Countdown To New Year 2011

Ambank Group will be organizing a concert at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on December 31 to usher in the New Year 2011. The countdown concert, titled Ambang 2011 will begin at 8.45 pm. The artistes who will be making an appearance include Datuk David Arumugam (formerly of The Alleycats), Pop Shuvit, M. Nasir, Ramlah Ram, Amy of Search, Pop Idol 2 winner Daniel Lee, The Singing Shop and bhangra group Gold Kartz.

Cultural performances have been planned as well. Dancers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be performing the 1Malaysia and other Malay traditional dances. CN Dancez will be doing Chinese folk dances while Vehaara Arts will be putting up Indian contemporary dances. Not to be sidelined, the Mah Meri orang asli will be showcasing their aborigine dances. The DBKL Orchestra will be in attendance to provide the musical accompaniment.

Many VIPs will be attending this gala event. Amongst them is philanthropist Tan Sri Azman Hashim, the chairman of Ambank Group. Tan Sri Azman, who has a keen interest in music is expected to go up on stage to croon a song or two to entertain the crowd and also lead the countdown to the new year. The Ambang 2011 concert will be telecast live over TV2 from 10.15 pm to 1.15 am. Have a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2011!

1Malaysia Dance Carnival Attracts Throng

Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur was turned into a huge dance floor on Sunday morning, December 5, when 15000 people from all walks of life, including foreigners, tool part in the Cuti Cuti 1Malaysia dance carnival organised by the Tourism Ministry. Participants included Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister, and Tourism Minister, Datin Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Attired in colourful T-shirts, the crowd danced in unison, collectively forming a beautiful mass movement.

The dance carnival, held for the second time after the successful staging last year, has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest dance troupe ever assembled in this country. "Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia dance carnival was introduced by the Ministry of Tourism last year and many people from around the world witnessed it as our dancers performed this at the Malaysia Pavilion in the recent Shanghai World Expo 2010 where about seven million people visited our expo" said Dr Ng.

"The carnival is a creative and innovative product to boost the tourism industry which is one of the government's New Key Economic Areas." She said the dance carnival incorporated seven dances representing the country's multi-culturalism: Zapin, Chinese dance, Indian dance, Sewang, Sabahan dance, Sarawakian dance and Malaysian Siamese dance.

Professional trainers from the Malaysian Folk Dance Association and the Ministry of Tourism spent two months instructing participants on the seven dances. Participants include staff of various government agencies, representatives of non-governmental organisations, students from schools and universities and those from the United States. Australia and Germany. (The Malay Mail)

SHOWDOWN 2011

Dubbed as the best dance crew competition in the history of Malaysian television, SHOWDOWN 2011 is back for its second season. Once again, the nation's most eminent dancers from around the country will battle it out for the ultimate dance supremacy. Getting down with these crews as they krump, pump and drop the coolest moves on the dance floor, this hip reality dance crew show is all about taking it raw from the streets.

Aiming to bring street dance out of the shadows and into the spotlight while giving it the respect and attention it deserves, SHOWDOWN 2011 will provide drama and enough exciting twists to get the viewers hooked every week. Besides that, the electrifying hip hop and fusion dance styles along with professional training and off-the-edge challenges thrown into the mix will definitely make the dance show a TV hit show!

Like all reality shows, SHOWDOWN 2011 kicks off with a series of auditions which will take place around the country beginning 8th January 2011 in Kuching. The auditions will then move to Kota Kinabalu on the 15th of January and Kuala Lumpur on the 21st and 22nd of January.

Registration for auditions is open from 9.00am to 3.00 pm. During the auditions, the dance crews will break into their own brand style routines to impress the judges. Each crew to comprise of 5 to 7 members. For more information log on to www.8tv.com.my/showdown. SHOWDOWN 2011 will premiere on Wednesday, 6th April 2011 at 9.30 pm exclusively on 8TV. (Sourced from 8tv.com.my)

Joy To The World

Christmas is just round the corner and soon after that we will be ringing in the New Year 2011. Many of the malls here in Malaysia have already put up Christmas decorations and the festive feeling is in the air. At the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, several giant Christmas trees bedecked with baubles and tinsels are on display. Red, green and gold are the dominant colours as usual. The place comes alive and looks like a fairyland at night!

I quite look forward to the Christmas season for the joy it brings. Listening to Christmas carols being played in the malls and dance studios adds to the festive cheer and help lift one's spirits. Many yuletide songs evoke happy feelings and can put you in the mood for dancing. I could imagine me and my partner waltzing to Silent Nights, dancing the foxtrot to the strains of White Christmas or doing the cha cha cha to Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer at a Christmas eve party.

Speaking of Christmas eve parties; know your limits and do not go on a drinking binge. If you have one drink too many, I'll bet you'll be doing a lot of Tipples Chasses and Tipsys when dancing the quickstep! Many hotels and restaurants are having special Christmas eve dinner promotions and some of the menu that I have seen look really mouth watering. Go easy on the food and look after your waistline though. Have a "Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year 2011!"