The mixed bill presentation will be divided into two distinct portions, featuring traditional and contemporary dances for two nights at UM’s Experimental Theatre in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 12 and 13. Photo: James Quah
More than 60 dancers, 12 musicians and 13 backstage crew have been working hard to ensure the success of the Kesuma and UMa Dance Showcase 2023/2024 by the Faculty of Creative Arts Dance Department, Universiti Malaya.
The two-hour mixed bill presentation will be divided into two distinct portions, featuring traditional and contemporary dances for two nights at UM’s Experimental Theatre in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 12 and 13.
For the uninitiated, the term “Kesuma” has a long-standing relationship with UM. It was initially used in 1971 when students started a group to promote traditional Malay dances.
Kesuma took on the repertoire of the National Cultural Complex and replicated the national dance troupe in terms of choreography, music, costumes and accessories. With the inception of the dance department at the Cultural Centre in UM in 2005, Kesuma was adopted as the traditional dance ensemble of UM.
“UMa”, on the other hand, was established in 2007 to enable the uni’s dance students to showcase contemporary works featuring new and more challenging choreography. Despite being an emerging company, it has grown into a force to be reckoned with in the local dance sector. The company consists of students as well as alumni, who continue to contribute to their beloved alma mater.
One such example is 2023 alumnus Mohd Hafzal Aziz, who has choreographed four traditional items for the upcoming showcase, including two Malay dance numbers – Tarian Cinta Sayang, Joget Rentak 106, a Chinese fan dance and one traditional dance from Sabah, Anggalang Magunatip.
“I have also worked on a contemporary interpretation of Orang Ulu dance, Saga Leto and Saga Laki, which revolves around the emblematic bird of Borneo, the hornbill (Buceros Rhinoceros). I explore traditional art forms in a contemporary way in this piece, with sounds of the sape and music composed by Eka Poetra setting the musical backdrop,” says the part-time lecturer. “The item is called Strum Of The Sky.”
Mohd Hafzal shares that rehearsals for Kesuma and UMa have been intense.
“It’s the first time since the pandemic that the students have been able to put up this annual showcase live on stage,” he says. “So, naturally nerves are high, but the students are also excited to perform for their family, friends, and even their followers and fans. We’re ready to do our best.”
Stage manager and final year student ChyeSze Liew says that there will be a lot to deal with backstage with so many props and people to manage.
“There will be live music with a traditional Malay ensemble, a gamelan troup, and musicians playing instruments from Borneo. On top of that, there will be fans and selendang, long bamboo sticks, pillows, watermelons, knives and handkerchiefs to keep track of,” she says, matching the props with their dances. “There’s a lot going on!”
Vinitha Balrama, production manager and a graduating student this year, says that the Kesuma and UMa Dance Showcase is a culmination of what dance students have learnt for the past three years.
“This gives us a real hands-on experience of what performances are all about before we graduate. As production committee members, we started preparing for this show last November. From planning to preparation, and now we’re in the thick of rehearsals,” she says.
She will also perform in two numbers, Zapin Pat Lipat, and an Indian folk dance called Kolaattam And Oyilattam (sticks and handkerchiefs).
“I am very excited to see it all come together this way. And to be able to do everything on stage after so many years of being online because of the pandemic, that’s just a really happy feeling,” says Vinitha.
The Kesuma or traditional segment of the show features seven items that showcase the diversity of Malaysian dance including Malay Classical Dance, Malay Folk Dance, Chinese Folk Dance, Indian Folk Dance, as well as ethnic dances from Sabah and Sarawak.
These multicultural dances have been arranged and were taught by dance practitioners Norsafini Jafar, Mohd Hairil Anuar Bin Bari, Prishavardhani Nair and Andrew Igai Jamu. The UMa Dance segment will feature another seven expressive dances including Teringkas Tawas, and a jazz number. Choreographers for UMa are Fione Chia Yan Wei, Mohd Zhafir Muzani Mohamad, Mohammad Khairi Mokthar, Zhang Lin, Andrew Igai Jamu and Too Cyn Dee.
Dancer-choreographer Too, who lectures part-time at UM, has choreographed an uptempo, colourful item called Ladies Choice.
“The music is of the same title, taken from the 2007 hit movie-musical Hairspray. The choreography and dance style is based on Broadway jazz, which I believe many in the audience can relate to. Set in the 1960s, the costumes are trendy with big skirts and dashing suits, and the hair is puffy laced with ribbons or headbands,” she says.
Too adds that for this year’s Jazz Technique 1 elective class, the students comprised a mixture of dancers from the Fakulti Seni Kreatif, and those from other departments like Drama and Exchange students from China, South Korea and Mexico.
“As such, it has been challenging to choreograph to different levels, but all of them worked really hard to prepare for this showcase, and had loads of fun at the same time! The non-dancers have improved tremendously; and for the dancers, I was very happy to bring their dance technique and style to another level, giving them this exposure to a different genre and performance style. All in all, it has been a very rewarding experience!”
Kesuma And UMa Dance Showcase 2023/2024 takes place on Jan 12 and 13, at 8.30pm, at UM’s Experimental Theatre. Tickets are priced at RM20 and RM15 (students). Contact 018-258-6903 (Hasya).
