KUCHING: Sarawak Cultural Arts Festival will be held today and tomorrow (Sunday) at Miri Hall.
The festival is co-organised by Sarawak Chinese Association, Federation of Sarawak Ulu Associations Malaysia (FORUM), Miri Indian Association, Miri Sikh Association, Miri Dayak Association, Miri Melanau Association, Miri Malay Association, Miri Shop Association, Miri Bidayuh Dayak Association, Sarawak Kenyah National Association, Sarawak Kayan Association, Sarawak Bisaya Association, Sarawak Rurum Kelabit Association, Persatuan Berawan Sarawak, Sarawak Lun Bawang Association, Sarawak Lakiput Association, Sarawak Tipun Penan Development Association, and Sarawak Saban Association.
The festival is for various local ethnic groups to showcase their cultural dances.
“We want the youth to develop interest in traditional arts and experience the different cultural dances.
“We want to help promote and preserve the different cultures, especially the ethnic ones for posterity.
“We also want to create a harmonious environment and strengthen the relationship of all races in Sarawak
“Last but not least, we would like to promote and introduce ‘Miri – The Resort City’ which has the largest number of ethnic groups in Sarawak,” said the press release.
The festival has various activities such as Mandarin, Malay and Iban song karaoke competitions, Sarawak Cultural Dance Performance, and Sarawak Cultural Dance Workshop as well as exhibition counters and sales of local food and drinks.
The organisers hoped that the programme would be able to attract the attention of visitors, especially the youth, to support the dancers and further advance Sarawak’s cultural arts.
