FUSE#5

Finding Soultari’s Lenggang: Walking Otherwise
the company from 1970–1978 was integral for Malay dancers who
were selected to be part of the company. To create the multi-ethnic
dance suites which will become the hallmark of the company’s repertory,
Yeoh had to synchronise the techniques of the dancers who came
from various traditional/ethnic dance communities. He did this through
introducing certain balletic techniques and presentational skills for the
stage. In addition, he also ensured the company’s dancers learnt from
each other by embodying specific traditional dance techniques. Yeoh
also choreographed Malay dance repertoires for the company. One of
his notable “Malay dance” works is the “Harvest Festival Dance” which
was a blend of balletic techniques and movements from folk dance.
Notes
1. Colonial historian, Mubin Sheppard, has identified four different descriptions
of movement in the Malay world. Sheppard describes, “Tandak emphasizes
the dancers’ steps, Igal means posturing or dancing with emphasis on body
movements, Liok is applied to low bending and swaying of the body, and Tari
describes dancing in which the graceful” (82).
Soultari Amin Farid is a choreographer,
arts educator and researcher from
Singapore. He is currently based in
London where he is a PhD candidate in
Theatre, Drama and Dance studies in Royal
Holloway, University of London, UK. He was
awarded the Singapore Youth Award (SYA)
in 2017. His recent choreographic credits
in Europe include: bhumi (Edinburgh
Fringe Festival, UK); What If…: The Mother
in Tagore’s Poems (Commissioned by Mora
Ferenc Muzeum, Hungary) and Unity in
Diversity (University of Szeged, Hungary).
Some of his works as Artistic Director in
Singapore include: Mak-Mak Menari (M1
Singapore Fringe 2020), yesterday it rained
salt (M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2019),
Sau (dara) (The Vault, Centre 42), and
Padi Kuning [Yellow Paddy] (Supported by
National Arts Council's Cross-Polytechnic
Arts Initiative (CPAI)).
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