9th Sabah International Folklore Festival 2014

Welcome back SIFF 2014. After a less-participated event last year, let's hope this year will be merrier.

Throughout the second week of June, culture vultures will be enthralled by the colours, rhythms and diversity of the world's folk dances right here in Kota Kinabalu. The 9th Sabah international Folklore Festival (SIFF) is an annual effort to promote peace and understanding through cultural understanding as dance troupes from around the world gather in the Land Below the Wind to showcase their unique folk dances.

The festival begins with a scheduled Sabah International Folklore Festival Parade at Lintasan Deasoka in Gaya Street on 9 June 2014, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm (barring last minute change). I was at such parade in 2012 and believe me, it's mesmerising.

Latvia folk dance during the 2012 SIFF parade at Lintasan Deasoka. Pic by de engineur

The premier show takes place on 12 June at the Tun Raffae Auditorium, Menara Tun Mustapha at 7.00pm. The highlight of the festival is none other than the International Folk Dance Competition on 13 and 14 June, where participating dance troupes will compete for the title of champion. The competition takes place at the Tun Raffae Auditorium.

Ticket prices:

RM30 - Adults
RM10 - Students below 17 years of age
International Folk Dance competition will be on 13th and 14th June 2014.
SIFF dates: 7 - 15 June 2014

For further information please contact:

Sabah Cultural Board
Wisma Budaya Building
Tel: 088-268836
Email: borneosiff@gmail.com
Mr Joisin Romut - Chief Liaison Officer, Sabah International Folklore Festival

You can also refer to the tentative programme schedule here. Kindly note that the competition venue has been changed from Sabah Cultural Centre Penampang to the Tun Raffae Auditorium at Menara Tun Mustapha in Likas.

Winning performance by the Chinese dance troupe in 2012. They did not take part last year.

TheGreenMechanics: It's about time you change your mindset about watching cultural performance - be willing to pay.

We did not go to the SIFF last year but did the previous year when it was won by the China dance troupe. We plan to come back to enjoy the performances this time around.

China won the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF 2012) competition

Young Chinese dancers did it again. Emcee, Gan Po Tiau announced that the troupe from China also won the Prime Award last year.

The dance troupe called Zhu Hai Hansen Dancing Group did enough to convince the jurors that they are the team to beat when they emerged champions in the 18-country folkdance competition. I don't quite get the point of competing a folkdance against another, as every single one is unique, beautiful in its way. But I suppose the organiser has another idea and perhaps it is a way to put some sort of pressure on every competing troupe.

Chinese contingent receiving their trophy

Day-1: cheeky performance

Day-1

Day-2: love story

Day-2: One of the tricks up their sleeves during the performance

Day-2

Many, many congratulation to the victorious team!

See you again next year.

Sabah International Folklore competition final is here!

Today is the final day of the Sabah Internationla Folklore Festival 2012 and the international category of the competition will be announced in about 4 hours' time.



Member of Taiwan's Aboriginal Youth Folk Dance Team of Szu-chen Junior High School

Watch this space; I'll update the winning troupe as soon as it is announced tonight.

Till then, happy weekend!

Sabah International Folklore Festival 2012 - Part I

Prelude to the big international event at Sabah Cultural Centre this weekend.

The 2012 Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF) participanting troupes are now in town. The peak of this most anticipated festival is on 14th - 15th July but for the city folks the international troops did some introductory performances on Tuesday at Lintasan Deasoka, or City Square as some call it.

I arrived a little late and by that time the Indonesian folkdance troupe were done with theirs.

Egypt: Elsharkia Folkloric Troupe with their amazing horse dance performance

'Snow white' - mesmerising piece of artistic movement by the troupe from Kazakhstan

Indonesia is represented by dancers from Sanggar Bedewa Kabupaten Nunukan

South Korean dancers from Yaewon-Chumsawee Dance Company

Fast dance - refreshing and can't-stop-smiling performance from Latvia

'The balancing act' - Team member of the Philippines dancers, Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe 

Young performers from Sri Lanka's Ranranga Dance Academy

For more pictures, check out my photoblog.

The International Folkdance Competition would be held at the Sabah Cultural Centre from July 14-15. For information on the schedule and tickets & venues, refer here.

See you there!