Universal heritage

Local gem: Mak Yong ‘Dewa Muda’ performance at the main stage during the George Town Heritage Celebrations in 2019. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

LAST May I found myself in a theatre in Dublin, Ireland, watching the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan premiere their work 13 Tongues as part of the Dublin Dance Festival. The theatre was full of Dubliners who had come to see a performance from across the world, from a country that was ethnically and culturally different from them. My daughter and I were probably the only Malaysians there.

It was a wonderful work featuring eleven very lithe and energetic dancers in beautiful yet simple costumes. The choreography was very modern but you could easily identify the Taiwanese elements in it, from the music to the movements to the backdrops. This dance company was so confident in their work that they could show it to a totally foreign and yet very appreciative audience, judging by the standing ovation they received.