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Soo Ming’s love for traditional Malay dance still strong

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At 64, this self-taught dancer teaches traditional Malay dance to a group of senior citizens now.

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Free Malaysia Today
Koo Soo Ming fell in love with traditional Malay dance as a child and now teaches a group of senior citizens of all races. (Koo Soo Ming pic)

SUBANG JAYA:
It’s fascinating to watch a Chinese woman teaching Zapin, a traditional Malay dance, to a group of senior citizens. Especially since the all-woman group consists mainly of non-Malays too.

But for dance instructor Koo Soo Ming, immersing herself in another’s culture comes naturally. After all, as a Peranakan Chinese from Kelantan, she grew up surrounded by rich Malay culture.

“We had Dikir Barat, Mak Yong, Menora, Wayang Kulit. All of them were accompanied by traditional music,” the 64-year-old told FMT Lifestyle. The music, she added, was played on traditional instruments such as rebana, gambus and gendang.

Koo’s love affair with dance started young and her late mother told her that even as a baby, she couldn’t sit still for long. When she was about 10, she became fixated on traditional Malay dances such as Inang which she watched on TV. Soon, she was mimicking the dancers’ moves!

Her grandfather, however, wasn’t pleased. In those days, Koo said, dancing was considered “indecent”.

Free Malaysia Today
At 64, Koo is proof that age is just a number and that one should never stop living their best life. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)

So, Koo buried her passion and moved on with life: she graduated from university, began working, married and had children. Life got busy and she never found the time to dance again.

Then came the devastating diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer at 46. Although her cancer is in remission now, it was a harrowing experience for her then.

Ironically, it was the cancer that brought Koo back to the dancing she so loved. She was 50 at the time and a volunteer with the National Cancer Society Malaysia.

“When cancer survivors were asked to perform at charity or fundraising events, it was usually line dancing. I felt like we should do something else.”

Recalling the graceful movements of the traditional Malay dances she was mesmerised with as a child, she formed the Pink Unity Cultural Dancers for cancer survivors like herself.

Later, under the guidance of the Petaling Jaya City Council, her all-women dance troupe performed the Inang and Joget.

She said that something in her comes alive whenever she dances. “I feel like when I’m on stage, it’s where I want to be all the time. I don’t want to be on stage to talk or give a speech: I want to be on stage to dance.”

Today, apart from Inang and Joget, Koo also dances the Zapin and Tarian Asli. She is primarily self-taught.

Clearly, the passion she had for dance as a child was still burning bright. “I thought that my interest would die with me. There was no way that I could pursue it or showcase my talent.”

Free Malaysia Today
Koo with some of her dance students. (Fauzi Yunus @ FMT Lifestyle)

Feeling alive again, she started teaching dance, preferring to focus on non-Malay senior citizens who don’t have the opportunity to learn these traditional dances elsewhere.

Today, she teaches a weekly class for those aged 50 and above under Taylor University’s Active Ageing Lab, which aims to promote a fulfilling life for senior citizens.

“There are many classes for younger people. The elderly don’t have this. If they join a class with younger people, they may not be able to keep up,” said this mother of two and grandmother of one, who works as a freelance translator.

She said that videos of her multiracial classes, which she posts on TikTok, have received positive feedback.

“They said that they can see it’s ‘muhibbah’. In the middle of strained relationships and the racist environment that we are facing now, it’s a breath of fresh air, something rare.”

For Koo, dancing and teaching also gives her a sense of purpose in life. To other senior citizens, she shared: “Life is full of ups and downs. Nobody is spared from it. But at this age, please don’t stop doing what you like. Do anything as long as you love it.

“Don’t think that ‘I am old, I shouldn’t be doing this’. No, life doesn’t stop. Keep pursuing your passion until the end of your days, until your last breath.”

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