Dabus (dance)

Dabus was originally not a dance but an art form of self-defense. The concept of dabus is heroism as it demands intelligence, dexterity, heroism, and cheerfulness while playing it. Dabus is one of the traditional dances in Perak that can survive for over 300 years ago. Even if the country accepts the current of change in addition to the rapid influence of western culture, but to this day it is still loved and appreciated by art lovers.[1]

According to oral stories, the story dates back to the days of Islamic construction, during Caliph Zainal Abidin, son of Saidina Hassan and grandson of Saidina Ali. This dance is believed to have started playing in the state of Perak 300 years ago. There are some opinions that dispute the entry of dabus dance into Perak. One opinion says that dabus is believed to have been brought directly to Perak by Ahmad Mahyuddin who is from Persia (Baghdad) around 1785. He was a student of the teacher Muhammad Abil Hassan al-Rifai. This dance began to develop in Pasir Panjang Laut, Sitiawan, Lumut, and also in Sungai Nipah Baroh and Sungai Balai Baroh, Teluk Intan, Perak.

The second opinion said dabus game was brought to Indonesia through Pasai in Aceh before developed to Pasir Panjang, Perak by Nakhoda Lembang who studied Lembang Fakir Muhammad of India, who was also a pupil of the master Muhammad Abil Hassan al-Rifai.[2] Another opinion says Ahmad Mahyuddin who studied with Muhammad Abil Hassan al-Rifai met with Nakhoda Lembang of Batu Bara, Aceh who studied with Fakir Muhammad of India in 1785, has been jointly developing the arts dabus to Perak in Pasir Panjang in early 1700.

Although dabus still can not be categorized as a popular art among the people, yet its activities are directly driven by the heir of the art has long been able to record its history distinctive as one of the best traditional dances in the state of Perak.[3]