We strives to provide opportunities for student bodies to attend cultural performing arts performances in the hope of awakening an appreciation for the arts and influencing future behavioural patterns. Everyone have the right to learn, to promote and also to protect on Traditional Dance in Malaysia.

We would like to thank KHIND Starfish Foundation for supported us, let the programme be success. This year, Community Outreach Programme 2016 was organized by four of us. We had only one month to run the programme, therefore we decided to focus on four Malaysian traditional dances that easy to learn for students and two Borneo dances for adults. Moreover, we would like to give back our dance knowledge to society. We decided to target child home or charity organization, lets them learn and experience on performing arst. 

After the discussion, we proposed our ideas to lecturer and formed our program period. Our lecturer Mr. Abdul Hamid Chan suggest us to cooperate with Performing Arts Centre, because at the end of the programme, we need a space to organize a Showcase. We are so lucky that Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) is accepted our proposal. DPAC sponsored us spaces such as Theatre and Studio, Technical and Event Team to support us on this community outreach programme. We learned a lot from them. We had a space, the next, we need money to run the programme. Fortunately, we found out KHIND Starfish Foundation was very supporting on education, cultural development and performing arts which the project direction was match with community outreach programme and is the only organisation that support on Performing Arts. After pitching, we get more than our expectation. During the pitching, judges give us a lot of useful knowledge that in order for us to use on future programme planning. 

We targeted younger generation is because education should start early, to understand that cultural differences are a source of strength and value of, should accept and appreciate the cultural diversity. Moreover, gather the power of parents and educators, community work together to create a supportive environment for multicultural education in Performing Arts. Programmes started on 1^st of August, we successfully invited five schools, two charity organizations, one cultural association and two public classes. We had successfully targeted Melayu, Chinese and Indian. During our lesson, we do faced language problem because Chinese Association or Chinese children are not strong in Malay, however language will not stop them to learn dance. One of our member is able to understand a bit Mandarin, we use body language and a bit Mandarin to communicate with children. If they really don’t understand what we are trying to say, we will request parents to be the translator. We work together with parents/teachers to create a positive learning environment. We teach them how to observe and understand others through non-verbal communication.

For myself, I think we done well in programme planning and programme timeline. Besides that, we also teach students how to design costumes and props. What don’t work well? We had planned all timetables including technical rehearsal timetable on the showcase day.

We didn’t arrange a lunch time for technicians to rest. We cannot take any second plan because we disturbed the letter to all participants’ schools.  At the end, they use few minutes to finish their lunch. We are very sorry about this case and appreciate on their help. 

Community Outreach Programme 2016 had benefited in-total 10 schools/organisations, as below:

There are almost 80% of audience are first time entered to theatre. Compared with past year, we get more positive feedback and support. We will keep continue this programme, lets’ our junior also gain the experience and it satisfaction. All participated teacher also encourage us move forward to promote Malaysian Traditional Dance. This programme will keep continue giving free program and promote Traditional Dance and Performing Arts to poor students in Malaysia. Although this programme is not the professional performance, at least provide us an opportunity to experience on stage. If we have been standing in place cannot move forward, we will never succeed. I do not know the future, but at least this year we finished.

Everyone hold the key to happiness, access to arts/performing arts is just one of the options. However, happiness is not something ready-made, it comes from your heart with actions. I always believe people who dance often are likely to have higher self-esteem and a more positive outlook on life. Performance on stage will be a lifetime of memories, presented themselves to others, built up the confidence and identified themselves. Traditional Dance represent the past, reflect who we are, we should learn from the past and present now. Life is a dance, from one stage to the next. 

 Has the project changed the way you think about the world? The answer is yes. From the beginning, we thought everybody will accept and willing to join on “Free” program, however, we are wrong. Many charity organizations and even National Schools had rejected our invitations. Luckily at the end, we made it success and reached our expectation. 

“We would like to be a dance teacher that help students fund the song in their heart, the beat in their feet and a passion for life.”