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| Traditional Dance and Traditional Music & Song at the Delphic Games The coming Delphic Games will focus on two categories under the performing arts category, namely Traditional Dance and Traditional Music & Song. This will be held on September 2 nd - 6 th September at the Amphitheater at Jalan Budaya, Kuching. The competition will start at 8pm. Under the Traditional Dance category there are entries from seven countries that are so markedly diverse and will provide exciting visual impact and movements never before seen in Malaysia. From South Africa we have the members of the Tribhangi Dance Theatre and Amajika who will perform a choreographed performance with drums and other instruments. There will be 5 people participating in the competition. They will be performing a variety of South African traditional dance styles including Mzanzi, Gum Boot, Sophiatown/jazz. They will be joined by Lindiwe Malatse, a vocalist. From China we will be seeing a team of six people who will perform the Snuff Box Dance. The Snuff Box Dance is performed as a form of courtship by the youth of the Nisu branch of the Yi minority (commonly known as the Sandao Hong Yi people) living in Shiping, Jianshui, Ershan and Tonghai areas of Southern Yunnan. Beats are made by traditional snuffboxes held in the hands of the performers. This form of dance consists of a double dance, triple dance and group dance. The dance is accompanied by the clear beats of the snuffboxes and sonorous sound of the moon guitars and flutes. They are extremely interesting and imaginative. At night, young bachelors and single women gather around the bonfire and play their moon guitars and sing songs such as the “See Grass Melody”. Later, the boys and girls would pair off and dance to the music of the “Main Guitar” by kicking each others’ feet, which is a test between each pair of boys and girls imitating the mating of various types of creatures. From Korea we will have the Puna Mul Pae – the traditional farmer’s music and dance group, who are sent by the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts. Their performance will not be confined to the stage but will move and weave through the audience while playing the traditional instruments such as Jang-Go (a traditional drum), Buk (another form of drum), Jing (Big hand gong), Kwanggari (Small hand gong). These musicians are joined by the Sang Mo – who wears a traditional hat with a long tail. Choi Eun Hee, a solo dancer will perform the Flower Crown Dance and another piece titled Do Salpuri. Shou Eun Ju will be performing Taepyong Mu accompanied by another dancer. The Dance Company Rudolstadt is representing Germany. They are coming with a team of twenty dancers performing traditional dances. Rumpun Seni UiTM from the Universiti Technologi Mara of Sarawak, is presenting a group of seven male and seven female dancers performing to live music to represent Malaysia. The Sarawak Cultural Village dance troupe will also perform a series of traditional dances. From the Philippines , thirty members will participate in the Dance Competition. The Dela Salle – College of Saint Benilde dance group will perform a rural dance suite which features the use of coconut shells attached to the dancers body to create a highly rhythmic cadence that accompany the dance. The dancers of the College of Saint Benilde are the same dancers that performed the choreographic works of the late Philippine National Artist for Dance – Leonor Goquinco Orosa. They are known as the Filipinescas Dance Company and are in popular demand after touring four countries. A bigger dance contingent from the Philippines will perform a full evening’s program on the night of September 6 th which will be titled as The International Night. An earlier special performance of the group is also scheduled at the Sarawak Cultural Village on August 31 st – the night before the official opening of the Delphic Games. A dance troupe from India will also be participating. For the Traditional Dance & Song Competition, there are also several entries. A Korean traditional Eastern Folk Song titled Dongbu-Minyo will be one of them. As the music is sung in the Hamgyeong, Gangwon and Kyeongsang provinces of the mountainous eastern region rooted in Mount Bajk-Du, the Eastern Folk Song is the sound that best expresses the joys and sorrows of the grassroots people. It reflects the joys and sorrows of the people in these regions well. It is also characterized by the ‘Menarijo’ tune. The folk songs sung in these regions have similar musical characteristics and a unique musical scale structure called ‘Menaritoi’ though they are divided into 3 different types that portray different emotions and graces. China has also entered for the competition. Wu Na, a Guqin soloist will perform two numbers – a traditional piece from the Song Dynasty, plus “Flowing Water” that was composed during the Spring & Autumn Period of 770 – 476 BC). Another solo performer is Zhang Quansheng, a Matouqin soloist who will perform three separate pieces – a story of Ghenghis Khan’s favourite thoroughbreds, a piece eulogizing the everlasting love between man and woman, and a piece depicting the skyscape over the beautiful prairies. A traditional song titled Haicai Melody will be performed by Shi Wanheng and Pu Meifang. This has origins from the region surrounding Yilong Lake, Shiping Country, Yunnan Province. This is the melody the Yi girls would sing as they go fishing, rowing their boats in the lake. Malaysia is represented by two entries. The Sarawak Cultural Village dance troupe will perform traditional songs while Matthew Ngau and Uchau Bilong will perform on the Sape – the Orang Ulu boat shaped lute. Germany will arrive with a six-member group called the Reinhard – Lakomy Ensemble who will perform a repertoire of traditional German Music. Rebecca Haluska will stand for the United States of America with an oboe and a French Horn entry, accompanied by a pianist. The South Africans are entering with two items. Firstly, drum percussions with three artist drummers using Djembe, Isigubu, Caves and other percussions performed by Lawrence Mambabada “Nzunzu”, Mesheck Phakathi “Bavas”, Clifford Methebula “Mandla”. Second is a traditional instrumentalist on Mbira, Istorotoro, Uhadi Bow, Akadinda and vocals, Lindiwe Malatse. All in all, it is going to be a truly interesting event for both audience and the judges. The participants will be competing for different medals under the Delphic Games – namely the Gold, Silver and Bronze. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |