INTI Orion.com

by Sher Minn, Chong.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Three tolls of the gong by Dr. Lim Ho Peng, who was impeccably dressed in a black samfu marked the start of the biggest and hottest event of January 2009: The Chinese New Year Cultural Night.
Held on the 22nd January 2009, the Chinese New Year Cultural Night was the highlight of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in INTI, ensuring a prosperous kick-off for the ‘Year of the Ox’ in the Chinese calendar. Painstakingly organized by the 13th INTIMA Student Action (STACT) Club and Chinese Cultural Society (CCS), it was an event to die for.

The Organizing Chairperson, Ms. Ng Teng Heong looked absolutely stunning as she presented her speech, detailing the hardships the CCS and STACT club had endured since October 2008 in organizing this event. All proceeds of the night were donated to the Beautiful Gate Charity, a home for disabled and disadvantaged people. With a crowd of about 200 strong, every single person in the MPH that night made a difference.

The opening of the show was led by a troop of professional lion dancers who impressed the crowd with their stunts on four feet high pillars, pulling acrobatic acts beneath their colorful lion masks. A traditional must for those celebrating Chinese New Year, the lion dance ushers in luck to a building before an event. We were then treated to a spectacular performance by the seven-member 24 Solar Drum team of the Chung Hwa High School from Seremban.

Mood elevated from the solar drum performance, the event took a modern turn with a Street Dance by the ‘MOTION ED ‘team that consisted of our very own INTI students. It was an animation dance, accompanied by techno music and stop motion, cool moves that earned a rapturous applause from the audience. The organizers definitely gave us our share of the modern and traditional, a balanced combination that left none of us bored; for after that, a group of Catholic High School students displayed their amazing skills in the art of wushu, letting us marvel at their fluid, yet beautiful martial arts moves coupled with rock music.

Next up was a solo performance by award-winning flutist Ms. Gao Jing from Shenzhen, China. The crowd burst out in applause upon her first note. Ms. Gao held a melodious charm, putting the audience in a joyous Chinese New Year mood. More Chinese music followed with a Chinese Orchestra Performance by the Yu Hua High School, Kajang which tamed our souls with their harmonious melody.

Magic was in the air that night; thanks to the magic show by ‘The I’ a duo of one of our numerous talented INTI students. Making their grand entrance with glittery hair, they left us breathless and curious with their magic tricks, making objects disappear and reappear in split seconds. The night was commenced by a flute duet, charmingly performed by a duo of Catholic High School alumni. Following that, the duo collaborated with the previous Yu Hua High School orchestra and the 2008 INTI IDOL, Ms. Wu Jing Rui to deliver a mesmerizing performance. The medley of Chinese traditional instruments coupled with Ms.Wu’s star-quality vocals gave the crowd a new take of the song titled “Colors of the Wind”.
Our own Dance Academy Club (DAC) also made a major appearance. First off, their ‘Baby Force’ team excited the crowed with a sexy dance which gained cheers, predominantly from the male audience. Amidst the hip hop music, umbrella props and shuffling, the later teams stayed true to the Chinese New Year theme of the night and slipped in a New Year song, giving the audience a humorous surprise towards the end. Our fellow college mate, Ms. Lee Jaslin also took her turn to wow the audience with a beautiful Chinese folk song.

The highlight of the night was unrivalled. The KL Rage Diabolo Team was simply amazing, wonderful, and spectacular. Our jaws literally dropped at their flawlessly heart-stopping Diabolo moves. Diabolo, also known as “the devil on two sticks”) is a juggling prop consisting of a heavy spool whirled on a string tied to two sticks. All eyes were fixed on the Diabolo performers as they ceaselessly tossed and turned their spools in the air. The most daring and mind-blowing act was the stunt pulled by a duo, whereby each of them were juggling not one, not two, but THREE spools and at the same time tossing and catching spools from one another. The audience ‘ooh’ed and ‘ahh’ed throughout the entire spectacle.

Anteceding all the action, we were treated to an adorable appearance of a team of White Field dancers. The girls gave a spunky fan dance in pink Chinese outfits. In turn, the following ‘EMLCC 316 Theatre’ show was a touching drama and street dance by a cast of professionals. Completely devoid of speech, the lyrical dance was about a group of disabled men who all share a common disdain, cornered by society. At the end of the show, these Chinese words flashed across the projector screen beside the stage: “When in difficulty, remember that there are others facing worse difficulties. And when in love, do not give up love”.

The following event was my second most favorite event. It was a duet between the Organizing Chairperson, Ms. Ng Teng Heong and one of the emcees, Mr. Quek Khai Ren. They sang a Chinese pop song, with the audience chanting for them to hold hands on stage. Soon after, she had the honor of presenting a mock check to the ‘Beautiful Gate Charity’ representative for the proceeds of the night.
Like the rest of the programs lined up for the night, the 2nd last performance did not disappoint. The Dragon Dance by the ‘Selangor Hainam Association Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe’ was performed in the dark. The neon green and red scales of the dragon glowed in the complete darkness like a mythical creature of the night, its back rising and dipping in wave-like movements.

Fortunately, it was not yet the end. Supposedly the star of the night, Ms, Gan Wan Qian, the ‘Astro Singing Contest’ Champion of 2008, took the stage in her punky look and catchy pop tunes. As the rest of the organizing committee of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in INTI joined the stage towards the end, we, the crowd, roared out in thunderous applause to mark the end of that memorable night.