Design Method 3

Question : Apart from the musics and props, as a person who is new to dance, how can we differentiate between Chinese and Malay classical dance?

Answer:
Usually for Chinese classical dance, the body movement and the form will be more slower, softer and more feminine. For Malay dance, sometimes the dance movement is tend to be more sharp and fast (eg. Mak Yong).

Also finger gesture is one of the factor that makes the difference. Mostly Chinese dance have a lot of use of circular patterns in space with every part of the body. Besides, Chinese dance is more focused on the eye and hand coordination while Malay dance sometimes are more focused on legworks (eg Zapin).

Zapin

Chinese classical dance

Chinese classical dance has a major use of circular motion because it is believed that circular motion is a central element of form and very specific to Chinese classical dance.