Noorainah Manurat Queen Of Lepa 2017 performing the Traditional Igal-Igal Dance on Lepa (boat) Abisa during Regatta Lepa Silver Jubilee Festival.
The Igal-Igal Dance is a cultural dance of Bajau tribe on the east coast of Sabah and is very popular in Semporna. The word “igal” means “Eagle of the Sea”. The graceful dance moves imitate the movement of the eagle’s wings as well as the wind.
The costume that the dancers wear is decorated with colourful sequin and beads. They also wear long metal fingernails, known as Janggay – a nail extension, to emphasize the graceful movement of fingers.