Dancing to the Sound of Music

 

When I read “the Sound of Music” on the poster that came with the invitation from JB Ballet Academy for a concert hosted in the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, my thoughts flashed to the 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical film of the same name.

 

JB Ballet Academy presented a cheque for
RM100,000 to the Lions Club of Johor Jaya

This film was a fictional retelling of the story of the Trapp Family singers set in Salzburg, Austria, where Maria, the governess to seven children eventually married their widowed father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their escape during the Anschluss or the Annexation of Austria, in 1938.

 

Having watched The Sound of Music countless times, I am not only familiar with the story and its characters but also its songs and even the lyrics to most of the songs.

 

The children dancing to My Favourite Things
during a thunderstorm

I thought that dancing to the Sound of Music was such an epic ending to an eventful year and did not hesitate to send founder of JB Ballet Academy, Billian Ye Pick Lian, my reply, stating that I was happy to accept her invitation.

 

In 2016, I had the pleasure to get to know Billian Yee and shared her story about JB Ballet Academy and her commitment in supporting the Lions Club of Johor Jaya, documented in, A Ballerina’s Journey.

 

Established in Johor Bahru since 1976, the JB Ballet Academy, under the leadership of Ye and her daughter, Julia Lee Hwee Sing, has shaped the careers of elegant dancers who qualified with Degrees from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance, United Kingdom.

 

Maria and the children perform to
the familiar tune of Do-Re-Mi

When I made my way to the Opera House for their concert, I could not help feeling bubbles of excitement as I anticipated the dance performances to the familiar tunes from the musical, The Sound of Music.

 

At the entrance, I was warmly welcomed in by Ye who ushered me into the auditorium where a short video was playing on the backdrop screen.

 

This video showed us some of the cast’s rehearsals along with information about this concert, the seventh in the series of charity dance performances by JB Ballet Academy since 2006. 

 

By reading the info on the screen, I was pleased to learn that this performance was co-organised with the Lions Club of Johor Jaya and that proceeds from this event will be channeled to support dialysis patients and underprivileged children.

 

The Captain introducing his fiancee in 
a celebration held in the ballroom

As the seats filled up in the auditorium, I heard the announcement that the concert should start very soon. From the info printed in the souvenir programme, the audience was aware that the concert will be presented in three separate Acts with two brief intermissions.

 

It was simply a joy to watch how the JB Ballet Academy brought the timeless masterpiece of The Sound of Music to life again, to delight new generations in the audience and evoke fond memories of this magical musical from so long ago.

 

A scene performed to the tune of 
The Lonely Goatherd

Act One opened to the music of, I Have Confidence, as Maria joyfully left the Convent – holding her carpet bag and guitar – and headed to the home of the von Trapp family as a governess.

 

It was good to watch how Maria was introduced to the seven children in a strict military way – by the sound of a whistle – and I even spotted the detail where Kurt (the mischievous one!) tried to scare the governess with a live frog.

 

While the performance stayed close to the storyline, I was aware that it would be quite impossible to include every part of the original story so the synopsis provided in the souvenir programme and flashed onto the two screens at either side of the stage, helped the audience to better appreciate the storytelling.

 

Maria dancing with the Captain

I liked how the backdrop screen was used to provide the various scenes in each dance performance so the audience could easily link the dance and music to each scenario.

 

For instance, Maria’s bedroom was where the eldest daughter, Liesl, found refuge when she came indoors from the rain and Maria let her change out of her wet clothes.

 

When lightning flashed and thunder rolled, the other children – frightened by the storm – also sought comfort with Maria and danced to the tune of, My Favourite Things.

 

The Captain placing the headband on Maria
that symbolised her acceptance of his proposal

Then there was the outdoor scene where Maria encouraged the children to sing to her guitar-strumming, beautifully portrayed by their dance to the familiar tune of, Do-Re-Mi.

 

After the first intermission, the scene opened to the grand ballroom where Captain von Trapp introduced his fiancée, the Baroness Schraeder, with a dance celebration to the music of, Edelweiss. They were accompanied by a friend, Max Detweiler.

 

I was so looking forward to the scene when Maria guided the children to stage a puppet performance to the music of, The Lonely Goatherd, and was not disappointed.

 

Maria and the Captain
dancing at their wedding

In another scene, Kurt asked Maria to teach him to dance a folk dance. When he could not dance a difficult step, his father stepped in to demonstrate the move.

 

As the Captain and Maria danced together, Maria broke away, confused about her feelings for him.

 

It was good that JB Ballet Academy applied dramatic license to bridge the scenes for the audience understand that the feeling was mutual between the Captain and Maria when he proposed to her by putting a flower headband on Maria.

 

This was followed by the wedding scene to the backdrop of a church, where the Captain and Maria were happily married.

 

The Trapp family sneaking away while
the 'challenges' surrounded them

While I was eager to watch the next scene, there was a pause for the second intermission so that the dancers may change costumes and prepare for the Third and final Act of the performance.

 

This part of The Sound of Music was in stark contrast to the earlier part of the story which was both colourful and amusing. I recall not liking the sinister and secretive scenarios when the family had to leave their homeland under threat of their lives.

 

When the performance continued, I thought that the JB Ballet Academy aptly portrayed these sentiments when the dancers – dressed in flowing Red gowns – swamped the stage in graceful waves upon waves that (to me!) represented ‘challenges’ that surrounded the Trapp family.

 

Then at the Music & Dance Festival, the Trapp family singers performed to the tune of, So Long, Farewell, and when the results were being announced, the lights flickered – to symbolize a blackout – while the family took the opportunity to escape.

 

The von Trapp family, living together happily
ever after, in the final scene

While the family’s escape was fraught with tension and obstacles, they finally reached a new land to continue the next chapter of their lives. Then a view of the awesome Alps and the music of, Climb Every Mountain, brought this exhilarating dance performance to a happy and encouraging ending.

 

Then it was time for everyone in the cast, some as young as age seven, to come on stage for their turn to take a bow. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the Lions Club of Johor Jaya, parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers and sponsors for their cooperation and generous support.

 

As JB Ballet Academy continues to nurture an elegant younger generation, they also wish to make a meaningful difference in the community. The show ended with a gift cheque presented to the Lions Club of Johor Jaya in the sum of RM100,000 to support dialysis patients and underprivileged children.

 

JB Ballet Academy welcomes enrolment of students to train in Classical Ballet from age three and above. Trail lessons are available from three academies located at Taman Pelangi, Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Ungku Tun Aminah in Johor Bahru. For more info, visit Facebook.com/JBBalletAcademy.

Vision into reality at Pinetree Marina Resort

 

Two years ago, Johnny Lau, Senior General Manager of Group Hotel & Hospitality division, spoke to Johor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi, about the Tiong Nam Group’s shared vision for progress and innovation in Johor.

 

View of the Pinetree Marina & Resort
Puteri Harbour at Iskandar Puteri

Two years on, Lau was pleased to express his appreciation to the Johor Government for their support and collaboration in turning this vision into a reality.

 

Lau was speaking at the grand launch of the Pinetree Marina Puteri Harbour, a momentous event graced by the Johor Menteri Besar along with Johor State ExCo for Tourism, Environment, Heritage & Culture, Raven Kumar Krishnasamy, Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri, Datuk Pandak Ahmad, and Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Ong Yoong Nyock.

 

Senior General Manager of Tiong Nam Group
Hotel & Hospitality, Johnny Lau, presenting 
his speech at the Grand Launch event
 

This event was aptly held on the quayside that borders the scenic Straits of Johor, overlooking the 76 berths of the public marina, designed to cater to a diverse range of vessels.

 

“Our vision is to establish this marina as a premier destination that will not only enhance the boating experience but also contribute to the growth and vibrancy of Iskandar Puteri.

 

Its prime location offers seamless access to key South East Asian maritime corridors, making it an ideal hub for boaters travelling from Phuket, Langkawi, Pangkor Island, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore,” said Lau.

 

Johor Menteri Besar, Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi
addressing the audience gathered to witness
the Grand Launch event at Puteri Harbour

The Tiong Nam Hospitality Group has undertaken comprehensive revitalization of the marina by blending sleek, modern design with upgraded facilities to elevate the docking experience to premium standards.

 

Lau said that this grand launch event not only marked a new chapter in luxury hospitality and marina services in the Southern region of Malaysia but also opened a gateway for global travellers into Johor.

 

He said that in addition to economic benefits to the region, the Pinetree Marina & Resort Puteri Harbour will create job opportunities and is a destination that will build lasting memories, both for the local community and visitors to Johor.

 

Ong Yoong Nyock and Johnny Lau presented
a token of appreciation to the Johor Menteri
Besar while Ravin Kumar [Left] looked on

In his response to Lau’s comments about their conversation two years ago, Dato’ Onn Hafiz graciously declared that he was ecstatic to celebrate this great milestone with the Tiong Nam Hospitality Group.

 

The Johor Menteri Besar said that the opening of the Pinetree Marina & Resort in Puteri Harbour bodes well for Johor as the Visit Johor Year will coincide with Visit Malaysia Year in 2026, with target of two million visitors to Johor.

 

Another significant development that should welcome more visitors to Johor he said, was that the agreement for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), with terms that aim to resolve long-standing issues, is scheduled to be signed on 6 January 2025.

 

A simple ceremony was held at
 the edge of the wharf

Dato’ Onn Hafiz then commended Ong Yoong Nyock as a person who delivers and expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with partners like the Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Bhd Group, to achieve success in the state.

 

He was also looking forward to September 2025 when another of Tiong Nam’s hospitality projects was scheduled to be ready to welcome guests to their unique hotel resort designed within two airplanes in Kempas, Johor.

 

The Johor Menteri Besar was pleased to share briefly about the State Budget with allocations to upgrade facilities in the Johor Zoo with a Night Zoo, the Istana Gardens, Bukit Timbalan, Museum Tokoh as well as nearby Kampung Sungai Melayu.

Another generous sum was allocated to upgrade tourism activities including the Malay cultural center at Yayasan Warisan Johor or Johor Heritage Foundation, that will be open to welcome visitors every weekend by June next year.

 

Johor Menteri Besar and guests on the upper
deck of private yacht to view the marina

Dato’ Onn Hafiz concluded his speech with warm wishes and sincere congratulations to Ong and his team at Pinetree Marina & Resort on their milestone event.

 

As a token of appreciation, Ong and Lau presented a souvenir to the Johor Menteri Besar in the form of a vintage galleon, encased in an acrylic box.

 

The grand launch event continued with a walk to the edge of the wharf where a simple ceremony was held, officiated by the Johor Menteri Besar. After a bunch of balloons were released into the air, 162 red groupers were released into the waters of the marina.

 

After a splashing jet-ski demonstration in the water, the Johor Menteri Besar and distinguished guests were welcomed on board a private yacht berthed alongside. From its upper deck, they enjoyed a good view of the marina.

 

Equipped with an array of practical and leisure facilities for both short and extended stays, Pinetree Marina is poised to be a key stopover for international boating enthusiasts.

 

The facilities include a fuel dock, buggy service, metered power supply (up to three-phase 425-Amp), 24-hours security with CCTV surveillance, gated marina access and Wi-Fi connectivity.

 

Visitors can also enjoy shower and toilet facilities, a laundry room, recreational amenities like swimming pool and gym, and a convenient shuttle service.

 

Guests gathered at the wharf of Pinetree Marina

To complement the marina, Pinetree Resort has 107 contemporary serviced apartments in a 25-storey building, each designed with a fully equipped kitchenette, laundry room and Internet TV to provide visitors with a home-away-from home.

 

As part of its active engagement with the regional boating community, Pinetree Marina recently hosted over 30 vessels that participated in the annual Sail Malaysia rally with a sail route from Johor to Rebak Island Resort & Marina in Langkawi.

 

To fortify its position as a top-tier destination for boating and leisure, expansion plans are already in place to develop more than 200 berths in the marina.

 

Pinetree Marina & Resort Puteri Harbour is at Jalan Persiaran Tanjung, Puteri Harbour, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

 

Photo Credit: BrandCulture PR & Marketing Communications and my own.

Return to where it all started...

 

When my friends in JB Drums invited me to a drum show as the finale of their Annual Performance and Primary School Exchange Camp, I noted that this show would be held in their alma mater, Foon Yew High School Johor Bahru.

 

Inside the Dewan Sekolah Foon Yew

JB Drums is a professional drum troop, established to preserve and promote the art of the 24 Festive Drums, a globally renowned performing art that had its humble beginnings as a school drum troop in Foon Yew High School.

 

Over the years, I have covered countless stories on the art of the 24 Festive Drums and co-founders, the late Tan Hooi Song and Tan Chai Puan, who have promoted this performing art nationwide and abroad since its founding in 1988.

 

I have never entered the premises of the Foon Yew High School, the largest independent Chinese high school in the nation and the largest Chinese education secondary school outside of Mainland China, so I must say that I was looking forward to both: entering this highly regarded bastion of education and enjoying the drum show in the place where it all started some 36 years ago.

 

Facade of the hall, Dewan Sekolah Foon Yew

Armed with an e-parking ticket, I was welcomed smoothly into the carpark reserved for visitors and simply followed the visitors ahead of me who were heading to the entrance of Dewan Sekolah Foon Yew, which appeared to be the event hall.

 

I must clarify that I do not read Chinese and have limited command of the language so on arrival at the lobby, I was pleased to see some familiar faces whom I had met at the Drum Shows previously staged at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House.

 

When I received my tickets, I was also directed to enter by which door to find my seats which, I was told, were clearly marked with my name.

 

My entrance ticket

So when the doors opened and I entered the hall, it was easy to spot my name pasted on the back of the chairs because all the other seats were labelled in Chinese.

 

In the next few minutes, the seats in the hall quickly filled up and when Tan Chai Puan arrived, he took his seat next to me.

 

After we exchanged pleasantries, I asked Tan about how he felt about returning to his alma mater, the place where the first drum troop was formed in Johor Bahru.

 

This question seemed to open the floodgates to his memories as Tan started by sharing about this very hall which was a gift, presented by the late rubber plantation tycoon, Tan Sri Lee Kong Chian.

 

Tan recalled that it was probably 1966/67 and he was in his second year of Junior High School when this hall was opened with a celebration that included the staging of a drama show.

 

My seats in the hall, clearly labelled

This drama had a character of a naughty boy and it so happened that they needed a student to play this role so Tan was tasked to step into it.

 

It was an unforgettable experience for Tan because this role entailed getting his ear pulled and he recalled the agony of his ear being often pulled – from rehearsals to the actual showtime.

 

This unfortunate experience, however, sparked his interest in stage and drama and Tan eventually became the Vice-President of the school’s Drama Society.

 

In 1988, Tan collaborated with Tan Hooi Song to stage a performance for the opening ceremony of the Ninth National Dance Festival in Johor Bahru, with their creation of a dramatic drums show that developed into a global sensation.

 

Tan, a gifted poet and cartoonist, wrote the poetry and created the choreography while Hooi Song, a renowned musician, composed the music for the theme song of the festival.

 

These cultural activists, popularly known as the two Tans, shared their vision in using drums, a musical instrument that traditionally echoed the rhythm of life, to create a festive mood. 

 

This first performance by nine drummers on nine drums at the festival, was the humble beginnings of their creation of the dramatic art of the 24 Festive Drums.

 

Tan fondly recalled that in 2000, he along with Hooi Song and Tan Ching Swee, organized the grandest performance in Johor school history for a fund-raising dinner with 700 tables, held on the school field.

 

He explained that there was a quota for Chinese independent high schools since the 1940’s so it was significant for Chinese education when a branch of the Foon Yew High School was officially opened in Kulai in 2005.

 

Then it was time to turn our attention to the live performances on the stage of this school hall that holds a treasure trove of memories for Tan.

 

The Xi Yau Drum team presented
their performance of Teng-Fei, or 'Flying'

As always, Tan helped to translate the all-in-Chinese drum show programme into simple English for me to learn that there will be eight performances that featured two guest drum teams, with a brief intermission in between.

 

I enjoyed the familiar sight and sound of the JB Drums troop who opened the show with a classic performance of the art of the 24 Festive Drums, complete with dramatic drumming and creative choreography.

 

Then the Xi Yau Drum team, made up of drummers whose ages ranged from 15 to 50 years old, presented their performance of Teng-Fei, simply translated as “Flying.”

 

This drum troop reflected the spirit of determination in drummers who committed themselves to train for a public performance such as this, regardless of age or gender.

 

The Stone Percussion team from Seremban presented two pieces titled, ‘Big Rock’ and ‘Hot Day in the Summer’ that creatively blended the traditional art of the 24 Festive Drums with the additional use of Malay musical instruments like the gong.

 

While the art of the 24 Festive Drums was the original source of this dramatic art of drumming, professional drum troops established throughout the country have taken drumming performances to the next level with the creative incorporation of traditional percussion instruments from our multi-cultural community.

 

The evening’s showcase came to an end with a visually spectacular grand finale performed by the JB Drums troop along with their two guest drum teams.

 

Presenting a token of appreciation to
the guest drum troop

Then all the drummers came on stage to take their final bow.

 

While the leaders of the three teams formed the first row, JB Drums presented a token of appreciation to the guest teams for their partnership in this year-end showcase.

 

As drumming enthusiasts in the audience made their way out of the hall, many paused to capture photo mementoes with Tan and members of the drum troops.

 

It was very encouraging to see a healthy interest from drumming enthusiasts as families continue to support young people in their training with drum troops to hone their skills and to proudly perform in drum shows such as this.

 

The JB Drums troop trains regularly at their center located at 11-2, Jalan Permas 11/1C, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru. For more info, email: jbdrums.24fd@gmal.com or Tel: +6016 797 3533.

 

Note: My story on the Art of the 24 Festive Drums is featured among the Johor brands in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment in the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

My Johor Stories books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, some books are available in JARO, shortform for Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation.

Seaside Saturday Indulgence

The was no better way to kick off the year-end festive season than with an indulgent Saturday brunch at Sea.Fire.Salt, a charming venue by the sea that comes with balmy breezes and panoramic views of the South China Sea.

 

Panoramic sea views from Sea.Fire.Salt
at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The sunny skies bade us a warm welcome on this bright December day as we made our way to the beachfront restaurant at the resort.

 

My eyes were riveted to the bright pink colours that stood out in stark contrast to the lush greenery by the infinity pool and on arrival, I soon discovered that Flamingo Pink was the theme featured here.

 

Guests in the pool were almost outnumbered by large pink flamingo floaties while a mini pink flamingo floatie and festive tinsel decorated each table in Sea.Fire.Salt.

 

Splashes of eye-catching pink spotted at
the infinity pool by Sea.Fire.Salt

The eye-catching pink theme continued in the shirts worn by serving staff that carried a bold print of graceful pink flamingos, matched with pale pantaloons and casual thong slippers. [Later, I also learnt that even those slippers had pink flamingos designed on them.]

 

Our welcome was completed with specially curated cocktails with non-alcoholic and alcoholic versions, in the pink theme: Pink Flamingo (RM38+) and Flamingo Fizz (RM58+).

 

While sipping our cocktails, we took time to study the Brunch menu, giving due consideration to the Appetizers, Soup and Pastries set out in the buffet, the choices of pasta and oysters from the live-stations and selections of main course items in the A La Carte menu, from which we could repeat orders.

 

Pink-themed cocktails next to
mini pink flamingo floaties

I liked the concept of ordering from a small A La Carte menu with the invitation to repeat any order of our choice. It will not only ensure that each dish will be freshly-made but also reduce any food wastage.

 

We may also place orders at the live-stations for freshly shucked oysters and homemade pasta folded in lobster bisque, topped with poached pieces of lobster and plump scallops.

 

So while waiting for our orders of the main course items to be served, we helped ourselves to the Appetizers of Beef Bresaola Salad, Marinated Veal Bacon and fresh greens.

 

Spread on the Cheese board were assorted cheese, mixed cold cuts, dried fruit and nuts to savour with Lavash – a thin flatbread – and cheese crackers.

 

Topping fresh salmon eggs on fresh oysters

A small group had gathered in front of the live-station for fresh oysters while the serving staff worked hard to pry open the oysters one-by-one for diners to top with the sauce or garnish of their choice. I observed that fresh salmon eggs were a popular choice of topping to savour on the opened oysters.

 

As a true fan of lobster bisque, I was – I must confess – first in the queue at the live-station to place my order for a freshly-made serving of pasta in lobster bisque.

 

Chef Hadi presenting my order of pasta in
lobster bisque with poached lobster and scallops

Chef de Cuisine, Azmarhadi Omar, better known as Chef Hadi, responded promptly and wasted no time to prepare my order.

 

At my first bite, I thought that its agreeable creamy-spicy taste clearly meets with the tastes of the Malaysian palate.

 

While its level of spiciness was just right for me, I will advise diners who do not like the taste of too much heat, to let the chef know when their order was being placed. I am sure the chef will accommodate every wish to reduce the heat to the diners’ liking.

 

A serving of tender Braised Wagyu Beef Ribs

Then one after the other, our main course orders were served. The Braised Wagyu Beef Ribs with Truffle Mousseline and Basil Jus was tender and juicy while the Harissa Lamb Cutlet on a bed of Cauliflower puree was gently cut from its bone.

 

In between the servings of main course items, we helped ourselves to the buffet items of soup, fresh fruits and the platter of pie-tee hats stuffed with crab meat and coriander, topped with a dollop of roasted coriander seed mayo.

 

It was good to linger over our meal and end sweetly by nibbling on small pastries like flourless Chocolate cake, Lychee pistachio tart and Mango Monte Carlo served in tiny tumblers.

 

Small portions to savour [Clockwise]
Mango Monte Carlo, Chocolate cake
and Lychee pistachio tart

When we sat back, feeling comfortably full, I was reminded that this indulgent Brunch treat was only served on the first Saturday of each month and that its menu will vary to serve diners innovative dishes each time they dined here.

 

The Brunch & Plunge package at Sea.Fire.Salt is priced at RM298+ per person for food only. Add on RM78+ for zero-alcoholic drinks like juices and soft drinks, RM148+ for Campari cocktails and RM268+ for wine and beer.

 

Exclusively served every first Saturday of the month from 11.30am to 4pm. Reservations are recommended.

 

For information and reservations, email to desaru@anantara.com

Visit webpage: www.anantara.com/en/desaru-coast

The friendly team at Sea.Fire.Salt ready to serve diners the Brunch & Plunge menu

Sea.Fire.Salt is located next to the infinity pool by the beach at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in Desaru Coast, Johor.  No pork or lard is used.

 

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is at Persiaran Pantai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor. Visit website www.anantara.com for more information.