Malay Dance at Bukit Panjang

Today was the Malay Dance @ Bukit Panjang. We learnt 4 types of Malay dance. Listed in order from slow to fastest, they are:

1. Asli,
2. Inang,
3. Zapin
4. Joget/Rong geng

The introduction of the zapin (Zar-Peen) is called Taqsim (tug-seem). This introduction is by the Gambus, which is a Malay Stringed instrument. It looks like a guitar, but instead of having a flat underside, the underside is concave. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qanbūs The Taqsim can last for 5 to 15 minutes.

The ending of the zapin is called "wind up". At this point, the dancers will yell "wind up". At this point, the music is at its fastest.

The dances were quite interesting. All of them, with the exception of the Zapin, start with the right leg. For the Asli for example,we would move from right to left with different arm movements. The dancing is mainly repeated steps.

However, it was a fun experience. This is the second last BPGHS session. Unfortunately, next Tuesday is POP (Passing Out Parade), so it is likely that I will not get to go for the BPGHS exchange.

News.

Well, I've been rather busy.

SJAB National Comp.

Recently, the HCI SJAB AC team made it to the National Competition, so most of us went down to support them @ Nan Hua Primary School. It was very exciting, and there were separate components, for each prize. The components included Transportation of Casualties, CPR, Footdrill, First Aid Long Case, and First Aid short case. (PS, It was on Sunday, 11th July, for pretty much the whole day.)

It was quite interesting watching the Footdrill, and certainly a good experience. The First Aid Long Case was also interesting. For one of the cases, a woman was worrying over her son, and was hindering the first aiders, but she was very resistant although they tried to get her to calm down. In the end, she became a casualty due to hyperventilation. However, I must agree that the casualties were very good at acting, and very convincing! It sent chills down my spine watching the woman trying to stay next to her son, as it was very realistic.

In the End, we swept the National Champions for AC and First in each category!! :)

http://www.hci.edu.sg/ViewBreakingNews.asp?BID=226 Yay!

A Bunch of tests.


Hmm... Another Reason why I took so long in posting this was that I have a lot of tests.

1. 13th July- Maths Test on Inequality and Statistics
2. 14th July - English ICAS
3. 15th July - English Comprehension -40% of Term 3 LA marks.

And many more to come...

Racial Harmony Day.

As you might or might not know, I am in the Bukit Panjang Government High Exchange Program.

So, for the first part of the year, the BPGHS people came to HCI for some activities:

1. Dumpling Making
2. Calligraphy
3. Dragonboating (I didn't go coz I was ill :( )
4. Lantern Making.

Then, it was our turn to go to Bukit Panjang:

1. Kueh Making (I brought mine home for my family. Sadly, the results were inconsistent. For example, when we bit into the kueh, sugar would occasionally spurt out, or you might get a mouthful of dough, of pandan flavoured dough, but still dough all the same.)
2. Batik Painting
3. Gamelan Practice

Gamelan is quite fun, and it is a form of traditional Malay or Javanese Music. The instruments are very varied, including a gong, some xylophone like instruments, drums, and stringed instruments.

We are performing on Racial harmony day. We must wear a traditional Malay costume which our friends @ Bukit Panjang have kindly provided. Being the first time I have performed to so many people, I am very excited and frightened.

Also, we had to go for another Gamelan practice today, so I had to miss my CCA.