THE Penang Youth Development (PYDC) is determined to produce more talents in the field of performing arts, says state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee.
Soon, who is also the PYDC chairman, conveyed this message during the grand finale of the ‘Youth with Rhythm: Merdeka Talent Show 2021’ which took place at the City Bayview Hotel on Nov 14.
“We created this platform to gather Penang’s very own talented youngsters as well as to enable them to showcase their talents in the performing arts.
“The state government remains fully committed to youth empowerment and their holistic development.
“Human capital and talents are the most precious and valuable resources a nation can have,” Soon said in his speech at the event.
Apart from that, Soon also encouraged all the participants to keep pushing their limits so as to make excel on the international stage.
“Work harder to raise your standard so that you can one day take part in the international platform. I believe all our judges would also feel the same.
“We will organise again this talent show next year as we want to keep providing the platform to unleash the talents and potentials of our youth.
“Today we have a participant as young as 15 years old. Thus, we want to produce more young talents in various performing arts in Penang,” he added.
Meanwhile, PYDC general manager Dr Gwee Sai Ling thanked its collaborating partner, Dvol Dance Studio for co-organising the programme.
“Special thanks to Atlantic By Motion in Style and Sound Maker Studio for sound system and Video Facebook livestream. I would also like to express my gratitude to our sponsor, P&CC Ultimate Group Sch. Bhd. who funded this program,” she added.
A total of 75 participants took part in the talent show in which 14 finalists successfully made it to the grand finale.
The talent show had entries from individuals and group performances in dance, singing, beatboxing, magic show, as well as diabolo tricks.
It was learned that all the participants had earlier sent in the videos of their respective performances prior to be shortlisted as the finalists.
The panel of judges for the competition was made up of K&T Dance Academy principal Ng Khai Beng, Penang House of Music director Paul Augustin, singer and musician Cindy Teow, Malaysia’s leading contemporary dancer and choreographer Aida Redza and influencer Jestinna Kuan.
The five-member D’volution team, who emerged as the champion, enthralled the crowd with their energetic and upbeat performance.
Its team leader, Phelan Yeoh Kai Hern, 27, when was approached by the Buletin Mutiara team, said that it took them one month to practise the dance routine.
The other four members were Khor Ah Chin, 30, Loh Chun Lim, 24, Yong Cher Kai, 21, and Ooi Sze Lin, 18.
Four of the five members originally formed the D’volution team in 2013 before Sze Lin joined them in 2018.
“The concept of our dance routine that we performed for the finals was a fusion between the Chinese culture and street dance.
“We are excited of having won the competition. In 2017, we had also entered the World Supremacy Battleground held in Australia and became the finalist.
“Earlier in 2014, we took part in the Hip Hop International held in USA and made it into the semi-finals. So, now we are also aiming to enter another international competition,” Yeoh said.
Britney Poh Yu Chern, the youngest participant in the competition, won the second prize after giving a ‘pitch perfect’ singing performance at the finals.
According to Yu Chern, who is currently studying at SJK Chung Hwa Confucian, she has been singing since the age of 10.
“I would say that singer Adele is my inspiration and I would like thank the PYDC for providing such a platform for youngsters like us to showcase our talents,” she added.
Nineteen-year-old Khooney Tan, who wowed the crowd with his mesmerising diabolo tricks, bagged the third spot.
“I have been practising the diabolo a.k.a Chinese YoYo for about 10 years and today I incorporated my performance with modern music beats.
“I picked up the skills when I was in my primary school as an extra-curricular activity. I studied at SJK(C) Jelutong.
“Currently, I am pursuing my degree in media production at Han Chiang University College,” said Tan, who is also with the Penang MinYi Diabolo team.
The performances of all the 14 finalists can be viewed at the following link https://fb.watch/9hQtLCULEI/
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan & Courtesy of PYDC
