A CULTURAL troupe from Huizhou city in central Guangdong, China, mesmerised a thousand-strong audience with its many talents during a Hakka Cultural and Variety Show at the Penang Caring Society Complex.
Excellent vocals: Singers from the Huizhou troupe serenading the crowd. From solo and choir renditions to luminous dragon dance, martial arts and lion dance performances, it was a showcase of Chinese culture slightly different from what is commonly seen locally.
Lights were first dimmed to allow the iridescent dragon to weave its magic, chasing a glowing orb.
All fired up: The luminous dragon dance providing the show's opening act. In between, vocalists serenaded the crowd with both operatic and traditional Hakka numbers.
Wushu practitioners then showcased their lightning quick moves and agility.
Complementing the Chinese performers were a quartet of local dancers, the Pang sisters, who put on equally impressive folk and contemporary dance routines.
Jointly organised by the Penang Khek Association and Penang People’s Cultural Association, the recent event was part of the group’s tour of Asia, which included performances in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.
Federation of Hakka Associations of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian expressed his belief that such showcases provided a good platform in facilitating cultural exchanges.
“They are the first of their kind to perform here. Indirectly, we hope our guests from China will get a glimpse of Penang and experience its unique heritage in return.
“We are multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural, and that’s a mix you hardly find elsewhere,” he added.
Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Huizhou Municipality director Liu Qiaohui expressed his surprise at how the Malaysian Hakka community had been able to maintain its traditions over time.
He said: “The Hakkas in Penang are exactly like those in China, sharing the same blood, culture and ancestry.”
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