Australian High Commission

Malaysia

High Commission address: 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur - Telephone: 2146 5555 - Fax: 2141 5773

australia month @ klpac

Kuala Lumpur, 12 March 2009: The Australian High Commission is proud to be working closely with the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) to present australia month @ klpac in April 2009. The event is the centrepiece of the High Commission’s cultural program in Malaysia for 2009 and builds on the very successful MY.OZ festival in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia‘s independence in 2007.

australia month @ klpac will showcase some of Australia’s and Malaysia’s finest performing artists, including directors, actors, musicians, singers, and dancers. This will be an opportunity for Australian dancers to work with Malaysian choreographers, for Australian directors to work with Malaysian actors and for Malaysian musicians and signers to perform Australian songs. Their collaboration will highlight the benefits of Australians and Malaysian working together.

australia month @ klpac is also aimed to leave a legacy of education in the performing arts. In addition to high quality performances, australia month @ klpac will provide workshops for young Malaysians to learn about acting. The Australian High Commission will be distributing 400 tickets to Kuala Lumpur schools to attend “From the Page and onto the Floor”, a workshop on Shakespearean theatre. Young Malaysians will also have opportunities to learn more about dancing and acting during the “Short and Sweet 2009” workshops.

The Australian High Commission has a long working relationship with KLPac, whose Artistic Director Joe Hasham is a prominent Australian actor and long term Malaysian resident. Mr Hasham embodies the close connection between Australia and Malaysia in the performing arts. So does Ramli Ibrahim whose dance career blossomed in the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Dance Company before he returned to Malaysia to found the Sutra Dance Company. These outstanding performing artists, who have contributed so much to Australia-Malaysia relations, will be two of the stars of australia month @ klpac.

australia month @ klpac is a key element of the Australian High Commission’s “Australia Month in Malaysia”, a month long celebration of contemporary Australia, including a focus on performing arts, education, sport and food. Information on event details may be found at www.australia.org.my

The Australian High Commission has provided funding for australia month @ klpac while the Australia Council has provided sponsorship for Rasa Unmasked, a collaboration between Malaysia’s Sutra Dance Theatre and the Sydney-based Lingalayam Dance Company.