Wushu group puts on culture show

The Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak treated Kuching folk to a colourful dragon dance festival recently. 

The dragon dance symbolises the bringing of good luck and prosperity for the year ahead. To perform it, dancers need to have good teamwork, coordination and discipline to manipulate the metres-long dragon into smooth dance moves. 

Two troupes belonging to the federation, one comprised of youngsters and the other of more seasoned members, performed the dance with colourful dragons at the festival, which was held at Crown Towers. 

Prior to the performance, the Nanyang Wushu Federation’s honorary president Chew Chiaw Ann performed an eye-dotting ceremony on one of the dragons. 

Besides showcasing the dragon dances, the federation also put on several Sarawakian cultural dances by its young members, accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments. 

The festival’s organising chairman Irene Yong said wushu and its related cultural performances like the dragon dance and lion dance could be tourist attractions during Visit Malaysia 2007. 

“I believe wushu can help the tourism industry because some tourists like to watch our performances,” she said. 

The dragon dance festival is one of six Nanyang Wushu Federation events to be listed in Sarawak’s tourism calendar this year. 

The others include a golden lion dance festival and a Chinese New Year show, both to be held , this month and a drum festival in December.  

Written By:
Sharon Ling
The Star
7th February 2007