Celebrate the beauty and richness of traditional arts at Stamford Arts Centre (SAC) on Aug 25 and 26. “A Date with Tradition”, organised by Arts House Limited and held in conjunction with the Singapore Night Festival, features two evenings of captivating performances, hands-on activities and artist showcases by local traditional arts groups.
There are over 15 traditional arts programmes and activities to take part in. And the best part? They are all free (but some require registration). Here are some highlights.
1. Embark on a self-healing journey inward with Kedai Sinseh. The performance is a cross-cultural collaboration between Chinese chamber ensemble Ding Yi Music Company and Malay dance company P7:1SMA. Drawing inspiration from Traditional Chinese Medicine, audiences can look towards this marriage of Chinese and Malay traditions as performative remedies for the mind, body and soul.
2. Explore the vibrant world of Nanyang art with “Glow-in-the-dark Paper Fruit Baskets Inspired By Nanyang Artists”. Traditional meets modern in this programme, where visitors will get to incorporate contemporary glow-in-the-dark paint with intricate painting styles specific to Singapore’s pioneer art movement, the Nanyang Style.
3. Uncover the historical charm of traditional Chinese knots with “A Peek into Traditional Chinese Knots” by Wearable Craft. Master the know-hows of Chinese knotting with a tour of local artist Chee Sau Fern’s open studio,. Visitors will get to discover firsthand the practice of creating headwear pieces from scratch and the importance of preserving such disappearing craft traditions.
4. Immerse in the beats of traditional Malay music with Silent Joget by Sri Warisan. Visitors can connect with traditional Malay music in an intimate way as they try their hand at dancing its various styles – from the graceful Asli to the fast-paced Joget.
5. Deepen your understanding of the Indian saree with “Indian Rainbow 11: Saree Draping Styles”. The Indian saree is an article of clothing that is universally known, but not many know how to properly tie it. Learn firsthand how to tie the saree under the guidance of an expert from Shantha Ratii Initiatives.
6. Dive into a world of nostalgia with “UPSIZED Fun and Games”. Upsized versions of traditional childhood games like five stones, pick-up sticks and the eraser battles will delight the young and old.
7. Admire the captivating night light installations around SAC. Come nightfall, SAC will be illuminated with night light art installations by local artists Tay Swee Siong and Critical Craft Collective from Aug 18 to 27 in conjunction with Singapore Night Festival 2023.
“A Date with Tradition” is held at Stamford Arts Centre, 155 Waterloo Street Singapore 187962, on Aug 25 and 26, from 5pm to 11pm.
