempo of the music fasten with time, with the bamboo strikes getting more intense too.

According to oral history of the Murut people, Magunatip began as a prank for Murut farmers who would place bamboo poles on the floor after pounding paddy. People would then use the poles to clip anyone's foot who passed by, a mischievous act for entertainment. This game eventually evolved to be accompanied by music, and is usually performed for special occasions and celebrations at present day.

Anggalang Magunatip on the other hand, is a combination of two distinct dances, where the Anggalang performance is carried out by a group of ladies (not displayed in the TikTok video).

Support and gratification for these dancers' skills poured into the comments section.

"I'd lose my legs doing this," said one commenter, while another wrote, "Bye, I've gotten my foot stuck in between the poles one time during practice, in front of a lot of people."

A funnier comment of the bunch said their toxic trait is thinking they could pull these moves off.

One person wrote that they've seen the performance before, though they've never tried it. A further commenter noted that he could never do this dance with as much skill as those in the video.

"I'd surrender after the first step," cheekily added one more person.

Praising the boys for their talent, one person wrote, "This is such a power skill." Some on the other hand, chose to appreciate it from afar for the grace and poise that is the dance, "I'd straight up get anxiety."