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Latest news with #Huminodun:MuzikalPuteriNabalu

12-year-old Malaysian prodigy Nur Ellysha shines in voiceovers, theatre and international sports
12-year-old Malaysian prodigy Nur Ellysha shines in voiceovers, theatre and international sports

Sinar Daily

time20-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Sinar Daily

12-year-old Malaysian prodigy Nur Ellysha shines in voiceovers, theatre and international sports

BANGI - Nur Ellysha Rashlina Mohd Rashdan may be only 12 but she is already carving out a name for herself in the world of creative arts and sports. This Year Six pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Empat here has already done voiceovers and performed in a musical theatre, and is even active in sports. Nur Ellysha Rashlina Mohd Rashdan Ellysha, as she is fondly known, is no stranger to the creative arts as her father Mohd Rashdan Ramlee was actively involved in animation and production works, and was the creator of the English-language 3D animated TV series 'Supertots' and 'SuperSquad', which became a phenomenon in the early 2000s. According to Ellysha, several main characters in the animated series were named after and inspired by her and her three older siblings, making the production feel personal to the family and sparking her own interest in the creative arts. "From a young age, I was exposed to the production world as I often accompanied my mother and siblings to various events related to 'Supertots' and 'SuperSquad'. That's where I developed a love for the performing arts and the desire to try it for myself,' she said in a recent interview with Bernama. To nurture her talent in the performing arts, Ellysha began attending dance and theatre classes at the age of four, under the guidance of Noraniza Idris, who is also known as the Queen of Traditional and Creative Ethnic Rhythms. So far, Ellysha has done voiceovers for, among others, corporate social responsibility advertisements produced by the National Population and Family Development Board, as well as Covid-19 awareness campaigns by Yayasan Hasanah. She has also received other opportunities, including acting in the musical theatre 'Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu' this year. Ellysha also excels in rope skipping and represented Malaysia in the Singapore National and Open Jump Rope Championship 2024 in various under-12 categories. "I love rope skipping because it can be done both individually and in groups. Right now, I train three to four times a week to sharpen my skills. "God willing, I will represent Malaysia in the Queen's Cup Jump Rope Thailand Open 2025 and the Singapore National Jump Rope 2025 at the end of this year,' said Ellysha, who is also a member of the Malaysia Jump Rope Federation and GB Rope Skipping Academy. Despite her busy schedule in the arts and sports fields, Ellysha remains committed to her studies and ensures her academics are never overlooked. "Sometimes it's tiring because I go to school during the day and have training or tuition at night, but I'm used to it. If you love what you do and have goals, you'll make the effort,' said Ellysha, who also serves as a peer mentor at her school. She is also the president of her school's Cultural Club. Looking ahead, Ellysha hopes to pursue her secondary education at Sekolah Seni Malaysia Perak and later further her studies in theatre arts at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris. "If we have the passion, we shouldn't be afraid to try. We must believe in ourselves and not give up easily. If we work hard, God willing, a path will open,' she said. Meanwhile, her mother Nor Haslina Mohamed, 49, said parents play a crucial role in nurturing a child's potential from an early age, including building a portfolio, providing training space and guiding them toward the right path. "Every child is different… some are quiet, some are active. If you notice their interests, help and encourage them gradually. A child's success isn't solely based on academics but also on talent development and character building. "I believe early exposure and consistent guidance are vital. As parents, we must be attentive and help our children discover their strengths,' she said. - BERNAMA

Beloved Sabah folk tale comes to KL theatre stage for Kaamatan celebration
Beloved Sabah folk tale comes to KL theatre stage for Kaamatan celebration

The Star

time31-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Star

Beloved Sabah folk tale comes to KL theatre stage for Kaamatan celebration

Queennera Francis Kitingon steps into the role of Princess Huminodun in 'Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu', which takes the stage at Auditorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in Kuala Lumpur this weekend. Photo: Bernama Theatre production Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu, which highlights the tale of a legendary princess from Sabah, will be staged at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) auditorium in Kuala Lumpur this weekend in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival. It tells the story of the sacrifice of Princess Huminodun, a virtuous maiden who willingly sacrifices her life to save her land and people from famine. Based on an original script by Satra Nurizman and adapted by Amsalib Pisali, the play is directed by Nawfal Zamri, who faced the challenge of working in the Kadazandusun language - a task that demanded a deep grasp of its tone and pronunciation. "I'm from Perak and not familiar with this language but I'm grateful to have help from friends in Sabah to review the actors' pronunciation because language and intonation are very important," said Nawfal at a recent media conference. Marlenny says the folk tale offers insight into sacrifice and love through a Sabahan lens, highlighting a mother's pain in giving up her child for her people's survival. Photo: Bernama "We also didn't want to lose the authentic feel. So, several important parts are retained in the original language, especially the emotional dialogues. However, the overall structure of the performance has been arranged to be easily understood by the audience," he added. For this production, Nawfal also conducted field research in Sabah, visiting sites believed to be connected to the origins of the Huminodun legend. Huminodun: Muzikal Puteri Nabalu is presented by KGE Studio and the Sabah Community Aid Association, in collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, DBP and Pertubuhan Anak Karya Malaysia, and supported via grants from Yayasan Hasanah and ArtFast. The play's cast includes Queenenra Francine as Princess Huminodun, and Virtoues Romana, Ijat Ashari, Faizan Deraman, Verd and Dr Marlenny Deen Erwan. 'My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated,' says Anas. Photo: Bernama Marlenny, who portrays Suminundu, the mother of Princess Huminodun, shared that the production goes beyond entertainment — it serves as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding, offering audiences a deeper appreciation of Sabahan heritage and values. "This Sabah folk tale gives the audience an opportunity to understand the values of sacrifice and love from a different cultural perspective. The story portrays a mother's emotion as she allows her child to be sacrificed for the well-being of the people,' she said. Producer and founder of KGE Studio Anas Amdan said the original staging of Huminodun in 2022 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, won four awards at the Malaysia Theatre Awards, serving as a stepping stone to bring the play to Kuala Lumpur. "My hope is for this play to serve as a gateway for more stories from Sabah and Sarawak to be staged and appreciated. We want to promote this work not merely for commercial gain but for its significant cultural value and audience response,' he said. - Bernama

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