Joget Dance: Joget is the most popular traditional dance in Malaysia. It is normally performed at cultural festivals, weddings, and other social functions. The joget involves two people with quick steps following the tempo of the music. The Joget often serves as the finale for any cultural shows so as to enlighten the excitement of audience (and especially tourists.)

The fascinating and entrancing Joget dance contains elements from various cultures merged together into a single form. It is a synchronized dance with Portuguese roots, and its music uses the Western violin, the Arab rebana, the Southeast Asian gong and a Northeast Malaysian style of singing.


Zapin Dance: “Zapin” is a Malay dance that derives from the Arab-Persian tradition. The word “Zapin” itself means “feet movement,” and Zapin dance indeed focuses on the movement of the dancers’ feet. A lot of modern Malay dances have adapted the Zapin’s traditional melody. In Malaysia, Zapin is the most popular dance in the state of Johor.

Spouses and those accompanying Congress participants are invited to room 301 in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) to experience the zapin and joget dance. As Natalia Alvarez from Spain, attests, the dance was lovely and exciting. It was her first experience dancing Malay traditional dance and it was not that difficult to try—especially for first timers.

Luis, from Mexico, said he enjoyed the session so well that he’s going to teach his friends in Mexico how to dance Malaysian’s Zapin when he returns.


Norsuriaty Awang Hassim