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Local dancers ‘Zeppo Youngsterz’ showcases talent before Korean competition
ZEPPO Youngsterz gave audiences a chance to meet the personalities behind the crew at Kreasi: Seoul in Motion 2026, before bringing them together for a preview of their latest competition piece.
Held at Auditorium DBKL, the showcase featured solos and duets exploring relationships, identity and the dancers’ experiences, culminating in the work they will take to the Haru Dance Competition taking place on Oct 17 in Seoul, South Korea. The evening also reunited original members with a younger generation preparing to represent Malaysia abroad.
Individual voices
Kreasi, meaning creation, allowed the performers from Zeppo Youngsterz to introduce themselves through their own choreography, with themes ranging from heartbreak to the expectations they place on themselves.
Adib Jamarizam presented Sayonara, while Tessa’s September came with an introduction aimed at LRT commuters. Cheeken’s You’re Just A Kid incorporated spoken dialogue about art, love and the limits of experience. Rudi Bagan brought a playful premise inspired by a wish to live like an orange cat, with days devoted to play, food and affection. His performance also incorporated a clothes hanger.
Gigi and Amirul brought breaking into a duet that, according to their introduction, had been prepared in just an hour. Jonathan Loo shared choreography he held close after spending much of the year performing competition pieces. Akidrulez’s Justin Bieber-inspired performance featured One Less Lonely Girl and enthusiastic support from fellow crew members.
Luanne Lee’s piece considered her relationship with dance, her promises to keep growing and the fear of falling short. Faris Azim also performed, while original Zeppo members returned for the evening, including some who had stepped away from dancing or competing.
Working together
The Haru entry was directed and choreographed by Zeppo Youngsterz founder Faris and Spanish choreographer Larkin Poynton Olabarria, drawing on their friendship and shared experiences of difficult periods. Almost all its movement involves partnering, requiring dancers to depend on one another for weight, movement and emotional connection.
“What’s so special about this piece is that it’s impossible without another person,” Poynton said.
The pair had spent almost two years developing a duet for the Finnish National Ballet, and their experience with partner work informed the competition creation.
Faris said working with someone the dancers had long admired gave the team added motivation.
“So I think we’re going to do our best because Larkin is actually our big idol since we started dancing. So finally to get to work with him is really great fun.”
Support beyond the stage
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud attended the showcase along with the South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae and fellow embassy representatives to support the team ahead of Haru.
The evening also included a presentation of Malaysian jackets and flags to the dancers.
According to the organisers, Zeppo Youngsterz will collaborate with South Korea’s 1Million Dance Studio on Oct 29, in conjunction with the opening of the Korean Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia.
Zeppo Youngsterz manager Faiz Ainaa also credited Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh with supporting Zeppo from its beginnings, including assistance and allocations for its initiatives and events.
Speaking to theSun, Yeoh praised the collective’s consistency and independence in financing its international ambitions.
“When we first supported them, they were not even asking for money. They were doing self-fundraising to send themselves to competitions in the US and all that,” said Yeoh.
She called for greater recognition of young people pursuing the arts.
“For a very long time, Malaysia has always focused on academic excellence, straight As, those who are very bright in their studies. But we don’t really celebrate culture and arts.”
Young artistes, she added, needed opportunities to show their abilities. For the dancers heading to Seoul, her advice was to have confidence in what they could offer.
“They already have the talent. All they need to go with is the confidence that they really represent the best of Malaysia,” she said.
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