Cultural exchange: Chew pointing to the promotional poster for the festival at
the press conference in Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur. Looking on are Nitin (left)
and Neo.

An ancient dance from India will be performed at the Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia 2016.

High Commission of India representative Nitin Shirale said dancers from India would present the Kathak classical dance.

“It is a thousand-year-old dance originated from India in the temples to narrate the divine stories,” he said during a press conference yesterday on the month-long Blossom Arts Festival.

Nitin, who is a Kathak dancer, said the dance had flourished and had been popularised all over the world.

The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indian Culture Centre will perform the Kathak dance on June 17.

It will also showcase India’s rich heritage and promote multi-layered cultural exchanges between the people of India and Malaysia.

The China Hokkien Arts Group, the Japan Takayuki Nakanishi and two groups from Taiwan – Ping-Shadow Dance Theatre and Punch Percussion Group – will also perform on the same day.

Meanwhile, Singapore Deputy High Commissioner Mark Neo said dance troupes from Singapore would reinterpret traditional dance styles, especially the South-East Asian ones.

“It would make an interesting blend of contemporary and traditional South-East Asian dances,” he said.

The Dance Ensemble Singapore will make an appearance on June 18.

Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia 2016 chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the commitment shown by embassies and high commissions from various countries had generated an international spectrum of performers, thus elevating the standards of the festival and performers.

Organised by the Malaysian Chinese Culture and Arts Consult­ative Council, the festival is supported by the Tourism and Culture Minis­try and Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Tickets are priced at RM30 each. Call 011-1890 0389 or 017-300 6527.

For more details, go to http://www.blossomartsfestival.my/, Facebook Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia or call 03-2203 3971/3978/3979.

-The Star-