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CULTURAL DANCE SINGAPORE

The dances of Singapore are primarily influenced by various international countries. The majority of them are from China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Asian nations, but they are not limited to any one ethnic group. Their classical and modern techniques are combined in their traditional forms. Each dance form shares a commonality in that it maintains ethnic traditions and beliefs while artistically illustrating social customs and ideas. Each type of dance in Singapore has a dynamic and symbolic visual impact. The importance of each form varies, though. One can be staged at any event, whereas the other can be performed at celebrations. Drama and traditional music are combined in this dominant form of expression. Singapore's cultural dance history When it comes to the history of dancing as an art form, Singapore has a particularly interesting one. After World War II, Singaporeans started a unified anti-colonial movement for multicultural activities. A Ministry of Culture was later established in 1959 to encourage the preservation and promotion of Chinese, Malay, and Indian dances. At the time, Western Modern Dance was still not widely practiced in Singapore. Up until that point, Western influence was discouraged and stigmatized as undesirable.

The most important turning point occurred in 1963, when the Singapore government constructed its first National Theatre showcasing the growth of local and regional ethnic dance. Following this important development, Singapore hosted the first Southeast Asia Cultural Festival to support the arts, particularly dance. Finally, Singapore's People's Association Dance Company begins to take shape in the 1970s. The first National Dance Festival was held in 1978; it later changed its name to Festival of Asian Performing Arts and is now known as Singapore Art Festival. Singaporean dances Traditional dances did the same in the 1980s. In addition to other Asian cultural influences from Malaysia, India, and other nations, Singapore had a predominately Chinese culture. It incorporates a variety of customs and methods from various dance cultures in Singaporean style.