Muara Online: Dance Fitness 2

Azmi Juhari started off as a self-made dancer in 1979 and has never looked back since.

His first meeting with Ms Fatimah Osman, a local dance teacher, marked the beginning of his life as a dancer with Radin Mas CC Malay Dance Group. Under her wing, she introduced him to Perkumpulan Seni, an association which got him deeper into his passion. As one of the pioneer cultural associations in Singapore, Perkumpulan Seni became pivotal in developing his career. He found himself establishing close relations with Perkumpulan Seni for the next 20 years of his life.

His involvement with Perkumpulan Seni provided a platform for him to learn more about the fine art of Malay dance under different veteran choreographers like Mr Ali Sungip and Mr Idrias Abdullah. Down the road, he was privileged to work with renowned choreographers such as Salleh Buang (Kemuning), Som Said (Sri Warisan), Naim Pani (Veteran), Osman Hamid (People’s Association), Onn Jaafar (Malaysia) and Tom Ibnur (Indonesia).

One whose creativity knows no boundaries, Azmi has been experimenting with contemporary Malay dance and different ethnic dance move. His outstanding choreography includes his recent works for GENTARASA (a project by People’s Association) and World Expo in Aichi and Contemporary Dance Festival in Indonesia. His works usually depict a strong sense of modernity with a classic touch of tradition. Leveraging on his vast experience as a dancer and choreographer, he formed his own dance group called AZPIRASI. He also now teaches in various schools and institutions and aspires to develop young talents and train them to be the best in the industry.

Osman started his career in dance back in 1979 when he joined the People’s Association and the former Sriwana. Now, with over 30 years of experience, he has taught in numerous schools, produced and directed many productions and collaborations. He is seen as one of the drivers of the Malay arts scene in Singapore as a very well-respected peer and teacher.

In recognition of his talents and dedication in promoting Malay dance in Singapore, Osman was conferred the prestigious Singapore Youth Award (Service) in 1993 and the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council in 1994. He was a representative for the Asian Dance Committee by the National Arts Council as a dance expert in 2011. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018 for his contributions to the community.