Group urged to popularise folk dancing for health, social wellbeing
SIBU: Community leader Temenggong Dato Vincent Lau has called on members of Lanang Folk Dancing Group to popularise folk dancing as a communal recreational activity that promotes health and social goodwill.
Speaking at the group’s New Year gathering at a hotel here recently, he said the recreational activity has played an increasingly important role in the advancement of society.
He said dancing was culturally part and parcel of life, but, in the advancement of society, recreational activities like community dancing was much needed to upgrade lifestyles.
“Lanang Folk Dancing Group was formed years ago to promote dancing that incorporates the cultures of various global communities.
“The dances involve simple melodious tunes and steps and this social dancing has become a form of exercise, health programme and fun that gathers people together.”
He said the group’s members had overcome the odds to build their dancing community over the years and they had even hosted competitions.
“Work together to bring in more people,” he exhorted the dance group members.
Lau also said that the popularity of folk dance in community dancing was because it was simple and anyone could dance.
He said the dance did not involve sophisticated steps requiring professional training like the type for stage performances.
He called on members to host the activity anywhere they liked, be it indoors, outdoors or in parks.
Meanwhile, function organising chairperson Sayang Loi in her speech said Lanang Folk Dancing Group was formed 23 years ago.
She thanked its leaders and instructors for building the dance foundation for its members, enabling countless batches of dancers to learn the art.
She also thanked the group’s sponsors and advisory board members for their moral and fi nancial support.
Also present were the group’s chairperson Lee Siew Hung, Teo Boon Siew who represented patron Dato Sri Lau Kung Chai, former Penghulu Philip Law, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Nangka Branch chairman Benson Chua, his treasurer Jackson Ting and Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau’s son, Kelvin.