Uniting cultures with every beat of her drum

PETALING JAYA: Business student Mariam Abdul Nazar has become a poster girl for unity after she was featured in Young Lions, a R.AGE minidocumentary series about Malaysia’s top young lion dance performers.

The tudungclad drummer in the Khuan Loke Dragon and Lion Dance Association, was pleasantly surprised by the response to her episode after it premiered on the first day of Chinese New Year on the R. AGE website.

“I am extremely proud to be in this video.

“It gives people a better idea of what lion dance is about,” said the 20yearold, adding that her friends were now teasing her about being a lion dance idol.

“But more than that, I’m happy that as a Muslim, I’m able to promote this sport.”

Malaysian lion dancers are considered among the world’s best in competitive lion dance.

The members of a troupe perform spectacular stunts that’s combined with poetic movements steeped in tradition.

In her episode, Mariam had urged Malaysians of all races and religions to continue supporting local lion dance.

Her brother, Nursultan Nazar Abdul Nazar, is also a lion dancer with Khuan Loke.

“As Malaysians, we should support the sport.

“This isn’t just about Chinese culture anymore. This is also part of our Malaysian culture,” said Mariam.

Episode two of the series, which was released yesterday, features fivetime world champion Low Tong Sheng, 23, explaining what life is like as a fulltime competitive lion dancer.

* To watch all the latest episodes of Young Lions, go to rage.com.my/ younglions or facebook.com/ thestarrage.