Tiny dancer ready to take on world stage
Young Sarawakian dancer Dion Das Louis, who performs as the “Little Bornean Birdie,” is set to show off his talent on the global stage in July.
At only eight years old, Dion is a member of Malaysia’s team participating in the 27th World Championships of Performing Arts in the United States, dubbed the Olympics of the performing arts.
His father, Louis Lansam, who accompanied Dion to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Premier Datuk Douglas Uggah here yesterday, said his son would fly at the end of June to Long Beach, California, where the competition would take place from July 1-5.
His mother, Edina Lanying, was also present at the courtesy call.
Dion qualified for the world championships after winning the junior dance category at the Malaysia Championships of Performing Arts in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 27.
He performed a contemporary ethnic dance through the character of a bird, which gave rise to his stage name.
Louis said Dion’s rendition of the traditional Iban ngajat dance was inspired by two majestic Borneo birds, the ruai or great argus pheasant and the kenyalang or hornbill.
“The birds are elegantly depicted in the feathers of his traditional costume.
“His dance steps are choreographed to mimic the movements of the kenyalang as it flies through the treetops and the ruai as it spreads out its rich plumage,” Louis said.
He said Dion, a Year Two pupil at SK Green Road, has a natural talent for performing the ngajat.
His mother believes the boy inherited the talent from his maternal grandfather, who was an accomplished ngajat dancer from Nanga Entabai in Pakan.
Both Louis and Edina will accompany their son to the world championships.