|
hari penuh seni - part I
saturday morning saw me and the muse driving in sentul trying to find the new klpac(kuala lumpur performing arts center) by reading the map downloaded from the actorstudio website. fortunately, it was easy to find. actually, the muse and i had a press conference to attend to. i was feeling a little digruntled because i had to work on my offday. anyway, right after we make a turn to Jalan Strachan, i felt like alice in wonderland. it was such a perfect place to build a performing arts center. along the way, green scenery greeted me left and right granting me the serenity that i craved for. the first time i saw the bricks building of the new klpac, the word rustic came to mind. it was indeed charmingly simple yet so beautiful. the architects didnt get rid of the old to build the new instead they combined both and the effect was spectacular and it wasnt even 100% complete. workers were everywhere lending their strength and expertise to beautify the glasses building.
walking slowly towards the entrance, i saw dancers everywhere walking so gracefully here and there unknowingly making ordinary person like me felt so inelegant. as the press conference is about the upcoming Malaysian Dance Festival, the stairs leading to the pc room were littered with dancers of all kind; all clad in their own traditional costumes giving a hint of their traditional dance movement to the guests as we marched towards the room. i simply love it and i did feel that this was a press conference with a difference.
dancers are passionate people who communicate through the movement and the rhythm of their bodies and facial expressions. one dancer in particular made my eyes watery and touched my emotion with her passionate and honest to the core off the cuff speech. she cried, she laughed, she was so expressive, she talked so passionately about the project, it was almost embarassing to watch. after putting her mind and soul and sacrificing a lot for a year to organise an event called Malaysian Dance Festival - Living Heritage, she had the right to do and say whatever she wanted at the pc. i hope other dancers in the room would be inspired by her. i am no dancer but i can understand passion.
i dont know about others but for me dancers need no script to tell stories. i can feel the happiness and the sadness through the dancers' every leap, bound, twist and bend.
i really hope that the 10-day dance festival fill with fascinating workshops and creative showcases will be supported by the Malaysians. there are a bit of everything for everyone, from zapin to ballet to indian classical dance to contemporary dance. both local and international dancers will mesmerize us with their talent and creativity.
oh, did i tell how clumsy i was that i almost fell of the stair in front of the lady of the klpac herself, faridah merican. she caught my hand afraid that i would stumble down. oh malunya tahap dewa. sheesh!
before we left the klpac, the muse gave me the best present i would ever have; a painting catalogue signed simply - To C.T. by the artist himself jailani abu hassan or better known as Jai. i was speechless but overjoyed. oh wow! thanks so muc the muse, well actually her boyfriend the painter who got it for me cause he knew i admired jai so much since my student's days. jai's latest exhibition is entitled wet paint. lovely painting. cant afford them though and it was sold out anyway.
courtesy The Star
to be continued...
last modified Jun 13, 2005 at 19:04
|