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 Tan Sri Tunku Abdullah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (2 May 1925 – 20 August 2008) was a notable Malaysian businessman and a founder of the Melewar Group of companies. Early life Tunku Abdullah was born on 2 May 1925 at Kuala Pilah, Nege ...

, a prince of

Negeri Sembilan Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...

and founder of Melewar Group. Che Engku Chesterina was born into the

Lauw-Sim-Zecha family The Lauw-Sim-Zecha family is an Indonesian family of the 'Cabang Atas' or the Chinese gentry of the Dutch East Indies (colonial Indonesia). They came to prominence at the start of the nineteenth century as '' Pachters'' (revenue farmers), '' Lan ...

, a prominent '' Peranakan'' family of the

Cabang Atas The Cabang Atas (''Van Ophuijsen Spelling System'': Tjabang Atas) — literally 'highest branch' in Indonesian — was the traditional Chinese establishment or gentry of colonial Indonesia. They were the families and descendants of the Chinese ...

or the Chinese gentry of colonial Indonesia. She is descended from Louisa Zecha, an '' Indo'' planter of

Bohemian Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Beer * National Bohemian, a brand brewed by Pabst * Bohemian, a brand of beer brewed by Molson Coors Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, origin ...

descent, by her second marriage to Sim Keng Koen, the first ''

Kapitein der Chinezen Kapitan Cina, also spelled Kapitan China or Capitan China ( en, Captain of the Chinese; ; nl, Kapitein der Chinezen), was a high-ranking government position in the civil administration of colonial Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo and the ...

'' of

Sukabumi , nickname = id, Kota Santri en, City of Learners , image_map = Map of West Java highlighting Sukabumi City.svg , map_caption = Location within West Java , mapsize = , pushpin_map = Ind ...

, the Dutch-appointed head of the local Chinese community. 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 Sir Peter Wright CBE (born 25 November 1926) is a British ballet teacher, choreographer, director and former professional dancer. He worked as a choreographer and as the artistic director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, a classical ballet company b ...

discovered Chesterina's exceptional talent. She was given the starring role of Odette in

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...

at the Festival of Cork. She then joined as one of the pioneer dancers of Stuttgart Ballet in Germany under John Cranko. Chesterina retired from dancing in 1973 when she married into the royal house of Negeri Sembilan. Upon marriage, she acquired the royal title of '' Che Engku'' or princess. She is the Honorary Patron of the Central School of Classical Ballet in Western Australia.

References

Negeri Sembilan royal consorts Ballerinas Malaysian dancers 1943 births Living people Lauw-Sim-Zecha family Cabang Atas Royal House of Negeri Sembilan Indo people Indonesian people of Malaysian descent Indonesian emigrants to Malaysia 20th-century dancers {{Malaysia-royal-stub