By Soultari Amin Farid
And so we eventually met.
The 17 of us from 17 nations.
Congregated in this historical city alongside
the bright young minds of other nations and their various schools of thought
and disciplines.
Cohort 3 of this Choreomundus programme
definitely refuses to conform to what others would regard as “normal”.
Armed with our individual experiences and knowledge of
our various cultural art forms, we aim to bridge our cultures – amongst
ourselves and other people – with the hopes of forging a comunity that are learned, mobile and geared for a better
tomorrow. I came out with that probably because I see ourselves as leaders in our fields and the next generation of dance anthropologists / ethnographers.
So I would like to introduce every single
one of them: allow me to describe about these talented people in a few
statements.
From Asia we have:
Ipshita Rajesh – An exponent of the
classical Indian art form, Bharatnatyam, from Mumbai, India, this lady has shown how,
despite her petite-self, she is able to command the attention of audiences with
her captivating sharp eye movements and her meticulous execution of intricate
movements.
Cao Qingli – Hailing from China’s capital
city, Beijing, this lady’s effervescent and energetic self injects the team
with daily doses of smiles and laughter. Her willingness to share and eagerness
to learn has made her an individual whose presence is infectiously positive and
motivating.
Brian Jay Ambulo – This proud Filipino has
proven that “chocolate boys” are not a force to be reckoned with. Blessed with
a repertoire of skills, he has always been the life of the party providing much
amusement and entertainment with his talents in singing and stand-up comedy.
But he truly he is a real-life Patch Adams. His lifelong desire to work in
UNESCO reveals a side to him that is truly passionate about cultural policy and
advocacy.
Sekar Sari – The epitome of a Nusantara
beauty, TV news presenter and occasional model from the ancient Javanese
capital of Yogjakarta, Sekar Sari sweeps guys off their feet probably because
they are mesmerized by her exotic looks and the delicateness of her graceful
movements.
From Europe we have:
Madli Teller –A belle, both on and off
stage, this individual is a natural leader and a selfless individual - ever
ready to lend a helping hand. Aside from being vertically-blessed – she towers
above most – this Estonian lady has proven that height plays no part in showing
the true meaning of quality performances. Honest and enthusiastic Madli has
shown what it means to give your whole heart when learning more about the dance
from another culture.
Onur Istek - The one individual whose presence was clearly
anticipated even before he was physically present. A man whose appreciation and
reverence for the cultural traditions of his Turkish community is embedded
within the skillful execution of his dance repertoires. One of those
individuals I am unable to imagine without his moustache – a key charming and
attractive facial feature.
Ana Stojanovic – This Serbian beauty shows
classiness in her performances that is both sophisticated and eye-catching. Off
stage, she exudes a personality that is honest and forthcoming: truly an
exemplar of someone who shows what it means to be comfortable being themselves
and flaunting their God-given talent(s).
Roula Lymniati – A polyglot entertainer by profession, gibberish
included, this bubbly lady plucks the guitar as skillful as Santana. Quick
thinker and always ready with a joke or a two to enthuse and entertain her
friends, this Greek lady’s talent for story-telling has captivated, engaged and
even convinced the most skeptical of audiences, such as myself.
Janos Kovacs – This Romanian chap of
Hungarian descent transforms instantaneously on stage into an outstanding performer that is way beyond his age. His
proficient execution of a series of complex footwork reveals a dancer who is
both technical and detailed. A dedicated
performer, this gentleman commands the stage well with his passionate presence
and charming pesona.
From Africa we have:
Tsehaye Haidemariam – This Eritrean
truth-seeker shed lights on areas or issues that might not be easily understood
on the surface. Armed with knowledge in philosophy, Tsehaye sees the politics
behind everyday paradigms, habitus and knowledge that in turn has encouraged all
those around him to view issues in non-commonplace perspectives.
Kafui Tay – Clearly this educator speaks
about his cultural traditions with much delight in his eyes and enthusiasm in
his speeches. Whenever he is performing the dances of various tribes in Ghana, this
dancer is deeply immersed in his showcase literally allowing spectators to
witness the spectacle wherein his soul mergers with the hypnotic rhythms of his
percussive music.
Michael Nsibambi – A Ugandan social
entrepreneur and artist who has helped street kids to find hope and a new
beginning through the medium of performing arts. With a prolific portfolio, it
is no coincidence that he is someone who is charismatic and motivating. This is
evident through his compering skills that provided a unique blend of
storytelling – bringing the house down during our recent performances with his
humor and “out of this world” expressions
From the Americas we have:
Olivia Burnham - Hailing from Rhode Island, the smallest state
in the United States of America, Olivia has a big heart for the performing
traditions of other cultures. Her years of ballet training and subsequent
“encounter” with modern jazz and Latin American dances have fuelled that
undying desire to observe and learn from others. She is thorough and respectful when learning
other cultural dance techniques. The determination and dedication to learn are
two truly endearing traits of hers.
Lucien Peter – Dubbed the “youngest” within
the team, Lucien’s vast experiences and knowledge in the performing arts especially
the Caribbean traditions of Guadeloupe is inspiring. A technical and meticulous
individual in his academic inquiry and dance execution, Lucien is exemplary
particularly because he is someone who strikes a balance between academic work
and dance practice.
Luiza Beloti Abi Saab – Despite being one
of the youngest in the course, Luiza has had experience in analyzing dance.
This contemporary dancer from Londrina, Brazil, has done research about the
Gaga dance of Israel. Also as an advocate of contemporary works, Luiza sees
value in understanding the politics inherent between popular/commercial and
traditional arts and seeks to bridge the “cultural divide”.
Juan Felipe – He might seem like any normal
Latin American bloke but he is not a force to be reckoned with. A researcher in
the Engineering field and a Peruvian exponent of Capoeira, this suave gentleman
is skillful in both academia and “performance sports” / martial arts. One thing
is for sure he has certainly shown how artists can get certainly along very
well with Engineers. Oh also he has a fantastic voice hidden somewhere in this
machismo-we-know-as Juan Felipe.
Well that's us! I wanted to document this so that I can remember how we first met and my impression of them. Probably it will change at the end of the year or two but I think first impressions are long-lasting. And it looks like they have made it to my list of life-long friends.
Amin Ya Raball Alamin. Alhamdullilah.
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