KUCHING: Eight cultural troupes will perform at the final of the Gong Beating and Traditional Bidayuh Dance Competition on Aug 30 at Kampung Semadang, Borneo Peak Road, 40 km from here.
The groups are Kelab Kebudayaan Persatuan Segu Benuk, Kelab Kebudayaan Kampung Tematu, Kebudayaan Warisan Kampung Opar, Onak Triyu Kampung Opar, Warisan Tramuok (Periok Kera) Kampung Stass Bau, Bung Siburan Heritage Association, Kelab Kebudayaan Dragon and Staak Bisombu Bau Singai.
According to competition’s coordinator Monica Molad, the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up winners will win RM1,000, RM700 and RM500 cash respectively.
The three top winners will also win a trophy each, while the fourth to eight placing will each receive RM100 cash.
Monica said the organiser received a very good participation for this year’s competition, adding that the competition will be very tough as all groups were renowned troupes and have mostly won in other competitions.
She added that the competition would be judged by four judges from the state Ministry of Arts and Culture.
The competition will be officiated by acting Deputy State Secretary, who is also Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president, Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik and will be attended by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Hii Chang Kee and several local community leaders.
The competition is among the many events that will take place in conjunction with the 5th Semadang International Tagang Festival, which will run from Aug 30 to Sept 1.
Other activities during the three-day festival include fishing competition, Miss Tagang beauty contest, performance by Asean Song Contest 2019 champion, who is also Bintang RTM 2016 champion Rosario Ninih Bianis, river cleanliness campaign and talks, cooking competition, zumba, dart competition and street soccer.
The festival is jointly organised by the Kampung Semadang Development and Security Committee, Sarawak Agriculture Department and Kampung Semadang Tagang System Committee and is supported by the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Transportation, Hornbill Skyway, Nang Ori Sdn Bhd and Nestle Products.— DayakDaily
