By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 15: Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has cautioned that excessive “fusion” in traditional dances could eventually cause Sarawak to lose sight of their original forms, costumes and identity.
He said traditional dances should be preserved in their authentic style even as contemporary elements are introduced.
“If we want to showcase our dances, we have to make sure they are not too fusion or straying too far from the original.
“Maybe the dances can be divided into two — traditional and contemporary,” he said when speaking during the opening ceremony of Festival Kesenian Sarawak (Sarawak Arts Festival) 2025 held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night.
He said changes over time, including in costumes, can sometimes cause the community to lose track of how a dance was originally performed.
“It can be a loss for us if we end up not knowing the original movements, the original costumes and how each ethnic group’s dance used to be,” he added.
He also emphasised the importance of documenting and researching every ethnic group’s cultural heritage so it will not be lost to time.
“I hope universities can be involved. Besides being showcased at festivals, the cultures should also be documented, stored and researched so they are not forgotten,” he asserted.
In addition, the minister said he looks forward to the completion of the Sarawak Performing Arts Centre, expected by late 2026 or early 2027, which will provide a proper venue to showcase and develop local arts.
Abdul Karim also reminded that Sarawak’s 34 ethnic groups each have their own unique culture, arts and lifestyle, which should continue to be nurtured and promoted.
He praised Majlis Seni Sarawak (MSS) for bringing various cultural performances, including those rarely seen in Kuching, through the Festival Kesenian Sarawak.
He also expressed hope that the festival will be included in the State’s tourism calendar to allow better planning and ensure more people can attend.
Organised by MSS, the festival ran from Nov 13 to 15 at BCCK from 8.30am to 10.30pm, themed “Melestari Seni Sarawak” to celebrate the diverse traditional culture and arts of Borneo.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts II (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini; and MSS acting chief executive officer Awang Ikman Awang Sepian. – DayakDaily
