Sarawak Tribune - Monday, 2 December 2002
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KUALA LUMPUR It's not often that someone can stick out his tongue at the public and loved for it! But, that is exactly what happened during the Maori Cultural Dance at the Main Entrance of Sunway Pyramid recently.
Aimed at creating awareness and educating the public on Maori culture, the team of dancers formed 18 months ago, travels around the world to perform.
Appearing for the first time in Malaysia, the New Zealanders greeted the audience with their warmth and friendliness, displayed through their dance gestures and music rhythm. The crowd was also given a crash course on basic Maori language.
The hundreds of patrons that thronged the main entrance were treated to a performance backed by a mixture of four songs ranging from their high energy ones to calming rhythmic tunes. The crowd too hummed to the songs, backed only by a guitar and beautiful vocals of the performers.
"Most of the women dancers will wear jade-like accessories which are rare stone found only in a river in New Zealand," said Paku, one of the dancers. "The dance movements form a cultural expression and a way to demonstrate our love for our home," he added.
Due to the heat and tight travelling schedule, the dancers were not able to appear in their full attire, which included body art painting that was supposed to be painted on the face and the body. However, the ladies had dark pencil drawn on their lips to enhance their facial expression and accentuate their smiles.
Shoppers took the opportunity to join the merry-making in a language completely alien to them. After the weather had cooled off somewhat in the evening, the dancers still in their costumes, entertained the crowd to another colourful performance.
The visitors praised Malaysia's beauty and vowed to return and explore its wonders.
SMILE... Maori Cultural Dance performers, Sunway Pyramid dancers and some of the participants from the crowd taking a photo |