SHAH ALAM — Labuan Youth Dansa, a dance troupe established by the Labuan Youth Council (Majlis Belia Labuan), clinched first place (Gold) in the Folklore category at the World Dance Festival (WDF) 2026, held at Midland Convention Centre here on Nov 7 and 8.
The achievement in its debut participation marks a historic milestone for the troupe, bringing pride to the Federal Territory of Labuan and Malaysia while showcasing Labuan’s cultural heritage on the international stage.
The festival featured 144 entries from 10 countries and territories, including India (47), Malaysia (40), Mongolia (21), Indonesia (18), Qatar (6), South Korea (5), Russia (3), Hong Kong, China (2), the Philippines (1) and Singapore (1).
The Labuan Youth Council sent a 13-member delegation comprising nine dancers, a team manager, a choreographer and three support crew members.
The nine dancers were Daniel, Farisha, Michelle, Nurfitrisia, Farhan, Fahmi, Syah Irnabilah, Arman and Nurul Fatihah.
At the competition, Labuan Youth Dansa performed a traditional Brunei dance, creatively combining authentic traditional movements with modern choreography and contemporary ethnic elements while preserving the original cultural identity and heritage values.
Labuan Youth Council president Nazera Roslan described the achievement as proof of the ability, creativity and potential of Labuan’s youth to compete at international level.
“Winning Gold in the Folklore category on our debut participation is particularly meaningful to Labuan Youth Dansa and the Labuan Youth Council.
“This achievement is not merely a victory but also demonstrates that local artistic and cultural heritage has value and appeal that can be showcased on the world stage.
“May this success inspire more young people to develop their talents in the arts and cultural fields,” she said.
Meanwhile, Labuan Youth Dansa choreographer Dafi Chua said the achievement was the result of the team’s commitment, discipline and cooperation in blending the authenticity of traditional Brunei dance movements with modern and contemporary elements without losing the original identity of the heritage.
The achievement also reflects the Labuan Youth Council’s commitment to empowering youth development through arts, culture and the creative industry, while creating opportunities for young people to nurture their talents and expand their international networks.
The council expressed its appreciation to the entire delegation, management team, choreographer, dancers, support crew and sponsors, particularly Labuan Corporation, for their support in making the participation a success.
It also hoped the achievement would serve as a catalyst for more emerging talents from Labuan to gain recognition at national and international levels.
With continued support from government agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders, more opportunities could be created to empower young people’s potential, particularly in the arts, culture and creative industries.
The success demonstrates that Labuan’s young talents can shine on the world stage while elevating cultural heritage and bringing recognition to the Federal Territory of Labuan and Malaysia internationally.
