ENtranzED by The Danz...

This post continues with the ongoing Post on So You Think You Can Dance? Fridae happening started yesterday.

REWRITE, wit' thy permit?:

Was Desi glad and lifted Friday night for two hours, and my recent bout of pessimism of where NgaraKu is at and where it's headed dissipated somewhat when the four "youthful" finalists for So You Think You Can Dance over TV8 demonstrated much versatility, talent, passion and enthusiasm and this atmosphere filled with passionate energies immediately enveloped the judges, the audience and, I am sure most home viewers like Desi -- I was ENtranzED indeed.

And a Sundae confess: I have been rarely ENtranzed by fellow Malaysians lately. And it was such an uplifting and welcome surprise. It surely re-affirms that we have hope yet for this nation soon to celebrate its 5oth birthday.

The four youthful dancers showed that when given the right circumstances and proper stage, Malaysians are well up to par to rival with the world's best in creativity. The four finalists each were winners in their own right -- showing great focus in giving of their best demonstration of God's gift to them, turning magical moves with the lithe body and whirling, pliable feet\ , combining body and mind in one series of poetry in motion. With each dancer finishing every dance, I was moved that for once, a Malaysian TV station was doing "right" in unearthing the home talents we have. This constrasts starkly with RTM renditions -- churning year-in-year-out predictable so-called artistes giving us unimaginative entertainment that hardly edifies the soul, featuring even some showbiz personalities with blemished reputation like dadah-linked habits through the decades.


Fridae's SYTYCDanz marked the climax of three months of keen competition of a shorlisted field of 20 spirited Malaysians. And the regrouping of the original 16 with the four finalists in two sequences was a demonstration of an art form that truly crosses many barriers -- race, colour, creed and gender -- doing what many politicains have consistently failed to deliver. As a lesson in nation-building, some of the "mankees" of that zoohouse down Jalan Parlimen would do well spending time reviewing what other Young Malaysians are capable of -- using brain and God's gifts to enterytain and edify. Instead of spewing foul language and birds brain remarks that even demean their own mother and sisters.

TV8 is to be lauded in bringing together young Malaysians in an endeavour that was the depiction of a nation's citizens at their best -- a dance of life across race, colour and creed. When God's children draw on their raw talents to demonstrate God's gifts that truly in a symphony that croses race, colour and creed, equally enjoined by a responsive and appreciative audience of multi-coloured hues -- that truly lends an aura of hope and optimism to the average Malaysian like Desi.

(I pause here as I need to take a break and I assure you I am now convinced that the CREATIVE people in Malaysia are not lacking in talent. If only the country gives more attention to the activities that are driven by passion and love, Malaysia as a nation still has some HOPE. I say this amidst much negativity and pessimism much in the Malaysian air over the past 1o months since the 49th Merdeka celebrations.

Just a few days back I had paused and wondered ALOUD, still ALLOWED at Desi's Place, if I should continue the traditional Merdeka Day Essay Series. Now I don't hesitate. I see some glimmer of hope on which I butter my vision of a generation of Malaysians who may make a difference -- IF ONLY CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF MALAYSIA WAKE UP FROM THEIR OWN SELF-DESTRUCTIVE POLITICS AND TAKING MALAYSIA TOWARDS THE EDGE THAT OVERSEES THAT ABYSS.)

...To be continued...________________________________________________


Continuation at about 4.50pm, Sunday July 1, 2007:

Eventual winner ALAM kicked off the springful evening with a naughty duo with Dennis, in an absorbing, highly original sketch of two wilde and winsome spirits playing with Life's song with abandon. ALAM must assuredly thank he had a wonder, generous half in "The Menace" in jhelping him to a fantastic start. If I like to use a metaphor, they were a pair of doe cahorting on their first date out on the prairie, thinking nobody is watching their knotyy steps and winks.

The other pair of Sue and Brancy must have raised the heartbeats of many "senors" (like Desi-lah) whose blood-pressure must have been sorely tested. As one of the judges said, Sue was as beautiful and arresting as princess-dancer can be, and Brancy defines pure elegance and poetry in motion as both lend to enahncing each other's strenths.

As each dancee went on to also perform SOLO and also male-female pairing opvements, it was the generosity of each of the apricipants' haerts in ensuring they gave of themselves that truly captured the viewers' hearts. Desi hails especially Sue in taking high and dangerous risks in doing her Solo piece and the stage was not the best suited for such a venture. But she overcame and teated us with a winning performance. (I used "winning" as I SMSed her as the best "twice" (spend stingy RM1--lah!, but I have litle quarrel with hime-viewers pick of Alam as the champion of the first season of this enervatig and delightful dance competition.)

I raise my hats to the four judges too for their geneorus and pretty from the heart comments. I wsih I could exactly reprise what Guest judge Taira Jacqueline said as closing remarks. It surely strikes a chord with Desi on what being malaysian si all about! Every one of the others on judging panel -- Pat Ibrahim, Judimar Hernandez, Ramli Ibrahim -- deserves a round of appaluse as they lend an expert's view, always positive because the dancers really did deliver! -- and wow, I wish Young Malaysians speak English as well as they do. Hats Off! Hats Off!

I learn a few things about Malaysians. They can rise above race, colour and creed if they are allowed to be their natural selves. And when PASSION DRIVES THE CREATIVE MIND IN US!