Students from SMK Damansara Utama performed the magunatip bamboo dance that earned them the Grand Champion title at the Bandung International Dance Competition. Photos: Kartini Karim
Students from five Malaysian schools clinched top prizes at the 3rd Bandung International Dance Competition, held Aug 8–10, in Bandung, Indonesia recently. The 45 students are from SMK Damansara Utama (SMKDU) and SK Taman Megah (SKTM) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor; SK Bukit Bandaraya in Kuala Lumpur; SK Puncak Alam in Puncak Alam, Selangor; and Sekolah Seni Malaysia Johor in Masai, Johor.
The students, aged between eight and 17, participated in the traditional dance category. They performed over 20 dances from the Malay, Bajau, Cocos, Orang Ulu and Murut communities, including a few folk dances from various states in Malaysia.
The spotlight shone the brightest on the magunatip dance, which took home the prestigious Grand Champion title in the Group Senior Overall category. Performed by students from SMKDU, this vibrant bamboo dance from Sabah’s Murut ethnic group captivated judges with its intricate footwork and rhythmic agility.
Talented dancers from SK Taman Megah proudly showcased Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage at the competition.
The contingent also achieved other impressive wins, securing first prizes for tarirai, tari inai, tari Orang Ulu, tari masri and joget; a gold award for tarian piring Selangor; and honourable mentions for tarian gamelan, zapin tanjung and zapin kores, patendu patende, tari tempurung and kuda kepang, among others.
Over 500 participants from six countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia and Italy, participated in the competition, which attracted dancers who performed in genres such as ballet, hip hop, traditional, contemporary, jazz and K-pop.
Choreographer Mamad Samsudin of ChoreoArts Studio, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, played a key role in creating the award-winning routines performed by students from SMKDU and SKTM.
'Each dance tells a story that reflects our culture’s depth and beauty,' says Mamad. Photo: Mamad SamsudinHe selected more challenging routines for the competition, anticipating strong contenders from across various countries.
"Knowing the level of talent from different countries, I pushed myself and the students to take on more challenging routines. It was important to raise our standards and showcase the depth and richness of Malaysian dance on the international stage.
"Magunatip is more than just a dance - it’s a vibrant expression of the Murut community's spirit. I knew its unique rhythm and the skillful footwork between the bamboo poles would captivate the judges. Its combination of tradition and dynamic energy made me confident it could stand out and win," said Mamad, 36, in a phone interview from Jakarta.
The group arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang last night.
Mamad added that the students had been rehearsing two to three times a week for the past three months.
SK Taman Megah teacher Darlina A. Razak, who accompanied the students to the competition, said she did not expect Malaysia to win so many awards due to the stiff competition.
However, the team's diverse presentation of traditional dances from all over the country made the difference.
"With so many talented dancers from different countries, I wasn't sure how we would fare. But by presenting a wide range of traditional Malaysian dances, we managed to stand out.
"The highlight was definitely the magunatip, which captured the spirit and skill of our culture beautifully. I am proud that we could showcase Malaysia's rich heritage on an international stage," said Darlina.
