"Local Dances" Top 5 Page for this destination Kota Kinabalu Local Custom Tip by Wild_Orchid

The various local ethnic groups take pride in displaying their own forms of dances for tourists and during festivals and rituals. The biggest festival celebrated in Sabah is the "Hari Gawai" or Harvest Festival. During the 3-day Gawai festival, there is continuous dancing and performances taking place and an air of festivity fills the air. Tuak, a type of home brewed rice wine is drunk in large quantities, and sometimes offered to visitors and tourists. I am not sure what this tuak tastes like, but I believe that it is not drunk with taste in mind! Rather it is drunk more with the intention of relaxing after the hard work of the rice harvest...if you get my drift. (hehe)

At other times of the year, dances are performed by various dance troupes at hotels and cultural villages and shopping malls. The most famous dance troup is the Sabah Tourism Board Dancers. At the end of the show, an unsuspecting tourist is usually roped in to complete the dance (see pics). It is really fun to try to join in or to watch!