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Lee Swee Keong – Free Spirit
If a home is a reflection of the person who lives there, then Lee Swee Keong’s abode hints at a person who is artistic, appreciates tradition and has an eye for beauty. When we arrived at his apartment, we were greeted at the front door by a framed six-foot high picture of the man in one of his butoh outfits, standing at a 400 year old temple in Beijing. Swee Keong is of course the founder of the first and only butoh dance company in Malaysia, Nyoba Kan. Inside, his home is filled with beautiful antiques, cute knick knacks, countless magazines, posters of Japanese butoh masters and exquisitely crafted furniture and fittings. It’s comfortable, welcoming and has a calm, peaceful atmosphere. Swee Keong offers to cook us a meal, and curious, we accept. He whips up spicy pasta with ikan bilis, tofu and long beans in a jiffy, and it is indeed yummy. We sit on the floor of the living area while he pours passionfruit cranberry black tea from a dark, iron teapot. As the breeze blows in from the nearby lake, this quiet, private man tells us his story. Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE
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Dance From Within For those who are familiar with the local dance scene, Kwang Tung Dance Company (KTDC) needs no introduction. Established 31 years ago, the company now has dozens of committee members with Amy Len as the current artistic director. KTDC focuses on modern and contemporary dance and their performances have received national and international acclaim for excellence and innovative presentation. KTDC recently unveiled the 8th Kua Bu Dance showcase. Dubbed Wandering Within, the event served as a platform for the young dancers and choreographers of KTDC to showcase their work. The show started with Forward, which saw the dancers assuming various extreme positions. The piece focused on pain and struggle. Tan Bee Hung stood out in both the solo and group performance as she danced seemingly effortlessly, and with graceful strength.
Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE
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Preserving Traditions Through Dance
On the night of Malam Gala Inspitari 2011, held recently at the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTIC), dancers and choreographers from all the Malaysian states served the general public a feast of dance. The objective of the programme is to create a platform for local traditional choreographers to explore the culture of their respective states in the hope that they will be moved to create dance pieces inspired by nature, the cultural practices or identity of their home state. This is a long awaited initiative by the government to encourage the growth and preservation of the local culture. Unfortunately, many traditional dance forms have suffered from lack of preservation practices. Take the example of the classical dance, joget gamelan. There were a total of 90 variations of this dance back in its hey day, but only a few versions survive today.
Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE |
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Gender Bender
On stage, performers are often put in a position to play the role of the opposite gender. Let your bold and strong moves stand out with the right looks.
Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE |
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Something Old, Something New
Aladdin is the unforgettable rags to riches story in which a street urchin discovers a genie in a lamp and gets his heart’s desire granted with three wishes. Aladdin asks to be a prince so he can woo the princess of his dreams, and proceeds to enter the grand palace of Askabar. Unknown to him, the jealous royal advisor, Jaafar, plots to snatch the magical lamp from Aladdin and rule the kingdom himself. However, our hero’s determination to save his love and the kingdom proves to be a more powerful weapon than the lamp’s mystical powers. Of course, this is Disney’s version of the classic fairytale. Sunway Lagoon’s newest musical production features characters with more attitude and wit. Director Chris Colby and choreographer David Kort chose this title for their new production because of its potential to grab the audience’s interest. It’s a thrilling adventure, from the moment Aladdin jumps into the first scene, and, while boys will admire Aladdin’s daring adventures, girls will be able to relate to Princess Jasmine. “It’s the perfect family fairy-tale for Christmas,” says Chris.
Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE
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First Aid for Dancers
If shoes, clothes and a towel are all you have in your dance bag, read on.
Read more in the Dec / Jan issue of Just DANCE
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