By Rohaiza Ab Rahman
KOTA BHARU, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Seven primary school pupils are helping to carry on Kelantan’s Mak Yong tradition, taking to the stage for the first time with the Mak Yong Apprenticeship Group at Keretapi Sarong 2026.
The nine- to 12-year-old pupils captivated visitors at Taman Tengku Anis here with their Mak Yong performance under the guidance of the Kelantan branch of the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN).
Eleven-year-old Nur Aisya Yumma Adek Yuzee, who played the role of Pak Yong, was among the highlights, winning praise for her portrayal of the lead character in the Anak Raja Gondang performance.
Kelantan JKKN Mak Yong dance instructor Nur Qulain Saari, 39, said the group was the first children’s Mak Yong troupe formed by the department, marking a new chapter in efforts to nurture the next generation of performers.
“This is the first Mak Yong performance by a children’s group in Kelantan and marks a new chapter in JKKN’s history.
“For their debut, we chose the story of Anak Raja Gondang, which is considered one of the easier stories for the pupils to learn and master,” she told Bernama recently.
She said the group, formed in 2024, began intensive rehearsals three months ago in preparation for its performance in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations.
Nur Qulain, who has more than 20 years of experience in traditional dance and theatre, said one of the main challenges in training primary school pupils was helping them understand their characters and convey the storyline effectively to the audience.
“Mak Yong is a unique form of theatre that requires a high level of characterisation to ensure that the story is conveyed clearly and understood by the audience. Therefore, our selection process is quite rigorous.
“We only select pupils who are genuinely interested, have some basic knowledge of dance and acting, and are confident enough to perform before an audience,” she said.
She said the group had also received guidance from prominent figures in Kelantan’s Mak Yong tradition, including director and Mak Yong exponent Ruhani Mohd Zin, who mentors the Kelantan JKKN Kijang Emas Mak Yong Group.
She added that continued guidance was important to ensure that Kelantan’s cultural arts and heritage remained alive, recognised and passed down to younger generations.
-- BERNAMA