KUCHING: Young dancer Dion Das Louis, better known as The Little Bornean Birdie, has been recognised among the Top Five National Star Achievers 2026/27 for his outstanding achievements in traditional dance.
According to a press statement, the Sarawakian received the recognition on Aug 22 during the National Stars Award 2026/27 Gala Award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
The National Stars Award, held biennially, recognises young talents from across Malaysia who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, dedication and active involvement in their respective fields.
This year, 357 nominees vied for recognition, with 103 award recipients selected across 11 major categories.
Dion was among five talents recognised in the Traditional Dance category, making him the sole Sarawakian recipient in the category.
Actively performing and competing at national and international levels since 2022, Dion said he was overwhelmed and grateful to have been selected for the prestigious recognition.
During the gala ceremony, Dion was also invited to perform on stage, where he received compliments for his performance.
He said the opportunity provided an important platform to showcase Sarawak’s traditional dance and culture to audiences in Peninsular Malaysia.
Dion is also proud to represent Sarawak through his ethnic contemporary dance performance, which draws inspiration from two iconic Sarawak birds — the hornbill and the Great Argus, or Burung Ruai — portrayed through the spirit of the Iban Ngajat dance.
He expressed his appreciation to the National Stars Award committee and organisers, as well as his family and friends, for their support and encouragement.
Dion also thanked the Sarawak Government and all those who had supported him throughout his journey.
The award nomination requires talents to have achieved first, second or third place, or received an official title in at least three competitions within the same talent category between 2021 and 2026.
Meanwhile, Dion, who secured second place at the Dance World Cup Malaysia Qualifier in March, was originally scheduled to represent Malaysia at the Dance World Cup World Finals in Ireland last July.
However, he had to cancel his participation due to concerns over the West Asia crisis and safety and security considerations.
Looking ahead, Dion is scheduled to perform at the Concert Carnival Sibujaya on Sept 5 before making an appearance at the Borneo Cultural Festival, where he will take the main stage during the festival’s closing night on Sept 12.
