KOTA KINABALU - Dusun Rumanau, also known as Dusun Lobu in Keningau, is a comparatively minor ethnic group in Sabah, which is home to 35 ethnicities and 217 sub-ethnic groups.
However, a passion for Dusun Rumanau culture and dance inspired teacher and choreographer Brandon Balasius @ Boichore, to conduct in-depth research on the subject.
This ultimately became the driving force for his mission to bring recognition to the ethnic group on the global stage.
The SK Sri Gaya teacher’s efforts bore fruit when his students, who call themselves the Tukang-Tukang group from SMK Bingkor, Keningau, won two gold medals and two major awards at the Dance World Cup 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic, in July.
"Dusun Rumanau, also known as Dusun Lobu in Keningau, is actually a very minor ethnic group, and that motivated me to bring them to the global stage through dance. I am grateful that this goal was achieved, elevating both the ethnic group and Malaysia’s name,” he told Bernama.
"Keningau is home to various tribes and ethnic groups, but when I first saw Dusun Rumanau’s unique attire, dance, and culture, I was captivated. This led me to conduct research and adapt it into a creative dance,” he told Bernama.
Brandon said based on his research, the Dusun Rumanau community could be found in the Tongod district, with some having migrated to Kinabatangan and Sandakan.
"In Keningau, however, they are known as Dusun Lobu and reside in the Sook area, about 40 kilometres from Keningau town. The language spoken by the Dusun Rumanau is distinct from the language spoken by most Dusun communities,” he explained.
Brandon, who has been a dance choreographer since 2012, said he was particularly fascinated by the unique and beautiful traditional attire of the Dusun Rumanau people.
"The outfits worn by my dancers are handwoven by the Rumanau people. The weaving is exceptionally fine and reflects the identity of the Rumanau community.
"Their dance is also very unique as the dancers and musicians are the same individuals. They dance while playing musical instruments, so I adapted the choreography based on the history of the ethnic group,” he added.
According to folklore, the Dusun Rumanau people were known in the past for their strength and skill in hunting, which earned them great respect.
"This is reflected in the creative dance performed by the Tukang-Tukang group, which tells these stories. The three male Dusun Rumanau dancers embody the folklore characters in their performance, which is why their movements are dynamic and filled with spirit,” he said.
He said after conducting research on the minor ethnic group, he began crafting the choreography before starting to practice the moves with the dancers.
"We trained for three months before departing for Prague last July for the Dance World Cup 2024,” he said.
Brandon expressed his gratitude to all parties, including teachers and parents of the dancers, who gave tremendous encouragement and unwavering support to the team.
"I am incredibly thankful that the team’s target was achieved. We have been dreaming about this for a long time, and I hope we can replicate this success in the future,” he said. - BERNAMA