IF you saw a dragon dance performed on stilts during Johor Baru’s annual Chingay parade, it would have been by members of the Hong Yang Sports Association who are believed to be the first troupe in state to be skilled in the art.
They are also the only troupe in Malaysia to perform stunts on stilts and were the only nation invited from Asia at Festival de Wallonie 2011, the stilt-walkers Festival in Namur, Belgium, among nations like the United States, France and Africa.
Hong Yang members are also trained in the martial art of wushu, lion dancing, wielding giant flag poles and walking big-headed dolls.
It was founded in the 1980s as an MCA youth community activity in Taman Johor, here, when the late Master Eu Choon Seng was hired as head coach.
In 2000, the troupe was renamed Hong Yang Sports Association with the aim to promote Chinese culture, nurture good athletes, create a healthy environment for physical exercise and youth bonding.
The association’s focus on youth development has garnered strong support from the community and it recently celebrated its 14th anniversary in a programme of activities that showcased their members’ skills and training.
The highlight of Hong Yang’s 14th anniversary celebration was a first ever race organised in Malaysia for big-headed dolls.
These dolls or puppets are auspicious characters that flank dragon and lion dancers during lunar New Year celebrations and spread goodwill by giving out sweets or cheering the dancers on.
Weighing between 3kg and 5kg, the costume is created with cardboard head and shoulders and traditionally matched by a long cloth costume.
Organising a race for big-headed dolls started as a novel idea but as the committee discussed and considered it, they found that it was workable.
They, however, stipulated that each team must comprise three participants so that the members could take turns to wear the costume to run various sectors of the exciting 2.5km race around Sutera Square.
It was a great challenge for the participants not only because of the weight of the costume but also because their view was limited to what they could see through the open mouth.
In the first item of the day’s programme, some 180 participants with 60 big-headed dolls assembled to be flagged off by guests-of-honour Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminnurashid Tengku Abdul Hamid Jumat, Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong and Hong Yang Committee chairman Chua Leong Bee.
“The participation of teams with multiracial members is truly a reflection of our nation’s unity,” said Tee who also expressed his pleasure at seeing many youth taking part in a traditional community activity.
Apart from teams from a number of sports associations here, the 60 teams, some with participants as young as 9, came from as far as Malacca, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Senai and Kulaijaya.
A carnival was organised for visitors, who could buy Hong Yang anniversary souvenirs and experience walking on stilts.
The programme continued with lion and dragon dances on the arrival of the Pulai Member of Parliament Datuk Nur Jazlan Tan Sri Mohamed.
Nur Jazlan presented prizes to the winners after a tour of the exhibition of Hong Yang artifacts that also featured the costumes they wore as guest artistes in stilt-walking performances in the annual Singapore Chingay and the MBJB Street Carnival 2005.
Since 1996, Hong Yang has been actively taking part in various competitions to give members the opportunities to gain more exposure and experience in performing and competitions.
In 1999, Hong Yang was the champion in the 7th Johor Traditional Lion Dance Championship and also emerged as champions in the 2008, second Malaysia-Singapore Acrobatic Dragon Dance Competition and the second Teng Boon Soon Cup Traditional Lion Dance Competition.
In addition to participating in JB’s annual Chingay parade, Hong Yang was also invited by Singapore People’s Association to join the annual Singapore Chingay Parade since 2002.
Hong Yang’s 14th anniversary celebrations ended with two exciting performances. Running and skillfully wielding 10-metre high giant flag poles, their dazzling performance was a show of skill and strength.
In the finale, the members wowed the audience with their stunts and even jumped through a fiery hoop to split a watermelon with the wooden stilt.
Hong Yang welcomes students who are keen to train with the troupe in martial arts and traditional sports. Training classes are held from 8.30pm to 10pm on Monday (stilt-walking), Wednesday (dragon dance) and Friday (lion dance).
For enquiries, email htng@hongyang.com.my