Dancing their way to the Merdeka beat
Instructors choreograph dance to the spirit of National Day
KUALA With Merdeka Day celebrations just around the corner, dance instructors Adeline Cheng and Albert Lim have choreographed a line dance featuring dance movements of different ethnicities, including Kadazan, Iban, Chinese, Malay and Indian.
Cheng said the choreography is a gift to Malaysia, which celebrates 61 years of independence on Aug 31.
LUMPUR:
Malaysians come from different backgrounds and what is special is we practise togetherness regardless of race or religion. Adeline Cheng
“Malaysia is a melting pot of diverse heritage, arts and culture. It is a country where Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, and many ethnicities from Sabah and Sarawak live in harmony.
“This special choreography fuses various dance movements from many races,” Cheng, 49, said.
The mother of three, who is married to an Indian, also dedicates the fusion dance to Malaysians of mixed parentage.
“Being in a mixed marriage, I have learnt how to adapt to my husband’s culture and traditions. In our home, we have taught our daughters to have a good balance between both cultures.
“Malaysians come from different backgrounds and what is special is we practise togetherness regardless of race or religion,” said Cheng.
The twoandahalfminute dance features Dutch songbird Anneke Grönloh’s Oh, Malaysia, a song released to commemorate the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
Cheng and 20 students from Kuala Lumpurbased dance school Nuline Dance Malaysia have been rehearsing their dance steps since May.
“We have been practising every weekend.
“We chose to incorporate the Sumazau and Ngajat dance moves because we wanted to give more exposure to Sabah and Sarawak’s rich heritage.
“The line dance is easy as it features repeated sequence of steps and hand movements,” said Cheng, who has performed the dance at charity events in Kuala Lumpur.
To watch the video, go to https://www. you tube. com/ w at ch?v=FU OZ Hz YR aN Q