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On Wednesday, 6th April, the District
International Committee held a Gala Evening to celebrate 100 years of
Rotary International activities. A four-course gourmet meal – including
Italian, Greek, Chinese and French dishes, plus fortune cookies,
Brazilian coffee and Belgian chocolates – was served in the elegant
surroundings of Portland College, Nottingham Road, Mansfield, which
enjoys a much envied reputation for the excellence of its cuisine.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by the internationally
acclaimed “Nusantara”, which performed a selection of dances from
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Proceeds from the evening will
be used both to help finance the establishment of a desperately needed
health station in a remote Sherpa village high in the Himalayas of
Nepal, and in supporting “Rotary Africa Hope”.
Dress code for the evening was black tie, or national costume – not
necessarily your own!
Nusantara is a Malay word, literally translated as archipelago.
It is commonly used to describe the countries bordered by China, India
and Australia within the South China Sea. It is from the South East
Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand
that the dance, music and drama performances are derived.
Nusantara are a hugely experienced group of performers, many of whom
have been trained in South East Asia. Led by Choreographer Mazia Omar,
Nusantara consists of a small permanent company of professional dancers,
who work together with a number of musicians and dancers to deliver a
wide and diverse range of programmes and workshops. Nusantara also work
with the Malaysian High Commission and various companies including
Malaysian Airlines.
The entertainment programme commenced with a Piper to Dinner, Mr Bruce
Liddle. Six dances were performed during the evening.
Dance
1 – Asyik
Asyik, meaning lover, is the oldest forms
of classical dance from the Pattani in southern Thailand and was
performed mainly in the Royal Court as an entertainment.
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Dance 2 – Ayak-Ayak
Ayak-Ayak means swaying, and is a
classical dance from the Malay Peninsula, accompanied by the Gamelan.
The movement is slow and graceful and the dancers use fans which
symbolise the characteristics of birds. |
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Dance 3 – Datun Julud
Datun Julud is a dance from the island of
Borneo. The dance is a tribute to the war god, Singalang Burung and of
special significance during the Gawai Burung or Bird Festival. It is a
ritual believed to have originated during the days when the tribe were
head hunters. The musical accompaniment is the ‘Sape’, a unique stringed
instrument, while the dancers use hornbill feathers to signify the
movement of birds. |
Dance 4 – Mengilok
This dance comes from the island of
Borneo where there are some thirty one different ethnic races making up
the population. Mengilok is performed by the Suluk people who have
settled on the east coast of Sabah, one of the Malaysian States making
up Borneo. It is a form of entertainment at events such as weddings and
other social gatherings. The catchy tune and rapid movements of the
dancer’s hands and legs convey feelings of happiness. |
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Dance 5 – Kuda Kepang
Kuda Kepang is a traditional dance from
Java but widely performed throughout the Malay states by male dancers
who are seated astride a two-dimensional ‘horse’ made of hide. It tells
the tale of warriors preparing themselves to go to war. |
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