Jong (front right) presents a mock cheque for RM6,000 to Jocelyn Hee as director of The Dance Academy Kuching, January Chan (left), and Sharon Kennedy (second left) look on.
MIRI: Beautiful ballerinas dressed in tutus and ballet slippers danced enchantingly and gracefully to the sound of classical ballet music that filled the air.
Indeed, the first-ever ballet charity dance show here themed ‘Together We Can Make a Difference’ held at Pustaka Miri last Saturday evening will live on in the minds of some 200 people attending the show.
The fabulous theatrical showcase was put up by three of the most significant dance studios in Miri and Kuching, namely the Unity Dance Troupe (ballet class), Victor Aspirations (dance & performing arts corridor) and The Dance Academy Kuching led by Agnes Chin, Victor Wong and January Chan respectively.
After months of long hours of training, the young ballerinas amuse the audience with this fine performance.
In the two-and-half hour show to promote awareness of cancer among children and healthy lifestyle through dancing among them, guests were treated to eight ballet dances as well as two contemporary dance performances.
The show started with a classical Palladio. This was followed by the modern ‘We are young’ by American band Fun, performed with violin with a Disney flair which won smiles and applause from the audience.
Thereafter, two powerful contemporary dances ‘Missing You’ and ‘My World’ led and choreographed by Victor Wong mesmerised the crowd as the performers danced with elusive steps and facial expressions signifying life and death.
Professional ballerinas from The Dance Academy Kuching perform a powerful ballet dance entitled ‘Black and White’.
Sharon Kennedy, the Australian examiner of Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD), who was one of the invited guests, congratulated Agnes Chin for putting up a show that not only presented the beauty of ballet dancing but showed her creativity in choreographing ballet dances.
“I am proud to see the result of her hard work,” Kennedy said briefly.
Sharing her thought on cancer, Kennedy revealed her experience.
Event producer and organiser Nicholas Jong bravely took the stage with his partner, dancing to ‘You Raised Me Up’ which won them a huge round of applause from the audience.
“It was a personal journey for me as my niece and father have battled cancer, so I do understand the trauma family members go through.
“Even so, there is always hope and patients and parents should never give up, keep praying and keep learning.”
Angelically beautiful ballerinas of Unity Dance Troupe performing ‘Golden Blessing’.
Agnes, the first CSTD certified ballet teacher in Miri, teaches ballet at Unity Dance Troupe.
As the show approached its end, the event producer and organiser Nicholas Jong bravely took to the stage with his partner Ysabel Lim to dance to ‘You Raised Me Up’, which won a huge round of applause from the emotional audience.
“I am not a dancer or a person who could strut with the music around, but it was a meaningful thing to be able to contribute and be a part of the show.
With intense concentration and elusive steps, these dancers give out a strong message of life and death in a breathtaking and mesmerising performance.
“After months of training with sweat and tears, I am proud of the dancers and am thankful for the assistance from teacher Lim Kok Ta who has more than 10 years dancing experience,” he remarked.
Jong also thanked sponsors — Me Infomedia Sdn Bhd, Ah Chew Advertising Sdn Bhd, Tong Seng Huat Sdn Bhd and Pustaka Miri — for their generosity in supporting the inaugural charity show.
Some RM6,000 was raised during the show to benefit Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society (SCCS).
A mock cheque for the amount was presented to SCCS secretary and head of Liaison Miri, Jocelyn Hee.
Dancers of Victor Aspirations strutting their stuff.