Asli
Asli
COSTUMES OF ASLI
SKU: S104835000184998340
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ABOUT THE COSTUMES
Asli is known to be most slow paced of all the traditional Malay Dance. There are numerous hand movements and poses, each with a different meaning (Farah Miruddin, 2016).
The Asli also accompanies the Dondang Sayang, a love ballad involving the exchange of Pantuns. Thus, while the Asli originated among the Malays, it has been influenced by both the Portuguese and Peranakan cultures (Farah Miruddin, 2016).
How exactly does this history influence their costumes?
With their heavy relation with the Peranakan Community, the costumes of Asli, for the ladies, were often bright coloured and filled with flowery details. Most of the ladies also usually donned the Baju Kebaya which resembled the Baba Nyonya (Ain Balqis, 2021).
What is a Baju Kebaya?
2.
They also mentioned that the Kebaya fabric uses a floral motif either printed or woven into the textile and its length can fall somewhere from above the waist to below the knee. It usually, but not always, has long sleeves. Some variations of the kebaya will use a Batik sash, which is coordinated with the Kain, draped over the shoulder as an added accessory. However in slide 2, you can see the dancer incorporating the Batik as her bottom instead!
The Women
With the influence of the Peranakan community, the women would don bright coloured Baju Kurung (Slide 1) or Baju Kebaya (Slide 2) and a Flower Sanggul (Slide 2 and 3).
In an interview with a fellow friend from the famous Sriwana, Ain Balqis (2021) mentioned that "the costumes were often simple and kampung-like as it is the oldest genre of Malay Dance".
The Men
As for the men, they would wear a simple Baju Melayu, Samping and a Songkok (Slide 3).
What is a Baju Kebaya?
1.
According to Living in Indonesia (n.d.), many of the easily recognizable features of today’s Kebaya – a tight-fitting blouse that enhances the torso of the woman; the fold-back collarless neck and front opening; long sleeves; and the type of semi-transparent fabric – are evident in the Kebaya of the past century. You can see a visualisation of the Kebaya in slide 2 as well as slide 2 of the Inang section!
References
Cattoni. V. (N.D) The Kebaya - An Indonesian Traditional Dress for Women. Expat or id.