NEW YORK-- Malaysia kicked off Friday a series of cultural and culinary events under its week-long Malaysia Festival here in the presence of a high-powered delegation headed by the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid along with the royal family.
The first event, which was held in the ECOSOC chamber of the United Nations complex building in New York, was a performance of traditional dances and the "Makyong" dance drama with a sizeable turnout of New York-based permanent representatives of a number of countries attached to the United Nations, and the Malaysian community living in the east coast of the United States.
The cultural event which was presented by Malaysia`s Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage, was organised by Malaysia`s permanent mission to the United Nations and the PERWAKILAN New York with the support of Tourism Malaysia.
Malaysian permanent representative to the United Nations, Datuk Hamidon Ali, and his wife Amy had been working for months to prepare for the Malaysia Festival in New York.
"Today`s cultural event has been organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Malaysia`s independence and membership in the United Nations," Datuk Hamidon said.
While welcoming the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan, and other dignitaries and high-ranking diplomats accredited with the United Nations, Hamidon highlighted the significance of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia`s independence.
"This is a very important milestone in Malaysia`s history," he added.
Kiyotaka Akasaka, the U.N. Under Secretary-General, a keynote speaker, congratulated Malaysians on their country`s 50th independence anniversary.
"Malaysia`s independence has been hard fought and its achievements since independence are very impressive indeed," he observed.
Akasaka, who had been posted as a Japanese diplomat with the Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s, was amazed at the transformation Malaysia had gone through during the last 20 years.
"From an agricultural nation, Malaysia has become an industrial powerhouse. When I again visited Malaysia after some 20 years, I found that it had made incredible progress and it was difficult for me to recognize that this was the same country I had left," he said.
He also hailed Malaysia`s "important role" at the United Nations.
Among the dances performed today were the `Mengadap Rebab`, the `Dewa Indera`, `Indera Dewa`, `Layang Mas`, `Timang Burung` dance, `Selayang Kerching`, `Zapin Teluk Belanga`, `Yaladan`, `Sumazau`, `Datun Juhud` and Indian and Chinese dances followed finally by the `Joget`.
The "Mak Yong" was introduced with a classical court dance performed in a very graceful, measured sequence.
The performers were shown seated in the starting scene, with their eyes lowered and their fingers making well-choreographed movements.
The Dewa Indera, Indera Dewa narrated the story of two princes who hunt in a forest inherited from their parents.
During the hunt, Indera Dewa becomes thirsty and so Dewa Indera summons their most devoted servant Peran Tua to get some drinking water.
When the water is brought, Indera Dewa is unable to drink the water because of its odor. The two princes set out to search for the source of the water and so begins their adventure.
The Layang Mas is one of the dances performed in the Terinal repertoire. It is a court dance that is said to have derived its movements from the swallow (layang-layang). This flirtatious dance showed many shoulder and hip movements.
Silat is the Malay art of self-defence. The silat dance which simulates the art of self-defence, was traditionally dominated by males. However, the dance is also performed today by women.
Timang Burung dance was performed for entertainment in the palaces of the Sultans, and consists of slow, graceful, sustained and controlled movements. The eyes of the dancers are slightly downcast as it was considered rude to look in the eyes of the royalty.
Malaysia was home to a steady influx of traders and missionaries who brought with them their own traditions and beliefs.
Arabian and Indian influences, for example, were manifested in many of these dances.
"Dances have always been associated with joyous occasions for the community and closely related to some of the typical communal activities such as planting, harvesting, fishing and hunting," an official of the dance troupe told Bernama.
Source: www.bernama.com (25 April 2007)
