LABUAN — Labuan-based dance group Labuan Youth Dansa will represent Labuan and Malaysia at the World Dance Festival (WDF) 2026, an international dance competition scheduled to take place at Midland Convention Centre in Shah Alam on Nov 7 and 8.
Established by the Labuan Youth Council (Majlis Belia Labuan), the group received its first-ever official invitation to participate in the competition, organised by the Asia Dance Culture Organisation (ADCO) in strategic collaboration with the Malaysian Creative Arts Expression Association (EKSPRESI).
The council will send a 13-member delegation comprising nine dancers, a team manager, a choreographer and three support crew members.
The nine dancers are Daniel, Farisha, Michelle, Nurfitrisia, Farhan, Fahmi, Syah Irnabilah, Arman and Nurul Fatihah. The delegation is scheduled to depart for Kuala Lumpur today.
For the competition, Labuan Youth Dansa will present a creatively reinterpreted traditional Brunei dance, incorporating modern choreography to showcase the uniqueness of Labuan’s cultural heritage and identity.
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Labuan Youth Council president Nazera Roslan said the participation was more than just a competition, providing an international platform to promote Labuan’s cultural identity and highlight the artistic talents of its younger generation.
“This is a meaningful opportunity for Labuan’s youth to demonstrate their ability to compete at the international level. Through a creatively adapted performance based on traditional Brunei dance, we hope to highlight Labuan’s unique culture while ensuring that traditional artistic heritage continues to be appreciated and passed down to younger generations,” she said.
Meanwhile, Labuan Youth Dansa choreographer Dafi Chua said the performance concept combined the authentic movements of traditional Brunei dance with contemporary ethnic elements to create a dynamic presentation without losing the dance’s original identity.
“We want to present a fresh interpretation of traditional Brunei dance while preserving its fundamental movements and cultural values. Our aim is to demonstrate that Labuan’s cultural heritage can be presented creatively and has its own appeal on the international stage,” he said.
Nazera said the participation also reflected the council’s commitment to empowering youth development through arts, culture and the creative industry, while creating opportunities for networking and the exchange of experiences with international artists.
The Labuan Youth Council hopes the group’s debut at WDF 2026 will help drive the development of the local performing arts scene, elevate cultural heritage and bring recognition to Labuan and Malaysia internationally.
