When TiTy Talks About SIFF

I've got the chance to attend the 6th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF) recently. Thanks to the free tix given by my aunty! Otherwise, I wouldn't bother going to this event hehe.

And so I went to this event together with Fabian, Harold, Less and another guy (p/s: sorry I didn't get your name..hehe).. dan dengan bantuan 4sq, pengamatan mata kasar dan kuasa zoom sejenis kamera Samsung, we managed to spot Nelly, Joyce & Boyo.

There were 17 groups representing their respective countries, which are:

1. India - The JAL Academy of Dance (JAPA)
2. Sloval Republic - KLNKA
3. Indonesia - Indra Dance Group
4. Latvia - Folk Dance Group 'Kalve'
5. Namibia - Ondunga Cultural Group
6. Taiwan - Ou Yang Huei-Chen Art Dance Company
7. Belgium - Vlagkunst vzw Flago
8. Estonia - Estonian Women Dance Group 'Kullketrajad'
9. Philippines - Jambangan Cultural Dance Company
10. Egypt - Luxor Folklore Group
11. Thailand - Bunditpatanasilpa Institute
12. Singapore - National Arts Council
13. Russia - Michaar
14. China - Zhu Hai Hansen Dancing Group
15. Kazakhstan - Shalkyma
16. South Korea - Kim Myung Ju Dance Company
17. Turkey - Serkan Kaplan
18. Malaysia - Warisan Art Troupe

Note: Actually there were 18 countries, tapi Malaysia tidak bertanding. Nasib la inda ikut, kalu inda paling manang yg numbul 18 kali - *sungguh tidak patriotik ko ini Cik Chalindon! :p*

Opening Act...

The event started off with the Magavau ritual by an uncle and an aunty from Kudat. Bagus juga la untuk generasi2 muda Sabah *ehem* macam saya to get the chance to see the local Sabahan cultures. Even though I don't understand any single word from the ritual.. tidak apa, saya memang tidak bercita2 untuk menjadi seorang bobohizan ..ai! =)

"Pst! cara dudukan itu aunty sungguh kurang sopan! Cuba pi kestau dia lu inda bagus duduk kangkang2! hehe"

Then comes the "balan-balan", a mythical bird symbolising a black magic practitioner in the local Iranun mythology, making an entrance in a 'so called' gaga-entrance (except for the extra clothings). It was the mascot for this event, not gaga but the "balan-balan", ok!?.

But the emcee mention BalBal? Bawbaw? BaoBao? whatever la! Jangan saja Bebau! *aii! sejenis isu sensitif ni di ofisku* hahaha

And the Winner is!...

China won the 6th SIFF Competition, and was presented with the Chief Minister Award. I lurve their dazzling performance! and their pink outfit! mcm selesa mo pakai tidur.. ai :p. However, I don't fancy their top-knot hairdo! haha

The Taiwan group, which was the champion last year, took the Cultural Minister’s Award (Numbul dua la kira diorg ni). I was captivated by their energetic performance; they also use a lot of props. Ada payung, kompang2, kepala naga, bendera.. konfom excess baggage! hehe. I thought they would win again this year, but they did some minor mistakes during the routine. Tiapa, tahun depan cuba lagi! =)

And Kazakhstan won the 3rd Place (the Sabah Cultural Board Award). Hmmm, they should be thankful that the event was on the 24th July. If they were to perform on the 9th of July, silap2 tidak sampai Pusat Kebudayaan Sabah oo.. kalah tanpa bertanding trus ni! hehe

Winners of Subsidiary Title...

South Korea - Best Costume Award
I think the man's clownish hair outfit contributes to the high score for South Korea. It gaga-over-the-clown bebeh!

Egypt - Best Music Award
I think the sound from the camel add some extra points.. or was it a horse? or a donkey? Hookeh-kookeh! I failed to identify the species of the animal...I bet it's not listed as endangered species! hahahaha :P

Russia - Best Choreography Award
Sejenis tarian memanggil burung dan burung2 pun menari! aii.. hmm! that doesn't sound right, does it? :p. I have no major comments/review on this. Main ko burung! hehe

Indonesia - Best Performance Award
I thought they would possibly secure top placing in the competition. Nevermind, at least they won an award for their country. I was amazed by the dance which was expressed through the hand movements, body, and legs (sengaja kasi bold kasi sedikit penegasan). The dance requires constant wrist movement yang buli memudaratkan otot2 karpal di pergelangan tangan. But they did it like it was nothing! lemah gemalai gitu, dan bukan secara buragas (Read: Ganas & kasar).. huhu

Slovakia - The Jury Award
I like the dress! macam tu perempuan di tin susu manis pilihan saya.


Philipines - Highest Online Award
Ni tarian main pijak2 piring! inda bagus tu.. bagus2 ada tu lantai, mo juga injak2 tu piring. Kalau nenek sa nampak dia marah ni. huhu

Edited quote:

"kriteria penari perempuan misti maximum pakai saiz 5 saja ni! nanti inda muat piring"
"buli bah! kalau yg kaki saiz besar, misti pakai piring yg orang guna untuk hidang western food! yang besar & lebar tu" ...ekeke

Namibia - Most Popular Group Award
"shake, shake ur booteh!" ... Mantap bah guyangan, mana inda popular!

The most promising male dancer - a dancer from Latvia

The most promising female dancer - a dancer from Estonia

The best male dancer - a dancer from Belgium (who is the oldest participant in this competition). Tinggi kama lambungan flag yg dia buat, the weight of the flag is about 5 kg! Woohoo! Let's do the Flago (Not!)

Best Female dancer - a dancer from Thailand (not in the pic!). But this is the performance from Thailand. Merupakan pujaan diva2 who are seating at the back row. Smexeh kah!? kalau ko kotuton baru ko tau! hahaha

Last but not least...

Performance by Serkan Kaplan who is representing Turkey. Hmm... the dance just doesn't look right. Sungguh sesuatuh! hahaha


OKla.. that's all, hope you'll enjoy reading my review. Even though I love to dance, I'm not a professional dancer. So my review is more of pleasure rather than technical *aiseymen*. Some of the performance doesn't make it to my blog entry, try to capture my interest next time - who knows you might just be lucky! hahaha.

Almost forgot..

Photo credit: Fabian Philip (thanks modjo!)