Kadazandusun legend comes to life

Kuala Lumpur - The Faculty of Dance of the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara) in Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, presents Huminodun — The Nabahu Princess from today until Saturday.

The show is based on a popular legend among the Kadazandusun people of Sabah which is closely associated with the Harvest Festival or Kaamatan.

Huminodun, the protagonist, is the daughter of Kinohoingan and his wife Umunsumundu, both of whom are gods and guardians of the indigenous people of Sabah.

One day, Kinohoingan receives a premonition of doom that would befall the inhabitants of Sabah. Salvation can only be attained through the sacrifice of his daughter.

The nightmare becomes a reality with rivers running dry and vegetation dying, thereby causing a famine in the land. Huminodun willingly accepts her fate to be sacrificed.

Her parents make the painful decision to sacrifice their daughter and as a result, peace and prosperity are restored in the land.

The show is part of Aswara‘s annual efforts to showcase Malaysia‘s rich cultural heritage through award-winning productions, and in this case popular Borneo legends.

The dance-drama incorporates “live” and recorded music, as well as contemporary and traditional songs and dances together with video projection.

Aswara hopes, with this production, to set a new benchmark for traditional dance performances that can promote Malaysia overseas.

Sharip Zainal Sagkif Shek, Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi and Joseph Gonzales are the choreographers.

Sharip Zainal was a professional dancer and musician at the Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation from 1992 to 2000.

An Aswara diploma of dance graduate in 2006, he has performed with international dance company Pappa Tarahumara and obtained a scholarship to attend the Cudamani Summer Institute in Bali early this year. He is also a professional singer and actor.

Shafirul of Sabah won the Best Group Performance award in the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2003 for the dance showcase, Curfew!. He also won the National Arts Young Choreographer 2006.

He has worked in several international projects and is currently involved in the celebrity dance contest Sehati Berdansa.

Gonzales, the dean of Aswara‘s Dance Faculty, is one of Malaysia‘s leading dance educators. He is also an author and professional curator.

The music directors, composers and arrangers are Mohd Khairul Khalid and Mohd Hafiz Ismail.

Mohd Khairul is a music diploma graduate whose notable contributions include music for New Year Fund Raising Celebrations by Children of Art, In Solidarity Against AIDS by Rock Genesis, World Press Freedom Day, the Malaysia Singapore Rock Fest in Singapore and Malaysia Week 2008 in London.

Mohd Hafiz has been a bassist for both traditional and modern ensembles. He has been involved in Aswara productions such as Makyung, Gema Merdeka and Tapestry, and Festival Hitam Putih in Riau, Indonesia.

The freelance musician works for hotels, night clubs and corporate events. He was also involved in Malaysia Week 2008 in London.

The set designer is Mohd Shahrul Mizad Asahari, who is also an actor and stage manager. He is a drama student in University Malaya. By: Dennis Chua

Time: 8.30pm. Venue: Aswara‘s Experimental Theatre. Entry RM10. Call 03-2697-5403, 2697-1777 or 2697-5313.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my (October 27, 2008)
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