KOTA KINABALU: A group of student dancers from Sabah, known as the “Ngalay Yang’s,” achieved third place in their first ever international outing, the Andong Maskdance Festival in South Korea. The festival, which took place from Oct 2 to 9, saw the team of five girls and four boys aged 12 to 13 participate in the Abroad Category, with Singapore standing in second place and Russia receiving the gold award. The Malaysian students impressed the judges with their performance of the Limbai Bajau Samah, a traditional Sabah dance. Despite the outcome, the students treasured the experience gained during the competition, which featured participants from over 30 countries.
Caelen Lester Mojiliu, a 13-year-old team member from Penampang district, expressed his excitement about their international debut and shared his newfound knowledge about traditional and folk dances from different countries. He also observed the respect that Korean people show towards their elders. According to Caelen, the team did not feel disheartened by their third-place finish, as their primary goal was to enjoy the experience and explore Korea. He remains optimistic about future opportunities to perform even better.
Assistant team manager, Farah Shaliza, mentioned that many participants and spectators were captivated by the Ngalay Yang’s choreography, particularly the vibrant costumes and handmade props. The team also appreciated the opportunity to witness the traditional attire of other countries. Farah expressed satisfaction with the team’s achievement, as they received a certificate of participation and 500,000 Korean won (RM1,780) for their third-place finish. She acknowledged the team’s diligent preparation and stressed that they had not returned home empty-handed.
In addition to their success at the festival, the students had the privilege of exploring Andong City, the host location for the competition, and spending two full days in Seoul, located 190km away. Farah believes that this experience will be cherished by the students for a long time.
