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Observer of local culture and folklore researcher for the Sekelek Instiute Publishing House, Lampung.

His Royal Highness, Prince Panembahan Mas, also known as Minak Kejala Biddin and his brother Minak Kejala Ratu, sent word to their father, Sultan Maulana Hasanudin, still in Banten, that their village was often attacked by robbers. The Sultan of Banten sent them some saplings which he said would protect them from the attack. Amongst the saplings were teak saplings and lead tree saplings (Leucaena leucocephala).

The teak trees were planted as instructed in the letter, and reeds and the "melinting tree". The area was named Melinting by the second son of the Sultan of Banten and the name has stuck to this day. Since that day, the queen in this area is always given the title Queen Melinting.

One day, the Queen created a beautiful and sacred dance. The dance could only be performed in the castle grounds. The dance became known as the melinting dance. The dance has a long history, as it has been performed since Islam came to Indonesia. However, at the moment, the melinting dance is not very well known neither by local population in the Lampung nor elsewhere.

The history of the melinting dance began in the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Melinting Prince Panembahan Mas. At that time, Islam had begun to influence dance including that of the melinting dance. This dance can be found in the Labuhan Maringgai District, in the villages of Meringgai and Wana which are part of the East Lampung
Regency, not far from the coastal boarder with the Javanese Sea.

According to Agus Gunawan of the "Sangisu" dance group in Bandar Lampung, who has recently finished his research on the origins of the melinting dance in East Lampung, the melinting dance has changed a lot since it was first created by Queen Melinting. He suggests that the melinting dance was originally a dance performed by Queen Melintings
family at gawi adat (traditional ceremonies) of the Melinting Court. The dance was restricted to the sons and daughters of Queen Melinting. It was performed at the theatre for cultural performances (Balai Adat).

The melinting dance was rediscovered and developed since 1958. The original movements, costumes and accessories have been modified. Its function has changed too. The once sacred dance is now performed as pure entertainment, as well as for welcoming important guests to Lampung.

Previously, the male performers wore a golden fez, a traditional shirt (teluk belanga style), sash, a red fan, feathers, a white handkerchief, pandan leaves and white trousers. Nowadays, they wear a golden fez, the teluk belanga shirt, kain tapis (traditional cloth
from Lampung), a fan of any colour, and a feather.

For the female dancers, the costume consisted of a white or red yashmak, a white sleeveless kebaya, the kain tapis, a white fan, bracelet, and bangles. Nowadays, the clothes and accessories consist of a copper coloured fake talons, long sleeved kebaya, the kain tapis and bangles.

The movements used in the dance are different for boys and girls. The boy's movements are babar kipas, jung sumbah, sukkung sekapan, balik palau, kenui melayang, nyiduk, salaman, suali, niti batang, lutcat kijang, and lapah ayun. While the girls movements consist of babar kipas, jung sumbah, sukung sekapan, timbangan or terpipih mabel,
melayang, ngiyan bias, nginjak lado, nginjak tahi manuk and lapah ayun.

The accompanying music is very traditional with a strong traditional rhythm. The rhythms used to accompany the dance are known tabuh arus, tabuh cetik, and tabuh kedanggung. The instruments used are traditional instruments such as the talo balak (gong), talo lunik (canang) and tapak (similar to gamelan).