Che Engku Chesterina
Che Engku Chesterina (born Chesterina Sim-Zecha in 1943) is a former Indonesian ballerina who became a Malaysian royal after marrying Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, a prince of Negeri Sembilan and founder of Melewar Group.[1][2]
Che Engku Chesterina was born into the Lauw-Sim-Zecha family, a prominent Peranakan family of the Cabang Atas or the Chinese gentry of colonial Indonesia. She is descended from Louisa Zecha, an Indo planter of Bohemian descent, by her second marriage to Sim Keng Koen, the first Kapitein der Chinezen of Sukabumi, the Dutch-appointed head of the local Chinese community.[3] She is also a cousin of the hotelier and founder of Aman Resorts, Adrian Zecha.
Chesterina Sim-Zecha moved to England to study ballet in 1956 at The Legat School under the tutelage of Madam Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat. While working in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, “Flower Drum Song” in London's West End, Sir Peter Wright discovered Chesterina's exceptional talent. She was given the starring role of Odette in Swan Lake at the Festival of Cork.[4] She then joined as one of the pioneer dancers of Stuttgart Ballet in Germany under John Cranko.[2]
Chesterina retired from dancing in 1973 when she married into the royal house of Negeri Sembilan.[1] Upon marriage, she acquired the royal title of Che Engku or princess.[citation needed] She is the Honorary Patron of the Central School of Classical Ballet in Western Australia.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kee, Hua Chee (August 21, 2008). "Melewar Group's Tunku Abdullah dies - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. The Star. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Honorary Patron". Central School of Classical Ballet. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ Tan, Mely G. (1963). The Chinese of Sukabumi: A Study in Social and Cultural Accommodation. Cornell University.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (April 27, 1961). "Ballet » 27 Apr 1961 » The Spectator Archive". The Spectator Archive. The Spectator. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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