Tarian

SRIWANA DANCE SECTION

Two years after its establishment in 1955, Sriwana formed a dance
trouped led bySopenah Somad. Two Indonesian dance experts -
Tengku Yohanet Husny and Mdm.
Ah Choon were invited to train the members.

They helped to improve Sriwana's standard performance and repertoire.
This was later followed by numerous cultural shows, dance classes and
workshops and seminars.

Sriwana presented its first 45 minutes dance drama entitles
Puteri Gunung Ledang(Princess of Mt. Ophir) by the then
Ministry of Culture's Cultural Week Show in 1962.
The following year saw Sriwana featuring its very own dance items called
Tari Payong(Umbrella Dance), Nelayan (Fishermen) and Petani (Farmers)
for the Southeast Asia Festival in Singapore.

Since then Sriwana becomes a household name being continously
producing its dance items to enrich Malay dance in Singapore.
The Aneka Ragam Rakyat, a cultural show by
the then Ministry of Culture and Singapore's first Cultural Mission to East and
West Malaysia and Brunei saw Sriwana as one of the participants.

Since early 70's under the leadership of Madam Som Said, Sriwana popularity
grew fast with time with its dance troupe performing for cultural events,
organised by Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, Peoples Association
and the National Dance Company.

The overseas event includes cultural exchange programme, arts festivals and
cultural promotions. In 1974 Sriwana children dance section was formed to
train children between the age of 6 to 12 years old in traditional Malay dance.

With the dancers continuous effort, Sriwana received numerous
invitations for performance which includes Festival of Dance,
Festival of Arts, National Day Rally,
National Day Parade, Labour Day Show, Asean Dance Festival,
Special TV joint productions, Sukmairama and Rampaisari,
Mega Warna, New Life and others.

Besides participating for national events, Sriwana conducted regular
workshops for children and youth as well as perform
reach out programmes for charitable organisations.

Sriwana yearly dance production includes Rencah Budaya, Selangkah Seirama,
Tariana and special programme - Malam Minang I & II.

Besides performing locally, Sriwana dancers had performed for
international audiences in Adelaide, Russia, Germany, America, Iran, Japan,
Hongkong, Taiwan, United Kingdom and many more. The recent trips were to
Medan for the 10th Malay Cultural Exchange
programme and the Zapin Festival held in Johor Bahru in 1998.

The children dancers has also participated at international festivals in
Turkey, Paris, Spain and New Zealand.

Sriwana dancers had also participated actively in the Arts Education
Programme organised by the National Arts Council supported by
Singapore Totalisation Board, which aims to stimulate students creativity
and develop their interest in the arts.

In 1999 Sriwana had a management change in which Mdm. Som Said
left the group to pursue her personal interest. Sriwana's dance section
especially had a "face uplift". Under the direction of the new dance management
structure, the dance section outlined the group's new direction i.e.
management with a difference. More efforts are put in towards developing the
group towards professionalism, developing new ideas to reflect in our
performances and working towards identifying a group difference.

Sriwana's activities have not stopped eversince. Our recent major
accomplishments will be the troupe's accompaniment to the pop-teen idol
Siti Nurhaliza which had her debut solo concert here in Singapore at the
Harbour Pavilion this year. We also held dinner performances for
Jamiyah and LBKM - knowned charitable organisations in Singapore.

We also had invitations for TV appearances in entertainment
productions produced by TV12 as well as private bodies like MYI International.
Not to mention our public appearances in the several expositions held in
WTC by several event organisers like "Mega Max
Communications" and "Majalah Perkahwinan".

The dance section doesn't cease in their objectives of promoting
and upgrading the malay arts scene here in Singapore.
With the latest internal production "Demi Hidup" or "Survival"
which was held at the Drama Centre on 19 September 2001 the
dance section can boast
of her new talents and choreographies.

Todate, Sriwana dance section have a membership of approx.
50 youths and 30 children.