Supported By
Chinese Dance Fiesta 2023
29 April - 7 May 2023
Multiple Locations
The annual nationwide Chinese dance outreach event organized by Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre (SCDT) will be happening this year from 29 April to 7 May 2023.
Since its inauguration in 2015, Chinese Dance Fiesta has served as a platform to bring the local Chinese dance community together to deepen the public’s understanding and appreciation of Chinese dance through programmes such as dance performances, dance masterclasses, talk & demonstrations, and more. In addition, the Chinese Dance Fiesta has also given countless budding Chinese dance talents the opportunity to showcase their talents on stage.
Dance Performances
29 April 2023 (Saturday) | 5 pm | Bedok Town Square
30 April 2023 (Sunday) | 7pm | Our Tampines Hub Festive Plaza
5 May 2023 (Friday) | 7:30 pm | VivoCity Amphitheatre
7 May 2023 (Sunday) | 7pm (includes livestream on Facebook) & 8:30 pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Audiences can look forward to the dance performances held at Bedok Town Square, VivoCity Amphitheatre*, Our Tampines Hub Festive Plaza, and Esplanade Outdoor Theatre.
The dance performances at all venues will be free for all to enjoy, so be sure to bring along your family and friends to immerse yourselves in the vibrancy of Chinese dance! If you are unable to attend any of the dance performances, we welcome you to join us online to enjoy our live stream dance performance on 7 May 2023, at 7 pm on our Facebook page.
*Pre-register for the dance performance at VivoCity Amphitheatre here.
Master Series
SCDT is very pleased to have once again invited Associate Professor Nongbu Qilin, the Principal of Yunnan Arts University Affiliated Art School, China, to host the Dance Masterclass and Dance Talk & Demonstration sessions this year. Associate Professor Nongbu had previously been invited to Chinese Dance Fiesta in 2017 and 2018, where he shared about various minority ethnic folk dances of the Yunnan province in China. This year, he will be sharing the origins and characteristics of the Wa ethnic folk dance during the Talk & Demonstration, which will also be further explored during the Masterclass.
All Chinese dance enthusiasts are cordially invited to join the Masterclass and Talk & Demonstration for an invaluable learning experience with Associate Professor Nongbu.
Instructor Bio:
Associate Professor Nongbu Qilin, Principal of Yunnan Arts University Affiliated Art School studied at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy and Minzu University of China College of Dance. He has travelled to Singapore, Sweden, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other countries and regions for teaching, performances, and art exchanges. He has also been a choreographer and artistic director of large-scale cultural evenings and television evenings in China.
Dance Masterclass
6 May 2023 (Saturday)
10am to 12pm
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy Multi-purpose Hall
The “hair-tossing” dance of the Wa people has its origins dated back to more than 500 years ago, and is also one of the most representative dances of the Wa people. Wa women is known to have great admiration for their long hair, regarding them as a symbol of beauty. Just as many ethnic folk dances have been inspired by the way of life, the “hair-tossing” dance drew inspiration from the act of the Wa women lowering their heads to comb and shake their hair to dry them after wash.
Interested participants are required to pre-register for the Masterclass via SCDT’s Peatix page.
Dance Talk & Demonstration
7 May 2023 (Sunday)
3pm to 3:30pm & 4pm to 4:30pm (includes livestream on Facebook)
Esplanade Upper Concourse
The Wa is a transnational ethnic group in Asia, residing across Myanmar and China. Enthusiastic and unrestrained, the Wa people are known to be great at dancing not just with their hands and feet, but with their hair too. As a result, dance has become one of the key representative characteristics of the Wa ethnic group.
The dance Talk & Demonstration happening on 7 May 2023 at 4pm will be live-streamed on SCDT’s Facebook page.