We will be dancing at Siti’s reception
SINGAPORE DANCE GROUP:
By Syahirah Anwar
August 26, 2006
WHAT would you do if you really wanted to be part of the celebrations surrounding the wedding of the year in Malaysia?
Two members of the dance troupe (above) and Madam Engku Nurhuda and the team (below left).
Yes, the one that was solemnised last Monday between Malaysian pop princess Siti Nurhaliza, 27, and businessman Datuk Khalid Mohamad, better known as Datuk K, 47.
Gatecrash? No chance because security will be very tight for the 28 Aug reception at the KLCC hotels .
Madam Engku Nurhuda had a better idea for herself and her dancers.
She called up one of the wedding coordinators and offered her dance troupe as a performance act.
She then sent them videos of their past peformances and even went to Kuala Lumpur with the troupe’s costumes. The organiser, who Madam Engku declined to name, was keen.
Tonight, 25 performers from dance group Artiste Seni Budaya Tepak Sireh from Tepak Sireh Restaurant will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur by coach.
The restaurant in Kampung Glam also organises weddings here and the troupe performs at these weddings.
Madam Engku got veteran choreographer, Mr Rizman Kassim, who has more than 10 years of experience, to put together a special dance routine just for the reception.
– KENNETH KOH
Madam Engku, the general manager of Tepak Sireh, said: ‘I decided to try our luck by requesting to perform. But honestly, I’m really nervous about the performance because Malaysia has really good dancers. But I’m proud of our dancers and they are confident that they can also put up a good show.’
The 25-strong dance group will be performing two items during the night.
Madam Engku said she has been sworn to secrecy about the reception itinerary. She would not say who the other performers are.
About 2,200 people are expected for the reception.
For the first item, 11 women will perform a traditional Indonesian dance, accompanied by gamelan (Indonesian percussion) music.
They will be performing at the VVIP area and will be welcoming the guests with the dance.
The second item features a medley of Siti’s songs and six pairs of dancers.
‘The event coordinator wanted us to perform Siti’s songs. So I had to select and edit Siti’s songs till they were perfect for our dancers. That was done in a week,’ said Madam Engku.
The medley consists of six songs and the dancers will be performing six different type of dances in those nine and a half minutes.
The items, which will be a ‘fusion of modern and traditional dance’, include broadway, jazz, dangdut, zapin, silat and the upbeat joget for the ‘grand finale’.
But when asked which songs were selected, Madam Engku remained tight-lipped.
‘If I tell then there will be no element of surprise on the day,’ she said.
They had little time to prepare for the performance.
‘They have been rehearsing every day for about five hours for the past one and a half weeks,’ said Madam Engku, who travelled to Kuala Lumpur about four times to finalise the details.
They will be compensated with recognition for their performance, but she said Tepak Sireh is footing most of the bill.
She didn’t want to reveal the financial details.
So what made Tepak Sireh decide that it wanted to perform at the pop diva’s nuptials?
Madam Engku said: ‘I thought sending our dancers up there to perform would really show their potential.
‘And more importantly, it is also a tribute to Siti from us in Singapore as she has a huge fanbase here as well.’
The dancers are looking forward to the performance.
Mr Shairul Nizam, 19, said: ‘I’m a fan of Siti and I always buy the VCDs of her concerts. So to be able to perform at the reception is definitely a memorable moment for me.
‘Hopefully, I can actually get to meet her and take pictures with her as well.’