DANCING FOR THE LORD JESUS!

Azuza 2006,cheoreography by Yvonne Peters

an all nations dance.
To You Belong All The Nations

CCTV 2007 Chinese New Year Celebration: Umbrella Dance

I am still fascinated with folk dances.... Here's another one:

THE MUSIC & DANCE OF POLAND: MAZOWSZE (Mah-ZOF-sha) is a thrilling kaleidoscopic display of dazzling movement, vibrant color and stunning beauty. The incomparable Mazowsze performance troupe whirl and leap, stamp and glide in a glorious outpouring of sound and motion, rhythm and music that celebrates the cultural legacy of Poland.

Here's a promotional dance clip: (watch out for the most unusual stunt.... a slim lady lifting up her male partner...and it's done several times! wow... real role reversal here!)






Are you inspired? so lively.... makes you feel like joining in the dance!

i am suddenly fascinated by the ukraine folk dances...



Here's a sampling of Yavir Ensemble from two concerts -- their 40th Anniversary and the Youth Festival of Ukrainian Dance 2005


22nd Vatra in Ontario, Canada, Aug 2007

Men dancing with tambourine in ukraine folk dance style! Gosh look at their stamina and their leaps! And who says men cant dance with the tambourine??

Yeah....You could never imagined it. But ASMARADNA is one of my favourite contemporary Malay dance with Javanese (pre-indonesian) influence. ASMARADANA, song & dance popularized by famous Malaysian actress, Tiara Jacquelina from the motion picture "Puteri Gunung Ledang" (Princess of the Ledang Mountain)

"Puteri Gunung Ledang" is a 2004 Malaysian fantasy period film directed by Saw Teong Hin and based on a Malay legend about a javanese Princess who was sent to marry the Malaccan Sultan but ended up in a forbidden love affair with the Sultan's admiral (warrior) named Hang Tuah. Numerous attempts were made by the Malaccan Sultan to court her whereby she finally agreed only on the condition if the sultan fulfills seven prohibitive conditions:

* A bridge made of pure gold from Malacca to Mount Ledang;
* Another bridge made of pure silver from Mount Ledang to Malacca;
* Seven trays (dulang) of the hearts of mosquitoes;
* Seven trays (dulang) of the hearts of the germs;
* Seven jars (tempayan) of the juice of young betel nuts (
(Note: Young betel nuts do not have juice);
* Seven jars (tempayan) of the tears of the virgins
* One bowl of blood from his fondest and only son, Sultan Ahmad.

Finally the sultan realizes her conditions were in fact an indirect refusal of his proposal. In anger he cursed her stating that from next sunlight whomsoever sees the princess will die coughing blood. Thus she was banished into the Gunung Ledang. The asmaradana song and dance is about the forbidden and tragic love story between the princess and the warrior.


Tiara at Performance at AIM 2005


MTV style:


Another version done by students...


Trailer of the movie:


Clips from the musical done in 2006



Now would'nt you want to see the movie/ musical?
Anyone out there has other interesting contemporary fusion traditional dances? Please share with us!

Malay folk dances are always associated with the joyous occasions for the Community such as planting, harvesting, fishing, hunting, weddings, engagements and circumcision ceremonies.

Some of these dances can be traced to animistic beliefs and rituals.The spirits of the land, wind, sun and so on are called upon to bless the village and thanksgiving for a good harvest.

It is also clear that since the 15th Century, Malaysia has had tremendous influx of traders and missionaries that brought with them their own culture, tradition and beliefs.The influence of Arabia, India, Thailand, Indonesia and China in many of the dances is still very clear.

EG:Zapin

A fast beat Malay folk dance which is in the past performed by males only but nowadays females are included.It is popular in Malaysia especially in the state of Johor. The dancers usually perform in pairs and are accompanied by a traditional music ensemble normally consists of the gambus, accordion, violin, marwas (bongos), rebana (drum) and dok.

ZAPIN, PERFORMED BY ASWARA (Academy of Art & Heritage, Malaysia) during Festival Zapin MAKUM 2007



EG: Inang renek ( slow, cute dance by maidens with long scarf)


A shift to fusion malay traditional dance
CONTEMPORARY VERSION OF A GAMELAN DANCE CALLED TIMANG BURUNG (FROM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE MALAYSIA 2007)... check out the techno beat!