The Sumazau dance is probably the most well-known dance tradition in Sabah. Sumazau is synonymous to the Kadazan-Dusun community. Traditionally, this dance is performed to pay homage to the paddy spirits and often involves the female shaman (Bobohizan) to mediate between the spirit and the human world. Sumazau is the highlight of the Harvest Feast in Sabah that is usually celebrated in the month of May. Today, the dance is also performed at weddings to welcome guests. Sumazau is performed by both male and female dancers. These dancers wear allblack costume adorned with pretty motives in gold thread. Female dancers are equipped with shawls and belt (tangkong) made from silver coins. Male dancers usually wear a special headgear (tanjak) and dried salad leaf tied at the waist. Sumazau Dance is accompanied by the pounding of six gongs in various sizes and a gendang. The hand movements of Sumazau dancers are similar to a bird’s wings in flight while their feet are in beat with the poundings of the gongs. Dancers perform as couples; they face each other, and move their feet in small steps while lifting their heels according to the rhythm of songs played.

Topeng Betawi is a masked folk dance performed by the indigenous Betawi tribe of Jakarta adapted into a stage performance. Topeng is a traditional mask worn by the Betawi, who believed that the masked dance could keep disaster at bay. This was why they hired topeng dancers to perform at joyful occasions such as weddings and circumcisions. Topeng Betawi combines music, song and dance in a single performance, just like an opera. Men wear black shorts and t-shirts with sarongs, and women were long clothing, kebayas (traditional Indonesian costume) and shawls. They wear colorful crowns on their heads and cover their faces with wooden masks as the final step. Each mask represents a different personality. The dancers voice social critique and hand out advice, using satire and humor to appease the audience. The dance moves vary depending on the theme, which ranges from ancient legends to social controversies, life in the community and other classical tales.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Masked dance\n\nPerformed by Dance Company of Jakarta State University\nDirected by Elindra Eti

Topeng Betawi is a masked folk dance performed by the indigenous Betawi tribe of Jakarta adapted into a stage performance. Topeng is a traditional mask worn by the Betawi, who believed that the masked dance could keep disaster at bay. This was why they hired topeng dancers to perform at joyful occasions such as weddings and circumcisions. Topeng Betawi combines music, song and dance in a single performance, just like an opera. Men wear black shorts and t-shirts with sarongs, and women were long clothing, kebayas (traditional Indonesian costume) and shawls. They wear colorful crowns on their heads and cover their faces with wooden masks as the final step. Each mask represents a different personality. The dancers voice social critique and hand out advice, using satire and humor to appease the audience. The dance moves vary depending on the theme, which ranges from ancient legends to social controversies, life in the community and other classical tales.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Masked dance\n\nPerformed by Dance Company of Jakarta State University\nDirected by Elindra Eti

Topeng Betawi is a masked folk dance performed by the indigenous Betawi tribe of Jakarta adapted into a stage performance. Topeng is a traditional mask worn by the Betawi, who believed that the masked dance could keep disaster at bay. This was why they hired topeng dancers to perform at joyful occasions such as weddings and circumcisions. Topeng Betawi combines music, song and dance in a single performance, just like an opera. Men wear black shorts and t-shirts with sarongs, and women were long clothing, kebayas (traditional Indonesian costume) and shawls. They wear colorful crowns on their heads and cover their faces with wooden masks as the final step. Each mask represents a different personality. The dancers voice social critique and hand out advice, using satire and humor to appease the audience. The dance moves vary depending on the theme, which ranges from ancient legends to social controversies, life in the community and other classical tales.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Masked dance\n\nPerformed by Dance Company of Jakarta State University\nDirected by Elindra Eti

Topeng Betawi is a masked folk dance performed by the indigenous Betawi tribe of Jakarta adapted into a stage performance. Topeng is a traditional mask worn by the Betawi, who believed that the masked dance could keep disaster at bay. This was why they hired topeng dancers to perform at joyful occasions such as weddings and circumcisions. Topeng Betawi combines music, song and dance in a single performance, just like an opera. Men wear black shorts and t-shirts with sarongs, and women were long clothing, kebayas (traditional Indonesian costume) and shawls. They wear colorful crowns on their heads and cover their faces with wooden masks as the final step. Each mask represents a different personality. The dancers voice social critique and hand out advice, using satire and humor to appease the audience. The dance moves vary depending on the theme, which ranges from ancient legends to social controversies, life in the community and other classical tales.\n\nCharacteristics:\n∙Masked dance\n\nPerformed by Dance Company of Jakarta State University\nDirected by Elindra Eti

This is an original traditional dance of the Bajau. The Limbai dance is performed during a wedding ceremony. It is an act of welcoming the bridegroom and his entourage and to invite them to the bride’s house. The melody and rhythmic movements of the dancer will accompany the bridegroom to the bride's house and would preceed the "ijab-qabul" or wedding ceremony. The graceful movement of the dancers’ wrists will sway their shawls to express their warm welcome. The music accompanying the Limbai is called bertitik.