Exorcism and the Categorical Concept of Dance as Embodied in the Co-ruled Spirit in Johor Old Temple’s Parade of Deities

Johor Old Temple’s Parade of Deities is an annual large-scale procession of the local Chinese communities in Johor Bahru that marks a difference from other folk parades by parading with deities of five different clans and showcasing a vast array of Chinese folk performing arts all in one single event that lasts for five days. In this article, dance as a category in the Parade of Deities is defined in a broad term. The term encompasses performances that employ human body movements, including dances, martial arts, and acrobatics. This study aims to examine whether the dances have any ritual functions, such as exorcism or mediation within the ceremony, the role of the dances—specifically the music—as either central or subordinate to the event, and the type of cultural information conveyed by the Parade of Deities.