International Dance Day (World Dance Day) has been celebrated worldwide since 1982. Initially, the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO marked the auspicious date of April 29, Ballet master Jean-Georges Noverre’s birthday, as a day to celebrate dance around the globe. Subsequent years saw festivities extended throughout the following weeks.
WDAS, along with the global dance community, has been celebrating the International Dance Day for the past three years. Following a successful inaugural International Dance Day event held at the National Library in May 2008, WDAS in partnership with the National Arts Council returned to The Plaza, National Library to kick off International Dance Week on Saturday 18 April 2009. Satellite events presented by Maya Dance Theatre, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy and Arts @ Chong Pang conducted activities at their own premises.
2010 witnessed the metamorphosis of ‘International Dance Week’ into ‘Singapore Dance Week’ in giving the event a local flavour and a sense of identity.
WDAS, along with the global dance community, has been celebrating the International Dance Day for the past three years. Following a successful inaugural International Dance Day event held at the National Library in May 2008, WDAS in partnership with the National Arts Council returned to The Plaza, National Library to kick off International Dance Week on Saturday 18 April 2009. Satellite events presented by Maya Dance Theatre, Bhaskar’s Arts Academy and Arts @ Chong Pang conducted activities at their own premises.
2010 witnessed the metamorphosis of ‘International Dance Week’ into ‘Singapore Dance Week’ in giving the event a local flavour and a sense of identity.
Singapore Dance Week 2010 kicked off at the Merlion Park on Sat, 22 May 2010 at 6pm. WDAS worked closely with Fullerton Heritage, the official sponsor of the launch event.
Exciting highlights of the opening event at the Merlion Park included a hip hop workshop, a senior citizens’ Zapin Aerobics demonstration, multicultural music and dance performance of the Ramayana by the group Arts Atria, and a dance flash mob, a sequence of simple dance moves, choreographed by younger members of WDAS that were taught on the spot to visitors and participants. The music for this dance was provided by the local Singaporean fusion Gammelan group, GammaRays. Students of dance from various schools and dance institutions in Singapore were present to join in the flash mob and to participate in the hour long performance that followed. The dancers were from different dance and ethnic backgrounds - Chinese, Malay, Indian, Jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance.
The opening event on May 22nd was followed by a full week of dance happenings around Singapore - mini performances, workshops, lec-dems, open house, open rehearsals etc in schools, community centres, dance studios, parks, etc. Some of the events included Chinese and Indian Dance at Kreta Ayer Square, an evening of Malay Dance at Dhoby Ghaut Green and an experimental Indian Dance workshop at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. Singapore Dance Week closed on May 29th 2010 at the Dhoby Ghaut Green with a staging of dance works by members of WDAS. At this event, WDAS honoured two dance pioneers of Singapore, Mdm Som Said and Mrs Santha Bhaskar, who have contributed significantly in creating Singapore’s vibrant dance scene.
The opening event on May 22nd was followed by a full week of dance happenings around Singapore - mini performances, workshops, lec-dems, open house, open rehearsals etc in schools, community centres, dance studios, parks, etc. Some of the events included Chinese and Indian Dance at Kreta Ayer Square, an evening of Malay Dance at Dhoby Ghaut Green and an experimental Indian Dance workshop at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. Singapore Dance Week closed on May 29th 2010 at the Dhoby Ghaut Green with a staging of dance works by members of WDAS. At this event, WDAS honoured two dance pioneers of Singapore, Mdm Som Said and Mrs Santha Bhaskar, who have contributed significantly in creating Singapore’s vibrant dance scene.
