A NEW dance group, called the Ronggeng Rhapsody, has been formed recently to reactivate the Baba Nyonya dondang sayang, asli songs and joget in Penang.
Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang president Lillian Tong said it is important that for the Baba Nyonya culture to be passed down to the next generation, new elements must be introduced to attract the young.
“We have started our dondang sayang ronggeng group and we are going to learn and compose new ‘pantun’.
“But we need to make it relevant, like rewriting and composing the music and lyrics, because we cannot always live in the past.
“Although much as you want to be a purist, there is a time when you have to let go. Otherwise, no young people will join you.
“Today’s young people, for instance, will not follow my sanggol hairstyle. But if they prefer a beehive or a bob style with the baju panjang, why not?” Tong said at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town today.
She was there to receive the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) Heritage Recognition and Awards 2020 under the Gold Status (50-99 years) category for the Penang Straits Chinese Dondang Sayang Club from GTWHI general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee.
GTWHI, in celebration of its 11th anniversary this year, is recognising the initiatives and giving out awards to various individuals, organisations and businesses for their outstanding contributions to the maintenance of the outstanding universal value of George Town Unesco World Heritage Site.
Tong said they partnered with Bunga Raya Band to even perform peranakan jazz for dondang sayang to ‘move forward’.
“I realise the young don’t like the old dondang sayang music. They like synthesiser or electronic music.
“When the music is passe, the young will stay away. We, however, definitely must keep to tradition. That is the basis or foundation, but we must make it attractive for the young,” she said.
Dr Ang said GTWHI was honoured to present the award to the Penang Straits Chinese Dondang Sayang Club, which was established in 1954.
A dondang sayang troupe would traditionally travel in brightly decorated bus to entertain the people with witty pantun verses and songs on Chap Goh Meh, the 15th and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
She added that even though they were not allowed to do so during the Covid-19 pandemic, they still participated online under GTWHI programme to keep the tradition alive.
“That has moved the whole safeguarding of cultural heritage into a new era. And today, I am very, very happy to have this opportunity to come here and see so many nyonya baba performers.
“They are also learning how to dance again. As Penangites, we are very proud of them and hope more people will join in,” Dr Ang said.
At the award’s presentation ceremony, guitarist Kelvyn Yeang and singer Joyce Chin of the Bunga Raya Band jazzed up the occasion with a newly revised version of the folk song (Chan Mali Chan), arranged by Lillian Tong and Melinda Song.
The Ronggeng Rhapsody members ‘berpantun’ and danced energetically and were joined in by the Penang State Heritage commissioner Rosli Nor and Dr Ang.
The group, which has currently about 20 members, is open to anyone who likes to dance.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Wong Sook Shyan & K.H. Ong