Magunatip Dance from Malaysia

This is an East Malaysian dance that is very strongly influenced by the Philippines. Performed by the young men and women of the Kwijau community in Keningau, Sabah. The dance involves jumping steps and the dance is a display of the skill of the dancers that maneuver their feet in and out so as not to get their feet trapped by the bamboo.  The 2 bamboo poles are usually approximately 6 feet long and are held by 2 dancers that beat them together and over a shorter length of wood or bamboo creating an interesting rhythm. Sometimes there are even 4 poles that are held by 4 dancers. The tempo can be increased to further display the skill of the dancers. Among the musical instruments used are the gong and bamboo. Both are percussion instruments that provide the rhythm for the performance.