Visitors to Aquaria KLCC should not miss the underwater dragon dance performance at its Living Ocean section in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
The underwater dragon dance, accompanied by the beat of drums, cymbals and gongs, was hard to miss, with its colourful yellow costume.
Performed by five Aquaria divers, the dragon “swims” alongside marine animals such as tiger sharks, blue rays and more.
The dragon made a swift appearance in the tunnel of the Living Ocean section, making its way to the viewing area, as “oohs” and “aahs” could be heard among the crowd that was mesmerised by the show.
It brought along animals such as Kingsman, the second largest sea turtle in the world.
The underwater dragon dance symbolises the movements of the river of spirits, in a sinuous and undulating manner as part of traditional Chinese beliefs.
Meanwhile, the Choy San Yeh, or God of Prosperity, was seen walking around interacting with the crowd and blessing them with prosperity.
Traditional Chinese believe that he blesses the people with a ruyi (the celestial sceptre which he carries around), which is said to possess the ability to turn iron into gold with just a touch.
The magical performance is the first underwater dragon dance performance in Malaysia.
Preparations for the underwater dragon dance by Aquaria KLCC’s team took around two months to complete as the team needed to ensure the fabric and materials used underwater were chemical-free.
The fabric was soaked in seawater for a long time to allow the marine animals to be familiarised with them and regard the dragon “as friend and not food”.
The dragon dance is part of the An Under-Sea Opera event, specially held for the festive season.
The inspiration for the performance came from Aquawalk chief executive officer and group managing director Datuk Simon Foong.
The complex dragon dance requires five to six people to choreograph, as one of its challenges is to move a pole which holds the fabrics up high, and dance in a calm and beautiful movement, resembling a calm dragon.
In conjunction with the Year of the Rat, the oceanarium is also hosting the Rodent Exhibition where visitors can learn about the furry mammals.
The exhibition is a collaboration with the Institute of Medical Research to raise awareness of the often misunderstood species.
This includes educating the public about the rodents’ lesser known characteristics.