Living it up with dance
Twenty Penang dance groups will showcase their works to celebrate International Dance Day, writes Subhadra Devan
IN celebrating dance as a means to earn a living, for wellness and harmony, Penang Arts Link is turning on the heat for the Unesco International Dance Day. Co-organiser Aida Redza reveals 20 Penang dance groups will be participating in the Penang Dance Day event, come May 1, although International Dance Day, a global celebration of dance, actually takes place annually on April 29.
For the Penang event, Aida says the dance groups are from popular and commercial dance studios in Penang, as well as cultural and contemporary independent groups.
“The aim is to promote the coming together of all genres of dance to celebrate the day.
“Penang Dance Day has been celebrated the past nine years to include the celebration of all genres of dance so that the public are introduced and learn to appreciate the many different types of dances.
“For these past long years, Penang Dance Day has been led and driven by the people with very limited funds.
“And yet we continue to persevere to provide dance for the larger community. We have not received funding again this year and was rejected by the State Arts, Culture and Heritage office.
“So each year, with the limited support, we are not able to commission new works but the groups involved voluntarily contribute their pieces to celebrate the day together and for the community of Penang.
VARIETY OF WORKS
“Some groups will be performing new works while others will do recent repertoires.”
On the bill under the theme LivingDance is MyDance Station Ballet School presenting Abundant, with choreography by Liu Yong Sean on May 1 at 8.30pm.
K-pop will be offered by When We Meet Together with Happiness at 5pm, on May 1.
The group has taken part in competitions K-pop Dance Challenge 2018 (Top 8) and Skills N’ Thrills Youth Talent Quest 2018 (third place).
The Kakitari Performance Troupe from Universiti Sains Malaysia will present Echad Mi Yodea, with original choreography by Ohad Naharin.
Reconstruction by USM drama and theatre lecturer Nur Hilyati Ramli, Echad Mi Yodea was choreographed in 1990 as part of the full-length work Kyr, the first dance that Ohad created for the Batsheva Dance Company as its artistic director. The song Echad Mi Yodea is emblematic of the affirmation of the essential elements of Judaism.
Others on the bill include contemporary pieces, hip-hop, waacking, Chinese cultural dances, traditional Malay and movements featuring creative Arab songs, among others.
WORKSHOPS FOR EVERYONE
The workshops are reasonably priced, says Aida, adding: “We want to attract all ages, and provide opportunity to educate the public that dance is not just for dancers or performing artistes only but is for all. It is made affordable for everyone to take dance classes especially on May 1 as our Penang dance contribution to celebrate World Dance Day.”
Other cities are marking the day as well. In Kuala Lumpur, University of Malaya’s Dance Department Cultural Centre will hold site-specific dances on April 29 at 1pm.(Call 03-7967 2670/7086 for details.)
Aswara’s Dance Faculty will hold its annual choreography performance, Gelombang Baru, showcasing the works of budding choreographers.
Now in its 18th series, it is an opportunity for the students/choreographers to consider how their work stands as a reflection of society, to deliver a message, and to entertain as well.
In addition, the Faculty of Dance will also be organising free workshops on April 28, from 10am to 5pm. The instructors include odissi dancer January Low. Visit www.facebook.com/fakultitariaswara.
The annually–observed World Dance Day should increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the public. Its goal is also to persuade all governments to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education.