Fear and worry over teen girls who go into trance in class

Religious leader who counsels the secondary school girls is concerned about them learning Javanese trance dance, which attracts mainly youth here. -TNP

Sun, Jun 13, 2010
The New Paper


By VEENA BHARWANI

IT WAS just an ordinary day in class for Dina (not her real name). The 15-year-old and her classmates were taking notes as their teacher conducted a lesson.

Suddenly, Dina stood up and and started dancing intensely, totally oblivious of her teacher and classmates as they called out to her.

She even lapsed into bouts of anger, like someone who was deeply disturbed.

Fearful of what she would do next, her classmates ran out of the classroom.

A couple of minutes later, Dina collapsed and fainted.

She recovered a short while later and wasn't hurt.

What her friends and teacher did not know was that she had gone into a trance apparently because of her deep involvement in kuda kepang - the traditional Javanese dance of men riding fake horses.

Imam Mohd Azmi Rabbani from Assakirin Mosque, who was called in by the principal of the secondary school to counsel the girls, said the incident last July was not an isolated event.

Another 15-year-old girl from the same school had also apparently gone into a trance in class around the same time, he said.

He said the two had been taking kuda kepang lessons on weekends.

Said Imam Mohd Azmi in Malay, through a translator: "I asked them why they wanted to get involved in this dance and they said it was to pass their time on weekends.

"They admitted that they did not know what they were getting into. They also told me they were just copying their other friends who were involved in the dance.

"They also said that when they go into a trance when performing the dance, they get angry and emotional."

He is concerned about such incidents as it is mostly young people who are involved in the dance.

There are close to 40 groups teaching the dance here and more than two-thirds of those taking lessons are young people, two kuda kepang practitioners said.

Added Imam Mohd Azmi: "Some parents are not even aware of what their children are up to as they take the lessons on weekends."

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) advises Muslims to avoid getting involved in such performances as it goes against the teachings of Islam.

Two parents contacted by The New Paper said they were uncomfortable that these youngsters go into a trance.

Said 44-year-old full-time tutor Zainon Jantan: "As a parent, I think it is dangerous. Sometimes, during performances they eat glass, climb trees and jump down.

The performances can also turn violent. It is also a public nuisance.

"Whenever I attend weddings, I leave as soon as the performance begins. It is scary. I ask my children to stay away from the performance and performers."

There have been growing complaints over such performances in public places like void decks and open spaces.



More complaints

Coordinating secretary of PAP Town Councils Albert Teng said: "We are primarily concerned with the growing number of complaints regarding the disruption that these performances can cause, drawing a huge crowd with the commotion sometimes lasting late into the night."

To reduce the disruption to other residents, he urges kuda kepang performers to explore "alternative venues that are more enclosed, such as an indoor arena or hall".

He added that a police permission is necessary for such performances.

However, Mr Teng stressed that all forms of ethnic performances which do not alarm the public are allowed at void decks and other public areas managed by the town councils, as long as permission has been granted.

Some kuda kepang practitioners say the dance form actually benefits youth as it saves them from heading down the wrong path.

Said Mr Abdul Malik Haji Marwi, 43, who teaches the kuda kepang dance to youngsters: "So many youths actually indulge in a lot of useless activities like wasting their time at shopping malls and getting involved in fights."

He has 20 students, all below 18 years of age.

The adviser to the kuda kepang group Jaran Sembrani said: "I've encouraged many youths to join our group as it teaches them something about Javanese culture and it helps preserve this art."

Mr Abdul Malik said his son used to be one of those "misguided youths who got into a lot of trouble".

"I never saw him on weekends. He was involved in fights and even got in trouble with the police over a year ago. I was so worried about him.

"I told him to think about learning kuda kepang to learn something new and not get involved in bad company."

His son,Mohd Ashraf, 16, has been involved in kuda kepang for about a year and enjoys it.

Mr Abdul Malik said his students do learn how to go into a trance but do not eat glass.

He said: "We discipline them. The young ones first learn how to play the musical instruments and when they are above 16, when they are more disciplined, I teach them how to go into a trance. The process takes over six months."



Only a performance

As for the aggressive performances at public places, Mr Abdul Malik said: "It looks dangerous but it is only a performance. If it is too dull, then people will not be entertained. It is more entertaining if the performers look angry and are a bit aggressive."

Added Mr Ramle Ismail, 42, another kuda kepang practitioner: "We take great care when teaching the art to the youth. There is always an adult like myself or Mr Abdul Malik present at performances to make sure thingsdo not go out of hand."

Added Mr Ramle: "We perform at least once a month at weddings and there are marshals present, so it doesn't get out of hand."

To demonstrate how they can control their students' trance, Mr Abdul Malik and Mr Ramle watched over student Indra Shahril, 18, as he performed the dance and apparently went into a trance within three minutes.

After his trance, Indra, who is waiting to go into National Service, lay on the floor and wriggled for a while before becoming still - like he had fainted. Moments later, he stood up and went to sit in the corner.Hesaid: "I didn't feel anything. I am just tired."



Trancers are 'sinful' in Islam

IT has its roots in Java and Bali and has steadily gained popularity in Singapore.

Practitioners The New Paper spoke to said kuda kepang is an art form that the locals use to tell the ancient story of the Ramayana through dance skits.

Its main attraction is the horse dance ritual, which gives it its name. A kuda kepang performer mimics the movements of a horse.

He or she straps on props shaped like a horse. Usually, these performers are invited to perform at weddings and other occasions. Sometimes, the performances can go on the whole day.

The performers carry out rituals like inhaling incense smoke and eating glass and flowers - which have worried parents and religious groups in Singapore.

The act of eating glass, flowers and grass, as well as going into trance, is considered syirik or sinful in Islam.



Going into trance is reaction to stress

YOU can go into a trance when you are stressed. And it can be dangerous.

Dr Adrian Wang, psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said that trances can sometimes be abnormal and reactions to stress.

He said: "People who are troubled and stressed go into trances as a coping mechanism.

"A young person might go into a trance if he's stressed and troubled. This might be dangerous. He might act in a dangerous manner which can harm him."

The person may behave in an uncontrollable manner and cause harm to himself.

Dr Wang cautioned that parents and adults should be aware that kids are impressionable and they have a duty to guide their kids and teach them the right values.

Explaining what a trance is, he said: "It is a psychological state where the person's consciousness is altered and is in a state of suggestibility.

"During this time, the person might say or do things that are out of his usual character."

However, he added that trances can be culturally acceptable.

He said: "Most Asian cultures have some form of trance dances, like the Chinese temple mediums and Thaipusam where the devotee goes into a trance and feels no pain when he pierces his skin with sharp objects and carries the kavadi. These are culturally acceptable."

He said trances are not dangerous if performed as part of cultural or religious ceremonies where there is spiritual meaning attached.

veenab@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.