Photo : 1. Liew (7th from left) with Kok (on her left), Lucia (7th from right), and members of the Ivy Dance Group.
KOTA KINABALU: Age does not matter when it comes to performing arts, says former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew.
The Chairman of Shangri-La Tanjung Aru cited the case of 92-year-old Lucia Wong Lup Kin who remains an active member of Ivy Dance Group which celebrated the 20th anniversary of its formation with the theme “20 Years of Dance, Dreams & Dedication” at the Putera Ballroom on Saturday night.
“To my knowledge, the retired teacher keeps fit through dancing under the Ivy Dance Group, be it ballroom dancing or cultural dance performances. Take the cue from Lucia that age is not an obstacle to one’s hobby pursuit or aspiration,” said Liew who graced the occasion attended by about 350 people.
She commended dance instructress Ivy Kok for having carried on the legacy and continued to showcase the beauty and diversity of Sabah’s multicultural heritage through dance.
“Since its establishment, Ivy Dance Group has remained committed to preserving and promoting traditional ethnic culture and the arts. It is dedicated to advancing professional ethnic dance education and stage performance.
“Over the past two decades, the troupe has nurtured numerous outstanding dancers who, through refined dance skills, rigorous training, and extensive stage experience, have earned widespread recognition and appreciation from all sectors of society,” Liew noted.
From her observation, the dance troupe has achieved remarkable success, winning championships in numerous dance competitions, saying that it has also been invited by the Beijing Municipal Culture Bureau to participate in cultural and artistic exchange performances in Beijing, where the members had the opportunity to learn and exchange experiences with international dance groups, contributing together to the preservation and development of Chinese ethnic culture.
On the local front, the troupe has performed at events organised by community associations, government agencies, and official celebrations across both East and West Malaysia as well as at cultural festivals and other major occasions.
“I believe the Group will continue to uphold its original mission, using dance to convey culture and art, build connections across the world, and contribute even more to the development and promotion of ethnic cultural arts,” Liew added.
Earlier, Kok in her address expressed her appreciation to the guest of honour for her unwavering support.
