Ponderings

(HipHopera Season II, 1999)

I HAD A sleeping pill last night but still tossed around in bed. After 6 hours I decided to get up coz I left out the name of Elaine Pedley in my blog (who had visited me in the hospital). I still get some calls and visitors especially those who have just found out about my fall. Atilia Sarani the powerful vocalist from Malaysian Idol II dropped by yesterday. It is also this time perhaps that I have reflected a lot about my life, arts career and friends of past and present.

I live such a great life having had so many diverse experiences. Despite my performing, fine and graphic arts college education, a depression and spiritual shakeup took me over to social work upon my graduation and return to Malaysia in 1990. I did nothing for a whole year except for youth and volunteer work in Ipoh, even chancing upon meeting a whole bunch of talented youth whom are blossoming today as tomorow's experts in their fields.

Prior to 1990 and back in the 70's and 80's, I had used to choreograph from the age of Form 2, throwing together moves I had learnt through live observation cos those days, my family could not afford music and dance classes. Inspired by anything running from Nancy Sit to Bobby, Jackson 5 to Bob Fosse, King & I to Black & White Minstrel Show and Grease to Disco, I would perform anywhere from St John's Ambulance Hall, Ipoh Town Hall, Methodist High School, Sam Tet, Silibin Hall, OMPH Hall to all kinds of venues. My main transport as a mini dance celebrity - my grandpa's bicycle!


(I wore this same glittery vest at the Saturday Night Fever Disco Competition in 2004 [pic below] and won 2k worth of prizes)


In 1990, there was a church youth camp held at La Salle Training Centre which introduced me to an amazing group of youngsters, ranging from From 2 - Form 6. In 1991, I had choreographed a musical Half A Sixthpence at St Michael's which featured Bernard Chauly (director-Goodbye Boys, Gol & Gincu) in the lead. Yes, he can sing and dance! Just a few years before that, I almost choreographed Lat The Kampung Boy Musical at ACS which featured Afdlin Shauki as Lat! Oh, interesting enough, I was dancing and choreographing professionally with Comscapes Dance Co in the late 80's when I had met Sean Ghazi as a young boy. If I go back far enough, I used to be on the same stage with.... ok, better not go that far back.

Back to Malaysia after being away in the US for 7 years, I didn't dance for quite a few more years as I was already busy dancing in my heart. I was also working in Montfort Boys Town and later took up counselling courses. Oops, not that accurate, I DID perform on the Montfort stage with some students! KL didn't see my reappearance till my audition for Scorpion Orchid. As fun as the audition was with Dato Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham, I had to turn down the role for Bodyguards (Clive Duncan/British Council). It was a sweet return to stage. Right around then were also appearances at Thor's Skoob Books of dance solos and Instant Cafe's Out In The Open.


(Jit Murad's Storyteller in 1996 directed by Krishen Jit and Zahim Albakri)


(Played the character of Tenuk in Storyteller)

In 1996, I reunited with Afdlin and Sean in Storyteller with a motley cast of Ning Baizura, Jit Murad, Chacko Vadeketh, Paula Malai Ali, Lin Jaafar, Ramzani, Ako Mustapha, etc. Krishen, I miss you. The following year, it was KL-KO (Kuala Lumpur Knock Out) with Kuali Works and in 98/99 was the longest running Musical in KL until then... Huzir's HipHopera with Afdlin, Paula, Iskandar and Sandra. That was a blast! Extra memorable because we were performing underneath in Dataran Merdeka as the surreal demonstrations were happening above. KInd of like the 'Cabaret' movie atmosphere depicting 2 worlds, which is real and which is surreal, who knows.


(MXV and Sandra Sodhy play Derrick and Doris in HipHopera Season 1, 1998)

I have lost touch with many of my friends but now and then, many do reconnect. I always try to find windows of opportunities like wishing them Happy Birthdays or occassions like a success in their careers or a joyous family life moment. I must admit it can be disappointing at times when so much have happened in all the years that had passed. Once a while I do feel sad. In my recent mishap, I realised that even though I may not get the response I unfairly desire from friends I hoped from, I must continue to not hang on... I must let go and love on. Let's toast to our reunion!

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