(From fourth left) SIDF executive director Wong Siaw Siong, Hie Ping, Rogayah, Chen and others at a press conference.
SIBU: The sixth edition of Sibu International Dance Festival (SIDF) from Aug 29 to Sept 2 will see the performances of 17 local and foreign dance troupes.
The troupes are Guangdong Modern Dance Company, China; Bombela Dance Company, Brazil; Grisadha Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia; Bawika, Indonesia; Loka Art Studio, Indonesia; Sakhi, India; Madhumita Raut Odissi Dance Group, India; Tranze Producciones, Mexico; Team Vibe Worldwide, Philippines; National University of Singapore Dance Synergy, Singapore; ZukDance Company, Spain; Vinyasa Academy of Fine Arts, Sri Lanka; Juedai Contemporary Jazz Dance Theatre, Taiwan; Solar Site Dance Theatre, Taiwan; Cohan/Suzeau Dance Company, USA; Ocampo Wang Dance, USA; and Hornland Dance Theatre, Malaysia.
According to festival director Chen Ing Kuan, there will be about 160 dancers from 11 countries including two Latin countries: Brazil and Mexico.
Of the troupes this year, six have participated in the previous edition of the festival.
“Actually eight applied to join again this year, but we only accepted six of them,” he told reporters last Friday.
The six troupes are Juedai Contemporary Jazz Dance Theatre, Taiwan; Jalingeur Dance Company, Indonesia; Loka Art Studio, Indonesia; Vinyasa Academy of Fine Arts, Sri Lanka; Cohan/Suzeau Dance Company, USA and ZukDance Company, Spain.
Chen said several of the troupes will showcase their award winning dances, including a dance by a wheelchair-bound lady from Brazil.
The festival, which has the support of the Sibu Municipal Council, will have a welcoming dinner at RH Hotel on Aug 28.
A dance seminar will be from Aug 30 to Sept 1, a dance workshop from Aug 30 to Sept 2, and a dance concert on Aug 30 and 31, and Sept 1 and 2 at the civic centre.
“Then on Aug 31, from 1pm to 7pm, we will hold a garden party at Gutien Park.
“The garden party will include an outdoor drawing competition, dance performances, dance learning session, traditional Malaysian food fair and live music,” Chen said.
He said the Garden Party is open to all free of charge.
Admission tickets for the dance concert are RM50 (VIP) and RM25 per night while total registration fee for the dance workshop and seminar is RM25.
Those who do not wish to attend all seminars and workshop can attend the lesson at RM10 per lesson.
Tickets for the dance concert are available at Rejang Book Store (084-313036), Payung Café (016-8906061), Wen Hua Bookstore (084-333140), Sugarbun at Pedada Road (084-311770), Syarikat Great Wall (084-310481), Yours Stationery (084-330281), Farley Supermarket (084-212777/019-8166432) and Upstairs Coffee (084-322166)
Ticket can also be booked online at www.sidfestival.com
SMC deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain told the press conference that the festival is growing in popularity as one of the main events in the state.
She advised the organiser to make use of social media to promote the event.
“We can at least target Asian countries first. Allow them to come, not just to watch but participate perhaps in workshops and seminars,” she said.
A councillor from Sibu Municipal Council, Wong Hie Ping called on the authorities to see if cheaper flights into Sibu around the time of the festival could be arranged.
She said: “I understand that the flight tickets to Sibu are expensive during the public holidays and SIDF cashes in on the school holidays when more people turn up.
“We need to do something about the airfares. From what I see, when eight foreign troupes want to return to Sibu to do it again, that tells something about the festival and Sibu.”
She said workshops and seminars are also for players in the tourism industry.