PATRA – Performing Arts and Traditions Research Affinity (2024-2035)

Members

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lena Farida Hussain Chin (Bangsawan & Indigenous Traditions) Leader

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Fazli Taib Saearani (Classical Court Dance Traditions)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamarulzaman Mohd. Karim (Malay Traditional Music)

Dr. Hafzan Zannie Hamza (Indigenous Traditions & Malay Traditional Dance)

Dr. Salman Alfarisi (Cultural Studies)

Dr. Flory Ann Mansor Gingging (Ethnic Music Traditions)

Dr. Wong Huey Yi @ Colleen (Court Music Traditions)

Dr. Mardiana Ismail (Malay Folklore & Traditional Theatre)

Dr. Nurulakmal Abdul Wahid (Sarawak Traditional & Folk Dance)

Mr. Abdul Hamid Chan (Sabah Traditional & Folk Dance)

Mr. Amsalib Pisali (Indigenous Traditions)

Ms. Nadhilah Suhaimi (Asian Theatres)

PATRA: Performing Arts and Traditions Research Affinity (2024–2030)

Special Interest Group (SIG)

Mission Statement:

The Performing Arts and Traditions Research Affinity (PATRA) is a scholarly initiative established for the systematic study, critical documentation, and sustainable revitalization of the diverse performing arts and cultural traditions of Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region, including its diasporic communities. Active from 2024 to 2030, PATRA convenes a network of scholars, practitioners, cultural custodians, and policy-makers to advance the discourse and praxis surrounding intangible cultural heritage. Our mission is to build a robust intellectual and collaborative framework for the preservation and evolution of these vital art forms.

Core Research Clusters:

PATRA’s research agenda is organized into five interrelated clusters, promoting deep and cross-disciplinary investigation:

Musicology and Ethnomusicology:

Focuses on the study of court, folk, and ethnic music traditions. This includes the analysis of musical structures, instrumentation (organology), historical contexts, and the socio-cultural functions of music in Malay and other Southeast Asian societies.

Performance Studies and Choreology:

Encompasses the analytical study of movement, form, and meaning in court, folk, and indigenous dance traditions of Malay and other Southeast Asian dance culture. Research addresses choreography, kinesics, ritualistic significance, and the transmission of embodied knowledge.

Theatre and Dramaturgy:

Investigates the rich theatrical forms of the region, such as Bangsawan and other traditional theatre genres. This cluster examines narrative structures, stagecraft, character archetypes, and the evolution of theatrical performance in response to social change.

Oral Traditions and Folklore:

Dedicated to the documentation and analysis of the region’s vast repository of myths, epics, and oral narratives that form the foundation of many performing arts. This includes the study of storytelling techniques and their adaptation across various media.

Ritual, Indigenous, and Vernacular Practices:

Provides a specific focus on the integrated artistic expressions of indigenous communities, including those of Sabah and Sarawak. This research emphasizes the holistic nature of ritual performance, where music, dance, and oral traditions are inextricably linked to cosmology and community life.

Strategic Approaches:

To achieve its objectives, PATRA will engage in four primary activities:

Interdisciplinary Research: Fostering rigorous academic inquiry that bridges anthropology, history, ethnomusicology, performance studies, and digital humanities to generate new insights.

Digital Archiving and Documentation: Creating and curating a comprehensive, accessible digital repository of performances, manuscripts, oral histories, and related ephemera to safeguard against loss and facilitate scholarly access.

Collaborative Praxis: Initiating workshops, masterclasses, and experimental performances that unite academics with master artists, fostering innovation and the co-creation of new works grounded in tradition.

Public Engagement and Pedagogy: Disseminating research through international symposia, peer-reviewed publications, and public-facing digital platforms, while also developing educational materials to support cultural transmission.

Vision:

PATRA aims to cultivate a dynamic ecosystem where intangible cultural heritage is not merely preserved as a static artifact, but is actively engaged, critically understood, and creatively transmitted. By bridging scholarly inquiry with community practice, we seek to ensure the continued vitality and relevance of Southeast Asia’s performing arts for generations to come