Pupils at a Tamil school in Johor Baru have shown that a difference in cultures does not hinder their ability to learn and perform zapin, a traditional Malay dance. According to SJK(T) Masai teacher Khasturi Ramalingam, who oversees the school’s cultural arts club, zapin has always been part of the school’s extracurricular activities, alongside Indian dance and drama classes. She explained that when the school became a cluster school a few years ago, its focus was Tamil language, zapin, and badminton. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted these activities. When they finally resumed, the school faced difficulties in restarting the zapin activities due to the absence of a proper dance trainer, as the previous one was transferred to another school.
However, everything changed when Khasturi received a telephone call from Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) in Johor last year. RTM requested for the school to perform in the Zapin Permata Jauhar program. Though initially mixed feelings arose due to the stagnant dance team and Khasturi lacking experience in teaching zapin, RTM agreed to their request for a dance trainer. With less than two weeks to prepare, they held an audition and selected 12 pupils from Year One to Three, out of more than 70 who showed up for the trial. The parents were also supportive, helping with makeup, hairstyling, costumes, and accessories. The performance was a success and reignited the school’s interest in zapin. Regular lessons and practice sessions have been ongoing, and the school recently sent a team of eight pupils aged seven to nine to compete in the Zapin Yok! @B5 competition.
Although they only received a consolation prize, Khasturi encouraged her pupils not to be disheartened but to learn from others’ performances. She expressed her goal of participating in more competitions next year and hoped that the school would continue to excel in zapin. She believed that learning the dance instilled valuable qualities such as respecting elders and taking on responsibility. SJK(T) Masai has also achieved success in other areas, winning a gold award at the Hong Kong English Drama competition and becoming champions at a national-level drama competition in Bahasa Malaysia.
Persatuan Penggiat Zapin Negeri Johor president Ab Razak Rahmat urged more schools, private corporations, and the public sector to participate in and promote the traditional dance. He emphasized that events like Zapin Yok!, organized by Johor Corporation Foundation in collaboration with the state’s national culture and arts department, serve as a platform to enhance the audience’s knowledge of the arts. The competition showcased over 15 variations of zapin, each with its own unique characteristics, including Zapin Kores, Zapin Tanjung Labuh, Zapin Batu Putih, Zapin Dayung, Zapin Lenga, and Zapin Aur.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
