In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, cultural arts organisation Pusaka and TRX will present Senjakala: Seni Kita By Pusaka, a six-weekend showcase of traditional Malaysian performing arts under the ART@TRX programme at TRX City Park and TRX MRT Plaza.
Senjakala is the Bahasa Malaysia word for dusk or twilight, the fleeting transition between day and night. Aptly named, the live performance series is designed for an open-air setting such as the 4ha TRX City Park, where audiences can experience the arts against the backdrop of the fading evening light.
Running from June 19 to July 25, the Senjakala series brings together six performance traditions from across Malaysia’s cultural landscape: the gilded elegance of Pahang and Terengganu’s joget gamelan, the vibrant rhythms of Borneo’s indigenous communities, the commanding presence of Johor’s Javanese reog tradition, the timeless artistry of the Mah Meri masked dance, the refined virtuosity of traditional Chinese music and the shadow-lit storytelling of Kelantan’s wayang kulit.
The Senjakala series opens on June 19 and 20 at Laman Sinaran, TRX City Park, with gamelan and joget gamelan performances by cultural performance group Astrawayu’s musicians and dancers.
The Malay gamelan is a court tradition associated with Pahang and Terengganu, performed for royal ceremonies during the reigns of Sultan Ahmad of Pahang (1882–1914) and Sultan Sulaiman of Terengganu (1920–1942). Shaped by influences from the Johor-Riau-Lingga and Riau-Lingga Sultanates, it later became firmly established in the Malay Peninsula.
Built around the slendro pentatonic scale, the ensemble comprises seven instruments: saron besar, saron kecil, gambang, bonang, kenong, a pair of hanging gongs, and a gendang.
The accompanying dance form joget gamelan once comprised 60 dances, of which only 10 survive today. Performed in elaborate court attire, the dances embody the refinement of the Malay court, with graceful, measured movements that reflect the tradition’s royal heritage.
Admission is free for the upcoming gamelan and joget gamelan performances. Two sessions will be held each day, from 5.30pm to 6pm and 6.30pm to 7pm, this Friday and Saturday at Laman Sinaran, TRX City Park. Visitors are encouraged to dress comfortably and be prepared for an outdoor setting.
