Young dancers complete Kelabit traditional dance course

MIRI (Aug 9): Six young dancers recently completed their beginner level class for Kelabit traditional dances organised by The Ribeds Ngarang Academy.

They received their certificates during a graduation ceremony at Pustaka Miri here.

“It is important for us to preserve our tradition. Our cultural dances are part of our very important tradition and they are also our unique identity. If we don’t want our identity to be forgotten in the future, we must continue to preserve them,” Persatuan Wanita Orang Ulu (PWOUM) president Kijan Toynbee said at the ceremony.

“The Orang Ulu, including the Kelabit, have many traditional dances. They are all very beautiful and very graceful. If we do not take the initiative to teach it to our younger generation today, it may be forgotten in the future.”

Kijan commended dance teachers from The Ribeds Ngarang Academy for actively doing their part to ensure Orang Ulu, particularly Kelabit, culture and traditions live on through traditional dances.

“In fact, I think traditional dance classes like this should also be taught to adults as I am sure there are also some who do not know how to do the dance and would love to learn it,” she said.

She also thanked Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala for allocating RM3,000 for the course.