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A vibrant dragon dance performance at the Kuching Waterfront tonight. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING (July 26): The inaugural Festival Tarian Singa 2024 (Lion Dance Festival 2024) commenced with a lively cultural parade that illuminated the Kuching Waterfront tonight.
The event was attended by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts deputy minister Snowdan Lawan, National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) director Mohd Amran Mohd Haris, and other distinguished guests.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) and Sarawak’s Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), witnessed 30 groups participating in the parade tonight.
The parade route covers approximately 2 kilometres, starting from Carpenter Street (Kuching Old Bazaar), passing through Jalan Ban Hock, and concluding with performances in front of distinguished guests and the public at the Kuching Waterfront.
The crown being entertained by a lion dance performance at the Kuching Waterfront tonight. – Photo by Chimon Upon
This festival features a total of 106 lions (costumes), including five participating groups from Peninsular Malaysia, one from Sabah, eight from Sarawak, and one from Indonesia (International Lion Dance Team by Barongsai Himpunan Bersatu Teguh).
Additionally, there were seven parade groups themed around ethnic cultural performances, four percussion groups, and a dragon dance group with 60 members, all contributing to the colourful and vibrant atmosphere of the night.
The first day of the festival featured exhibitions, interactive programmes, a handicraft sale, the Unesco World Heritage Sites exhibition, graffiti and mural painting demonstrations, and a lion head (costume piece) crafting demonstration by master Siow Ho Phiew.
The festival runs daily from 9am until 11pm until July 28.
Tomorrow’s (July 27) programme includes the Unesco World Heritage Sites exhibition, interactive programmes, and handicraft sales at the exhibition booths area.
There will be graffiti and mural painting demonstrations from 9am to 6pm, as well as a lion dance drum and musical instrument technique demonstration from 10am to 12.30pm, both taking place at the activity and demonstration area.
Performers strike the drum during a segment of the parade. – Photo by Chimon Upon
The main stage will host a Lion Dance Interlude Performance from 10am to 11am, followed by a Knowledge Sharing Session with Lion Head (costume piece) Crafting Master Siow Ho Phiew from 2pm to 6pm at Dewan Perpaduan 1, Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites.
In the evening, the Lion Dance Festival 2024 Opening Ceremony will take place, followed by a gala night and public concert starting at 7pm.
Snowdan (right) receives a souvenir from a ‘lion’ after the parade at Kuching Waterfront. – Photo by Chimon Upon
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