The upcoming inaugural Songket Ball is aimed at celebrating and keeping the songket heritage alive through fundraising, a musical and fashion show showcase. ZUHAILA SEDEK writes.

“IT is going to be a memorable show”, that is the promise made by the organiser of Songket Ball — Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah (YTNZ).

The inaugural Songket Ball, which will be held July 10, will not be a typical gala night. Apart from raising funds, it will also feature a musical, inspired by fantasy and fairy tale, songket style.

The musical will be directed by Datuk Zahim Albakri, who also directed Puteri Gunung Ledang, The Musical. He will work together with the former singer of the band Gersang, Man Bai who will be the show’s music director and choreographer Pat Ibrahim.

“The show will be like a mini musical. There will be dancers, singers and it will be in line with the theme of the event — Keeping Heritage Alive,” Zahim said.
Zahim and Man Bai were recently presented with the songket costumes to be incorporated in the musical.

“I am more inspired now after seeing the clothes that’s made with songket. It’s fascinating that songket can be made into various attire,” Zahim said.

As for the storyline, Zahim said it will focus on the weavers and the fabric itself as a heritage.

“In the storyline, a songket weaver will show her grandchild how to weave and what the fabric is all about. There is more but it will be a surprise for the audience that night,” he said.

The creative team is now finalising the script.

“The show will be a mix of traditional and contemporary given that songket has been around for so long and it is now been given a contemporary look,” Zahim said.

“I’ve always loved songket and admire what YTNZ is doing in taking it into a different direction and at the same time keeping songket alive. Thus, I am more than happy to be part of this effort,” Zahim added.

Man Bai, on the other hand, said he will study the fabric so that it could be incorporated into the show.

The musical will last for 45 minutes and will also feature performances by Stephen Rahman Hughes, Ida Mariana, M. Nasir and Faizal Tahir. The musical will be in Bahasa Malaysia, with English subtitles.

There will also be a songket fashion show, featuring some of the biggest names in the local fashion industry. It will incorporate an Ulek Mayang performance and accompanied by gamelan music. Products designed and produced by YTNZ will also be showcased.

The Songket Ball is initiated to raise funds, celebrate and pays tribute to organisations that have contributed towards the preservation and development of songket.

The event will be held at Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

For details, call 03-2284-8253.