GEORGE TOWN, June 30 -- Little vignettes of the lives of Malaysians, Singaporeans and Indonesians that are somehow similar and yet different were played out brilliantly along the heritage streets of George Town yesterday evening.
This was Bridges & Kaki Lima, a special production by Ombak-ombak ARTStudio and PEARL (Penang Arts Link), which was performed on the five-foot ways and narrow lanes within the heritage enclave of George Town in conjunction with Victoria Street Project (VSP) and George Town Festival (GTF).
Starting from the Penang Youth Centre at Acheh Street, the contemporary dance was divided into many scenes at different locations spread out from Acheh Street, down Lumut Lane, along the alleyways and back lanes, and back down to the normally quiet Victoria Street.
In one scene, with a pre-war house and its five-foot way as backdrop, a whimsical love story was played out as a young man on a bicycle tried to woo a young woman peeking from behind the wooden shutters of the house.
In another, a group of men and women, clad in black danced and talked and laughed as they played out the close communal feel of a village life that is strangely both Malaysian and Indonesian.
The audience was taken on a journey through the lanes less travelled as they were ushered from one scene to another, each spaced out along the streets, effectively turning a contemporary dance performance into a short walking tour of the inner streets of George Town.
Narrow alleyways, that are usually unnoticed and ignored, suddenly became a focus point and quiet residential lanes with pre-war buildings proudly wearing their wear-and-tear, peeling paint and aged walls became backdrops no set designer can replicate.
Bridges & Kaki Lima was not just a dance, but a journey that highlighted the rugged beauty of George Town and it also brought forth the intangible essence that made up George Town’s heritage and culture.
The scenes emphasised the beauty of Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian culture and these three countries are brought closer through the similarities of their cultures.
The two-hour performance, held twice during the seven-hour VSP event, was a great start to the festivities held along the streets all around Victoria Street, Armenian Street, Mesjid Kapitan Keling Road, Cannon Square and Beach Street.
VSP, which is a part of the month-long GTF, started at 5pm and a multitude of events were lined up all over the heritage enclave.
Intriguing Instruments showcased tunes created from Asia’s earliest instruments made from bamboo and wood at a corner along Mesjid Kapitan Keling Road while diagonally across it, within the compound of the
Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple, was the Handmade Market where stalls selling all sorts of handmade items from costume jewellery to soft toys and perfume were set up.
Along Armenian Street, Street!Entertainment showcased traditional games and performances while souvenir shops lining the street sold drinks and snacks along with their wares.
The monthly “An Evening of Lights” at Khoo Kongsi was also held in conjunction with VSP where Chinese cultural performances were held.
GTF is an annual month-long celebration of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO world heritage site. This year, it kicked off on June 7 and this is its final week before it ends on July 7.
