Get ready to immerse yourself in Singapore's vibrant ethnic arts this August.
Put together by not-for-profit organisation Arts House Limited (AHL), and held in conjunction with Singapore Night Festival (SNF), 'A Date with Tradition', will feature a diverse selection of interactive traditional arts offerings when it opens at the Stamford Arts Centre (SAC).
Scheduled to be held over two days (26 August 2022 and 27 August 2022), the event will host a number of free musical performances from talented creatives across different cultural backgrounds and fields.
To help you keep track of everything that will be happening, here is a list of performances that you can expect to be dazzled by during your visit to the SAC.
Ark Music Live Session - The Ark
When: 26 and 27 August, 7:30pm - 10:30pm (conducted in Mandarin)
Where: #01-06
The Ark will serenade music lovers with live covers of Mandarin pop tunes, including xinyao (which translates to "Singapore music") favourites and recent hits. Those in attendance will also get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the live streaming of an acoustic show happens.
The Charm of Chinese Opera - Traditional Arts Centre (Singapore)
When: 26 and 27 August, 7:30pm - 8pm, 8:30pm - 9pm, 9:30pm - 10pm (conducted in Mandarin with English interpretation)
Where: #03-05
Organised by the Traditional Arts Centre (Singapore), The Charm of Chinese Opera will give guests an opportunity to learn about the performance characteristics of Chinese opera. An interactive programme, it will teach guests about traditional arts and inform them about traditional Chinese cultural and educational values.
Percussive Rhythms - Ding Yi Music Company
When: 26 August, 7:30pm - 8pm, 8:30pm - 9pm, 9:30pm - 10pm
Where: #02-06
Musicians from the Ding Yi Company will deliver a selection of repertoires in a variety of styles and instrumentation using percussion instruments from the east and the west. This hands-on programme will also give guests a chance to make music together with the performers on stage.
Indian Rainbow - Shantha Ratii Initiatives
When: 26 and 27 August, 7:30pm - 8pm, 8:30pm - 9pm
Where: #02-01
Shantha Ratii Initiative's Indian Rainbow will introduce visitors to the Indian Rainbow of performing arts. By combining "lucid explanations" and "full-bodied performances", it will capture the imagination of the audience. Those in attendance will also learn to tell a story using only hand gestures.
Illuminate - Li Ruimin
When: 26 and 27 August, 9:30pm - 10pm
Where: #02-01
For those who are curious about Chinese dance, Illuminate will introduce you to its basic forms and explore the intricacies of Chinese ethnic folk and classical dance. This programme will feature dancers Li Ruimin, Wang Wenbo, Wong Zhuo Qin, and Tee Qiao Li.
Folk Sounds! - Nanyang Collective
When: 26 August, 8pm - 8:30pm, 9pm - 9:30pm, 10pm - 10:30pm (on-site registration required)
Where: Black Box, #02-04
Led by producer Sherman Lee and conducted by Wong De Li Dedric, the Nanyang Collective will present unique renditions of ethnic folk songs and tunes.
Singapore Rhapsodies - SwaRhythm Ensemble
When: 27 August, 8pm - 8:30pm, 9pm - 9:30pm, 10pm - 10:30pm
Where: Black Box, #02-04
SwaRhythm Ensemble's Singapore Rhapsodies will tell the story of different cultures in Singapore coming together in celebration of music, nature, and other things that unite people. The group will present a diverse selection of musical pieces, including 'Singapore Rain', a tribute to the monsoons played in raag Malhar (rain raag).
Mass Delay - P7 : 1SMA
When: 26 August, 8pm - 8:30pm (Show 1), 9pm - 9:30pm (Show 2), and 27 August, 8pm - 8:30pm (Show 3), 9pm - 9:30pm (Show 4)
Where: #03-01
A reimagining of Malay dancer, dance artist, and performance maker Norhaizad Adam's 'Delay', Mass Relay will comprise four shows over two nights. Each will comprise a different combination of performers, who will "access and negotiate the strength of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSA)" with sonic responses from sound artists.
For the full list of programmes that will be offered at A Date with Tradition, visit Stamford Arts Centre's website.
