Sabah’s emerging dance industry has taken a major step onto the international stage, with homegrown choreographers producing performers who impressed judges at the Dance World Cup Finals in Dublin, Ireland, from July 8 to 18.
Leading the achievement was Aydiel Izzudin Madri, 25, better known as Dielo, who was crowned Gala Grand Champion Overall Solo Male, the highest individual honour at the prestigious competition.
The victory marked a major milestone not only for Dielo, but also for Sabah’s dance community, which is steadily developing talents capable of competing among the world’s best.
Dielo’s success also highlighted the role of Persatuan Arusan Tari Malaysia Sabah and Illeagle Freedom (IEF), both founded by him as platforms to nurture dancers and provide opportunities for local talents to compete internationally.
The Dance World Cup Finals saw IEF members Dielo, Jysebell Esther Zeno, 25, and Davis Yong Jin Yih, 16, represent Sabah and Malaysia, alongside young dancers Ivana Iman Ezral, 11, and Tiara Izz Zayani Suhilmi, 14.
Together, they returned from Dublin with impressive results, including Dielo’s championship title, Tiara’s silver medal and several strong placements across different categories.
The Gala Grand Champion Overall Solo Male title carried special significance as it was awarded through the exclusive Gala Grand Finals, where only selected performances from the main competition were invited to compete again.
The invitation is not automatically given to every winner, as judges select only performances they consider outstanding in terms of artistic quality and technical ability.
For Dielo, the achievement fulfilled a dream he had carried since discovering the Dance World Cup in 2014.
“I’ve known about the Dance World Cup since 2014, and ever since then, I’ve dreamed of competing on that stage,” he said.
The 25-year-old said the victory was even more meaningful as it was his final opportunity to compete due to the competition’s age limit.
To end his Dance World Cup journey with the Gala Grand Champion title was something he would cherish for the rest of his life.
Before his success in Dublin, Dielo had already gained international recognition as a choreographer after becoming the only Sabahan finalist at the Choreographer’s Cup 2025 in Manila, Philippines, where he finished sixth overall.
As the founder and choreographer of IEF, Dielo has continued developing dancers while creating opportunities for Sabah talents to grow beyond the State.
His role in Dublin extended beyond competing, as he also guided younger dancers through their routines.
Dielo coached Ivana Iman Ezral, 11, for her solo routine “Ake Sendiri”, and also prepared the duet routine “Kammi Sendiri” performed by Ivana and Tiara.
Another key figure behind the team’s success was Jysebell Esther Zeno, 25, an IEF member and co-choreographer who competed while also mentoring younger performers.
JysebelJysebell represented Sabah in the Senior Solo National and Folklore category with her piece “Sari Ranyun”, finishing ninth among competitors from around the world.
At the same time, she coached Tiara Izz Zayani Suhilmi, 14, in the Children Solo National Folklore category, where the young dancer won a silver medal.
Tiara also achieved 11th place in the Children Duo Ballet Any Style category, adding another achievement to Sabah’s international campaign.
Meanwhile, Ivana Iman Ezral, 11, continued gaining valuable experience by competing in multiple categories at the Dance World Cup Finals.
DavisFor Davis Yong Jin Yih, 16, the competition was an opportunity to test himself against dancers from around the world while balancing his responsibilities as a student and IEF member.
Davis secured fourth place in the Junior Male National Folklore category and ninth place in the Junior Male Contemporary category.
“It’s a pretty big achievement being able to represent my country and come home with a good result,” he said.
However, reaching the world stage required significant sacrifices from the dancers, especially in terms of finances, preparation and time management.
Davis said the team faced challenges involving money, people and time zones while travelling to the other side of the world for the competition.
He also had to balance his dance commitments with his studies, with examinations approaching shortly after returning from Dublin.
“It’s not easy balancing dance and studies,” he said, adding that he had to continue studying day and night while catching up with his syllabus.
Jysebell also highlighted the financial challenges involved in competing in Europe, particularly the costs of flights, accommodation and daily expenses.
“Financially, competing in Europe is not cheap,” she said, adding that careful planning and support from many people helped the team overcome the challenges.
For Dielo, managing time was another major challenge as he balanced his own preparation with coaching responsibilities and choreography work.
He said he had to sacrifice time and turn down some opportunities to focus on preparing himself and the younger dancers for the competition.
Despite the difficulties, the team credited the support of Persatuan Arusan Tari Malaysia Sabah, IEF, Yolanda Dance Studio, families, friends, sponsors and supporters who helped make the journey possible.
Dielo expressed his appreciation to Yolanda Dance Studio for trusting him with the opportunity to represent the studio and Malaysia at the Dance World Cup Finals.
He also thanked Samsul Mallawi, a veteran dancer from the State for his guidance, while acknowledging the support of everyone who contributed throughout the journey.
Beyond medals and rankings, the dancers hope their achievement will inspire more young Sabahan talents to believe they can reach international stages.
“As a Sabahan dancer, I hope this achievement inspires dancers in Sabah to dream bigger,” Dielo said.
He believes talent from Sabah should not be limited by location, as dedication and opportunities can allow local performers to compete globally.
Jysebell encouraged young dancers to continue improving, stay disciplined and view every competition as a chance to grow.
The dancers also hope their success will encourage greater recognition and support for Sabah’s performing arts industry.
Dielo said Sabah has many talented performers who deserve more platforms to showcase their abilities.
“With the right support and opportunities, Sabahan artists can proudly represent our state and our country on the world stage,” he said.
Their performances in Dublin also carried cultural significance, with Jysebell’s “Sari Ranyun” drawing inspiration from the traditional Malay court dance Timang Burung from the Gamelan repertoire while incorporating contemporary elements.
Dielo’s choreography similarly focused on presenting cultural influences through modern movement that could connect with international audiences.
Their success showed that Sabah is not only producing talented dancers, but also developing choreographers who can guide and inspire the next generation of performers.
From local training spaces to one of the world’s biggest dance competitions, Sabah’s dancers have proven they have what it takes to stand among the best.
