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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Silat sizzles up Malay dance drama
IT was an interesting tale of a woman who sacrificed love for the sake of her kingdom. Then weave good performance synchronicity and evocative music into the mix, and you get a great night at the theatre to remember. That's what 'Setanggi Tari Melayu' offered at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre in Selangor over a weekend recently. All this was courtesy of the ASK Dance Company and Faculty of Dance Aswara and the Music and Performing Arts Faculty of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). From the 'mengadap rebab' to silat, 'joget', 'inang', the 'piring' (saucer) segment, and the 'zapin', among other dances, the ASK ensemble offered an energetic performance. I was held in rapt attention by the silat segments. The timing is everything when you do fight scenes. There was one move where the lead silat dancer leapt backwards into the arms of his warriors, and eventually landed gracefully and safely. This is not something you watch on YouTube or on your small screen, but live. It takes lots of training, precision and, of course, luck. It certainly calls for trust in your fellow performers too. Lion dance troupes are known for such moves, and I really enjoyed the contemporising of silat moves in 'Setanggi Tari Melayu' by young dancers that fine night. Malaysians of a certain era would have learnt some Malay dances in school, like the 'piring' dance and the candle dance. The way the ASK male dancers delivered the 'piring' dance that evening was jaunty, with plates being juggled and bounced to each other in time to the beat. Sure, we may have waited, anxiously, for one to fall, but none did! The dancers also left the stage to 'joget' up the aisles, offering the audience a more intimate connection to the show. Kudos to ASK Dance Company founder and artistic director Prof Dr Joseph Gonzales, Azmie Zanal Abdden, Mohd Fauzi Amiruddin, creative producer Imran Syafiq, and Mohd Zulkarnain Zuber, who put together the impressive choreography. The music held a special place and the programme e-book listed Indonesian groups like Samudra ensemble and Sanggar for additional compositions. Overall, the music effectively swept the audience up in its aural proceedings and perfectly complemented the various mesmerising scenes onstage. The main leads in the show — Nadhirah Rahmat as Princess Melati, Wong Shan Tie as the devoted sister Princess Melur and Mohamad Adlan Sairin as Prince Adam — staged well-choreographed moves to deliver the tale. The dance drama is about Melati and Melur, who are trained in silat, under the tutelage of their loving parents, played by Seth Hamzah and Ezydiyanie Omar (both Aswara faculty members). A rather modern kingdom that lets women become heirs to the throne, it is rich with a sought-after magical keris that Melati (I guess) would inherit. Along comes Prince Adam, and they got betrothed, but it is eventually revealed that he has bad intentions. At the end, in a kick-ass scene, Melati kills him, with Melur's assistance. The betrothal night scene, when Melati kills the prince, is surreal, even mystical. Held behind a white gauzy screen, the duo is subtly seen as shadowy characters enacting love and then some wickedness. Although behind a screen, the expressions on their faces, as well as their body movements are clear. Quite a cinematic scene indeed! Overall, 'Setanggi Tari Melayu' was an exciting dance drama that featured several outstanding silat sequences. It was thoroughly an enjoyable watch.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Setanggi Tari Melayu' dance show pays tribute to legendary Malay heroines
ASK Dance Company's upcoming show Setanggi Tari Melayu 2025 – Quintessential Malay Dance is more than a performance — it is a sensory journey into the heart of Malay cultural memory. Drawing its name from 'setanggi,' a fragrant incense used in ritual, the stage production embodies the lingering grace and layered heritage of traditional Malay dance. The main stage performance will take place at Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPac), 1 Utama shopping centre from May 30 to June 1. ''Setanggi' means incense, symbolising the enduring spirit of Malay culture – rooted yet ethereal, much like the dance itself,' says Joseph Gonzales, founder and artistic director of ASK Dance Company. 'Unfortunately, over time, much of our Malay dance heritage has been lost and forgotten through reduced practice and urbanisation,' he adds. The performance, imbued with powerful storytelling and intricate choreography, aims to revive interest in the art form and shine a light on the resilience and grace of Malay women throughout history and legend, such as Tun Teja, Mahsuri, Cik Siti Wan Kembang and Puteri Saadong. Fatin (centre) plays Melati, the lead role in the upcoming dance production 'Setanggi Tari Melayu' at PJPac. Photo: ASK Dance Company "Setanggi Tari Melayu draws from these iconic heroines through a fictional character who challenges adversity with courage and wisdom in a journey that mirrors these legends,' says Gonzales. Strength and softness The production, which weaves together the traditional Malay martial art form of silat with folk dance genres, tells the story of Melati, a young silat warrior and heir to the throne. She falls in love with a handsome and brave prince, who unbeknownst to her is a power-hungry and evil man who threatens the kingdom's harmony and even her life. Torn between love and duty, she must make a heart-wrenching decision. Fatin Nadhirah Rahmat, who plays Melati, says that the role holds a special place in her heart because it mirrors parts of her own journey. 'Melati is a powerful woman – respected, strong and full of potential. But despite all her strength, she falls for someone who doesn't deserve her, someone who only wants to take what she has, which reminds me of moments in my own life when I gave my trust, love and energy to the wrong people," says Fatin. Producer Imran Syafiq sees the opportunity to incorporate some new dances within the genres of joget gamelan, piring and zapin. Photo: ASK Dance Company 'This production gives me the space to pour that experience into my performance – through her story, I get to embody both strength and softness, power and pain. I also want the audience to see how even strong people make mistakes, and how those mistakes don't erase their strength,' she adds. Challenging perceptions Featuring choreography by Azmie Zanal Abdden, Mohd Fauzi Amiruddin, Imran Syafiq, Mohd Zulkarnain Zuber and Joseph Gonzales, Setanggi Tari Melayu celebrates traditional Malay dances such as Terinai Mengadap, Mengadap Rebab and two types of zapin, as well as inang and joget. 'As a Malaysian artist, it's been my dream to present Malay dance as a refined art form equal to Western classics. With this production, we aim to highlight its full richness and beauty,' says Gonzales. On stage, producer Imran Syafiq is also seeing the opportunity to incorporate some new dances within the genres of joget gamelan, piring and zapin. 'There's a lot more to Malay dance than what typically comes to mind for most people – there is a beautifully intricate range of technique, musicality, choreography and history that is embodied within it," says Imran. 'Traditional dance shows are often priced lower than musicals or ballet, but I hope this production helps audiences see the depth of work involved and value it on equal footing with other dance forms,' he concludes.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Quirky with a musical twist and a dash of sweet nostalgia: Our pick of five of the most creative Hari Raya ads for 2025 (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — We have reached the halfway mark of the holy month of Ramadan and preparations for Aidilfitri celebrations are well underway. This also means it's that time of the year again where brands in Malaysia are releasing their own Hari Raya advertisements slash short films featuring some of the hottest personalities in the country. And for those taking a break from Hari Raya preparations, we've picked five of the most out-of-the-box Aidilfitri ads that have come out so far this year to keep the spirit of Syawal burning for you. Or, perhaps for those just looking to immerse themselves in the Hari Raya mood. 1. Zus Coffee featuring Luqman Podolski – Jangan Terkezus – Famous local coffee franchise Zus Coffee has a spooky Hari Raya story to tell this year featuring content creator-turned-singer Luqman Podolski in their Cerita Malam Raya music video (MV). Aside from paying homage to the various types of 'hantu' in Malaysia, Cerita Malam Raya which garnered over a million views since its release on March 7, also features local dance group Zeppo Youngsterz Crew who made waves previously for winning the 2023 US Body Rock Dance competition in San Diego. 2. Watsons Malaysia – Raya Terunggul Watsons Health and beauty retailer Watsons Malaysia features a Hari Raya matchmaking fiasco in their Raya Terunggul Watsons ad where it follows the story of Melati trying to salvage her Hari Raya celebration by having to pick the perfect husband for her mother. The nearly seven-minute musical short film also boasts a star-studded lineup including up-and-coming actress Mia Sarah Shauki as Melati, legendary actress Maya Karin as Mama Rokiah, comedian Ropie as Uncle Ropie and actor Hisyam Hamid as Uncle Ramli. And it doesn't end there as the ad also features singer Ayda Jebat along with cameos by characters from beloved Malaysian films and tv series. This includes Datuk Yusof Haslam reprising his role as DCP Datuk Helmi from famous local cop series Gerak Khas, Katrina Aziz appearing as Mami Jarum from local family dramedy film of the same name and Shaheizy Sam coming in as Malaysia's beloved mat rempit, Adnan Sempit. This is also one of the most viewed Hari Raya ads this year on YouTube which has been viewed over 10 million times since its premiere on March 5. 3. Plus Malaysia – Highway concessionaires Plus Malaysia Berhad has an emotional family drama in store for their ad this year titled Kias Rindu which tells the story of an elderly couple who just want to spend more time with their two children who are working in the city especially during the festive season. The heartfelt short film features talented local stars including famous veteran actress Azizah Mahzan, actor and director Aziz M Osman along with award-winning actress Sharifah Amani and Rydza Radzy from local rap group Ntah Sape2 Ntah. Kias Rindu's cinematography– from its tones and framing to its music and even the words of wisdom at the end of the video felt almost like a homage to the late Yasmin Ahmad, the godmother of Malaysian festive commercials. 4. Julie's Biscuits – Malaysian biscuit manufacturer Julie's Biscuits returns with another captivating Hari Raya short film which follows the story of a grandfather, who has committed himself to the life of 'crimes' in order to be with his grandson in prison for Hari Raya. Spoiler alert– he managed to get in the same dorm as his conflicted grandson in the end. The Selamat Lari Raya features a stellar cast line up including veteran actress and the stepdaughter of the late great Tan Sri Dian and versatile veteran actor Datuk Ahmad Tamimi Siregar along with singer and actor Fimie Don. 5. PruBSN – Insurance provider Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad (PruBSN) has one of the most creative Hari Raya ads this year which centres around the point of view of a steel wok named Si Kuali from Kampung Kawah who is longing for his chance to truly devote himself in being the ultimate kitchenware during the village's Jamuan Mega. Si Kuali who often dreams of being like his friend the giant steel cauldron Si Kawah, finally gets his chance to truly showcase his usefulness during the Jamuan Mega in the end. Despite its relatively short duration of just less than three minutes, the Ini Kuali-Lah short film is packed with messages of self-love and togetherness which blends well with the lively Syawal celebrations in the fictional Kampung Kawah scenery.
