Dance in Singapore comprises traditional and contemporary forms. It has a relatively short history of creative, artistic and professional dance. The range of dance reflects the cultural diversity of Singapore.[1]
Contemporary dance
- ECNAD was founded in 1996. It became the first full-time contemporary dance company in Singapore in 1998 with a focus on site-specific projects and strong visuals.
Ballet
- Singapore Dance Theatre, a ballet company, took over NTDC as Singapore's national dance company acquiring works of foreign well known choreographers and housing mainly young foreign dance talents.
Traditional dance
- In May 1980, the National Theatre Dance Company (NTDC) was formed by National Theatre Trust, upon the successful completion of the dance training programme conducted by prominent Hong Kong instructor, Mr Cheng Shu Jing. The training programme had culminated in a concert, "An Evening of Chinese Dances" being performed on 24th Nov 1979. NTDC had evolved to become Theatre Arts Troupe in 1992, after National Theatre Trust amalgamated into the National Arts Council.
Training
In the 1990s Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) started Singapore's first full-time Contemporary Dance programme. The programme was headed by Angela Liong and offered all-rounded dance theory and technique program including Martha Graham's technique and Dance Improvisation. Over the years, Dance at NAFA has grown from a fledgling start into a established and reputable department. The Department of Dance has survived and thrived largely because of the capable direction as well as vision of several committed individuals. The initiatives of these individuals, who are respected in Singapore's dance community, have eventually contributed to today's distinctive Diploma in Dance program that combines contemporary Asian and Western performance and creative practices. The Singapore Dance Theatre also provides a training programme for dancers and choreographers.
Notable pioneer teachers
- Angela Liong (Modern Dance)
- late Tony Llacer (Ballet)
- Boon Teo (Modern - Martha Graham's technique)
- Ong Lay Keng (Modern/Jazz)
- Lim Fei Shen
- Goh Lay Kuan (Ballet/Modern)
- Goh Soo Khim (Ballet)
- Anthony Then (Ballet)
- Cecilia Hon (Ballet)
- Sylvia McCully (Ballet)
Many of the abovementioned humble pioneer teachers are respectable unsung heros that deserve every right for their names to be mentioned here.
==
Soo Khim
Soo Khim, who comes from a family of well known dancers and teachers, received her early training at the Singapore Ballet Academy (SBA) under the Academy’s founding directors – Soonee Goh, Frances Poh and Vernon Martinus. She then furthered her professional training in Australia in 1964, becoming the first Asian Dancer to be admitted to the Australian Ballet School. On her return to Singapore, she taught at the SBA and was a soloist and principle dancer in all its performances. In 1971, Soo Khim assumed the responsibilities of Director and Principle of the Academy and has since trained, guided and inspired many young talents towards achieving a professional career in dance.
In 1977, Soo Khim represented Singapore in the 2nd ASEAN Radio and Television Cultural Exchange Programme and in the following year, revealed another facet of her artistic personality: her creativity as a choreographer, first with Temple Tone Poem (1978) and then with Goodbye Again (1980). Her specially commissioned works, Dilemma and Five Emotions, were premiered at the 1982 Singapore Arts Festival.
Soo Khim was then appointed Co-Artistic Director by the then Ministry of Culture in 1984, to nurture the Ballet Group of the National Dance Company. The group performed her specially commissioned ballet, Environmental Phases, which won acclaim for its originality in the 5th ASEAN Festival of Performing Arts in 1985. Soo Khim collaborated with Anthony Then to produce At The Ballet and Ballet Premiere for the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1984 and 1986.
Her first choreography for the SDT was Brahm’s Sentiments, which premiered in the company’s second season. In 1990, she restaged Environmental Phases for SDT in a celebratory concert for Singapore’s 25th Anniversary. More recently, Soo Khim has been actively providing opportunities for dancers to develop their potential as choreographers.She had been invited to adjudicate ballet competitions in Malaysia, Indonesia and is also on the international panel for the Asia Pacific Ballet Competition in Japan since 1991. She became the first Asian representative to be invited as a jury member for the prestigious Benois de la Danse Prix that took place in Moscow in April 2003.
Soo Khim was awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion in 1981 and the National Day Public Service Medal in 1989 for her outstanding contributions to the development of dance in Singapore. In 2002, she was awarded a Fellowship of LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts.
References
External links
|
