By Bavani M.
KUALA LUMPUR City Hall`s (DBKL) duties are not just about sweeping roads, cleaning drains and cutting trees. There are other aspects to the local authority`s role including show-casing Malaysia`s multi ethnic culture to the world via its cultural dance troupe. And with this year being visit Malaysia Year, the troupe has been working non-stop to display Malaysia`s culture to the world.
THE dancers moved gracefully and languidly on the tarred road to the beat of the rebana (a traditional Malay drum).
Each move was calculated and carefully choreographed, and despite the scorching heat from the blazing afternoon sun and the weight of their heavy dance costumes, they continued dancing, swaying to the beat of the music, showing no sign of fatigue or exhaustion.
Today they are performing at the grand stand in Sepang for the launch of the Formula Grand Prix event. Tomorrow they would be in Malacca for another show.
Since Visit Malaysia Year 2007 was launched early January, the troupe has been training non-stop and working at times seven days a week performing in different parts of Malaysia.
At times, they are even required to travel overseas to promote Malaysia as a choice travel destination.
The dancers, however, are used to performing for all sorts of events and at unusual venues, too.
Most times they perform at hotels and convention centres, but they have also performed on the wet soggy fields of Dataran Merdeka or along Bangsar`s Telawi Street.
And they don`t mind because this is what they do best.
The dancers are professional performers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall`s (DBKL) cultural troupe.
The cultural troupe comes under the local authority`s cultural, arts, and sports department.
Comprising 19 male dancers, 27 female dancers, three choreographers, five trainers, three costume directors, one make-up artist and 12 traditional musicians, the troupe plays an important role in showcasing Malaysia`s multi-cultural dances to the world.
“While the dancers have been trained to focus on traditional Malay dance forms, they can also perform modern and cultural dances of other ethnic groups and they have travelled to different parts of the world to participate in Folklore Dance and Music Festivals,” said DBKL culture, arts and sports director Ramly Othman.
“People think that City Hall is just about cleaning streets, cutting trees, and paving roads. We also have a department that deals with culture and arts and we are proud of showing the world our culture,” he said.
According to Ramly, the cultural troupe was established in 1988 with only five traditional musicians, 16 dancers and one choreographer.
The then Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Elyas Omar who served as the third Datuk Bandar from 1981 to 1992 saw the potential of the dance troupe.
“Elyas saw the need for a dance group as a sort of tourism tool for the city,” Ramly said.
So in 1998, the troupe was amalgamated into the culture, arts and sports department and members of the troupe became full-time staff with the local authority.
“They became one of our tourism products to showcase the uniqueness of our culture inside and outside Malaysia,” Ramly said.
“While the basics are still rooted in traditional Malay dance, there was a need to include cultural dances of other races as well.
“There also came a need to introduce some changes to the traditional style of dancing,” said DBKL`s culture, arts and sports deputy director Nor Shuram Norhashim.
“When Kuala Lumpur became the centre of attraction for hosting world class events like the 1998 Common-wealth Games, Formula One and Visit Malaysia Year, there was a need to incorporate contemporary styles into the performances,” he said.
Nor Shuram said this year was going to be a busy year for the department.
Apart from VMY 2007, it`s also Malaysia`s 50th independence anni-versary.
“National Day celebrations are going to be very grand and we have a lot of work to do.
“Apart from locals, we are expecting thousands of tourists and the dancers to come up with new choreographed moves and styles to suit current times,” he added.
DBKL dance choreographer Jasni Abd Hamid, 47, said: “Contemporary and modern styles are required but, of course, the basic traditional steps are still important,” he said.
“They also have to know basic Indian and Chinese dances and even ballet,” added choreographer Kamarul Zaman Laini.
“In fact, we even incorporate the influences of Kuda Kepang and Indonesian folk dances in the choreography,” he said.
Jasni and Kamarul, who started off as dancers with DBKL, added that even though dancers today were willing to go the extra mile to learn and pick up extra skills they merely did it to put food on the table.
“Dedication and passion are no longer the motivational factor today as today`s dancers are in it for the money,” said Kamarul.
Choreographer Mohd Yusoff Mohd Nor, 42, said: “Gone are the days when dancers danced solely for the love of dancing.
“Of course, money is important, but dancers back then were dancing for glory too and it is rare to find that kind of devotion in today`s dancers,” he said.
Source : www.thestar.com
