{"id":386,"date":"2023-03-10T01:09:33","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T17:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/?p=386"},"modified":"2023-03-13T17:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T09:58:21","slug":"geraklah-how-malay-dance-veterans-arrive-to-where-they-are-at-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/geraklah-how-malay-dance-veterans-arrive-to-where-they-are-at-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Geraklah! \u2013 How Malay Dance Veterans Arrive to Where They Are At Today"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h5 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">By Rossy Sri Julyana Bte Jumahat (2023)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>We all have different starting points, but we keep moving forward \u2013 Two generations of artists; one conversation on Malay dance in Singapore over the last 50 years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hCpsqJXOHBM\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Following Dr Noramin Farid\u2019s session on the <a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/not-just-a-hobby-how-malay-dance-evolved-over-the-years\/\">evolution of Malay dance<\/a> in Singapore, respectable figures in the Malay dance scene \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/presenters\/#Cikgu-Na%E2%80%99aim-Pani\">Mr Na\u2019aim Pani<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/presenters\/#Mdm-Som-Said\">Mdm Som Said<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/presenters\/#Osman-Abdul-Hamid\">Mr Osman Abdul Hamid<\/a> \u2013 gathered to share their rich experiences of their Malay dance practices.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102-192x128.jpg 192w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8102.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mr Na&#8217;aim Pani, Mr Osman Abdul Hamid and Mdm Som Said \u2013 who are considered veterans in the Malay dance industry \u2013 candidly recalled their dance experiences and how they influenced one another in their practices. The session was moderated by Dr Suriani Suratman.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cWhen I was in Secondary School\u2026\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some common experiences that were drawn out from the sharing included how these veterans began their dance journey while they were still in school. Mdm Som, who was a schoolgirl back then, would often imitate the dance moves from the movies she watched with her two elder sisters. She then met Ms Sri Rahayu \u2013 daughter of a movie producer S. Sudarmaji, and Mdm Som\u2019s \u201cfirst dancing partner\u201d \u2013 and was eventually introduced to Sriwana as a learner and, soon after, a teacher of traditional Malay dance in the troupe.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088-192x128.jpg 192w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8088.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mdm Som\u2019s excitement in sharing her experiences with Malay dance, showcased her immense love and passion for the artform.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While Mr Na&#8217;aim\u2019s father frequented the Bunga Tanjong dance hall to dance with the dance-hall ladies, Mr Na&#8217;aim\u2019s mother disliked the now veteran Malay dancer being a dancer. In fact, she wanted Mr Na&#8217;aim to be a policeman just like his uncles after \u201cseeing how nice the uniform is\u201d. However, watching his grandfather doing silat since he was seven years old slowly eased Mr Na&#8217;aim into learning Zapin and eventually accepting the invitation of his Secondary 1 teacher who was looking for dancers. His mother had also accepted Mr Na&#8217;aim dancing when she saw him appearing on the television and in the newspapers. Nevertheless, Mr Na&#8217;aim fulfilled his mother\u2019s initial wish when he became the National Police Cadet Corp senior commander in the school he was teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Osman\u2019s starting point was interesting, for he was not keen to dance initially due to the image attached to the art \u2013 he did not want to be perceived as \u201cpondan\u201d or sissy by joining a dance group. He spent most of his school-going years playing sports, until he gave in to the invitation from the school which was looking for male dancers. While he relented because of his friend, Mr Osman continued refining his craft as he was introduced to various teachers and dancers from Sriwana, the People\u2019s Association (PA), and the National Dance Company (NDC) in the subsequent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These experiences by our veterans would not have happened if they did not accept the school\u2019s invitation to dance, highlighting the school\u2019s role in encouraging and becoming spaces for Malay dance. This is something I personally agree as well, for I started practising Malay dance due to the existence of such dance groups in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cThe Body has embodied other dances\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As Dr Noramin\u2019s sharing was still fresh in the veterans\u2019 minds, they also went on to narrate their personal experiences dancing in international festivals. Mr Na&#8217;aim and Mdm Som were well-known for their chemistry in NDC to the point whereby people mistook them as a married couple. It was natural for people to make that assumption when Mr Na&#8217;aim\u2019s dance experiences were closely interconnected with Mdm Som\u2019s \u2013 he opened up his own dance group in the same year Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd was established, and both Mr Na&#8217;aim and Mdm Som had been each other\u2019s dance partners while they represented Singapore on international stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The veterans agreed that the Adelaide Arts Festival in 1972 was a significant moment for Malay dance practitioners in Singapore as the experiences gained from the event changed how dance is practised here. Mdm Som realised the need for standardisation in performances when she watched how other dancers would ensure their dance steps were synchronised \u2013 every movement had to be executed with great precision.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081-192x128.jpg 192w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8081.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe body has embodied other dances,\u201d Mr Osman remarked as he recollected his memories of his experiences learning dances from diverse cultures \u2013 Chinese, Indian, Minang, you name it.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cPreserve, Promote and Create\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mdm Som also shared her philosophy as a dance practitioner: to <strong>preserve, promote, and create<\/strong>. Mdm Som believes that dance communities should preserve their foundations, which can be especially critical on international grounds whereby dancers have to represent themselves (in which foundations will come into play here). It is also crucial for these communities to continuously promote their works and expose potential audiences to the world of Malay dance. Lastly, there should be ample opportunities for dancers to develop their choreographies and learn dance moves beyond Malay dance to incorporate into their practices.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107-192x128.jpg 192w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/5E3A8107.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cI [furthered my] studies in Dance Anthropology just because I want to write! Write [about] Malay dance based on my personal journey\u201d says Mdm Som. Her book, \u2018Malay Dance In Singapore: The Som Said Journey\u2019 is not only a testament to her efforts, but important in documenting the history and development of Malay dance in Singapore.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Several questions were raised by the audience regarding Mdm Som\u2019s philosophy, particularly on the emphasis on performing Malay dance in the eyes of the international audience. For Mdm Som, she sees the importance of international exposure for Malay dance to remain alive in this world. As long as there are continuous promotional efforts by the dance communities, the Malay dance culture will very much exist in the minds of those who have witnessed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The other veterans also contributed to Mdm Som\u2019s philosophy by stressing the need to stay true to yourself despite facing criticisms for the works produced. Mr Osman recounted a time when the local practitioners questioned his performance at Yogyakarta. What they saw was nothing like the Malay dance they usually envisioned, and such comments did not deter Mr Osman\u2019s motivation to continue his craft as he presented his performances as \u201cnot Malay, not Indian, but Osman Abdul Hamid\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201c\u2026 think Gerak!\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the session, <a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/presenters\/#Dr-Suriani-Suratman\">Dr Suriani Suratman<\/a> posed a question to everyone in the room to reflect on: acknowledging the importance of preserving, promoting, and creating in the Malay dance industry, what then should we preserve, promote, and create? For Mr Osman, that decision stemmed from individual responsibility to value the existence of Malay dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr Na&#8217;aim tied the discussion neatly by viewing Mdm Som\u2019s philosophy as 3 in 1: the one being gerak (to move) \u2013 synonymous with the title of our symposium. He believes movement is essential because no amount of theory will be sufficient if a person does not move in Malay dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As someone who recently started learning Malay dance this past year, it was a humbling and eye-opening experience for me to listen to the veteran\u2019s sharings on their encounters with Malay dance. I joined NUS Ilsa Tari to try out something new, and perhaps make dance my new hobby. Yet, what struck me the most from the session, was the veteran\u2019s philosophy and professionalism towards Malay dance. There is a tendency to question the viability of Malay dance as a career \u2013 Is it worthwhile to pursue Malay dance \u201cfull time\u201d, or should it remain as a hobby? While this can potentially be the concerns of other student dancers like myself, it is comforting to know that these veterans too were once inexperienced student-dancers. As visionary dance practitioners, these veterans are living examples of passion and hardwork; that translates to their successful careers in Malay dance. Regardless of whether one pursues Malay dance as a career, or a hobby, we all have to start from \u201csomewhere\u201d \u2013 so, let\u2019s GERAK!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820-192x128.jpg 192w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/DSC09820.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cIf there is nothing you can remember from this sharing,\u201d Mr Na&#8217;aim candidly spoke in Malay, \u201cthink gerak! Thank you.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><small>Previous Article:<\/small><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/not-just-a-hobby-how-malay-dance-evolved-over-the-years\/\">Not Just A Hobby \u2013 How Malay Dance <br>Evolved Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-heading\"><small>Next Article:<\/small><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/what-does-malay-dance-mean-to-me-questions-and-concerns-of-malay-dance-practitioners-today\/\">\u201cWhat does Malay Dance Mean To Me?\u201d \u2013 Questions and Concerns of Malay Dance Practitioners Today<br><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all have different starting points, but we keep moving forward \u2013 Two generations of artists; one conversation on Malay dance in Singapore over the last 50 years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=386"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":574,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions\/574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerak.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}