Arts for All: Indian Cultural Night!

Did you know that classical Indian music and dance have been around for hundreds of years? Or that performances were only enjoyed by royalty in ancient times?

You’ll be glad to know, then, that on 25 Feb the Indian Cultural Night will be coming right to Kallang Community Club for you to enjoy!

Event: Indian Cultural Night

Performed by multi-ethnic performers, this showcase by the Temple of Fine Arts will be a great introduction to Indian classical music and dance for all ages. Get ready to be wowed by the sheer intricacy of the gestures and the depth of storytelling conveyed through the performance. The Indian Cultural Night is taking place as part of Arts for all, an island-wide celebration of over 25 arts and cultural activities from 15 – 26 Feb, with an exciting line-up of dance, music and theatrical performances, and even interactive visual art installations and hands-on workshops.

Before you head down to Indian Cultural Night, I’ve done a little homework for you about Indian classical music and dance:

Indian Classical Music
It mainly consists of the North Indian classical music tradition called Hindustani, while the South Indian expression is called Carnatic. It has a few fundamental elements which we will be taught to practise – the initial patterns called “Swaras”, the rhythm called “Tala” and melodic structure ” raga”.

Indian Classical Dance
I am so amazed at the different forms of classical dance and they come from all over India from different regions. It is not so easy to master these forms. There are 8 forms of classical dance-

· Bharatanatyam – from Tamil Nadu
· Kathak – from Northern/Western India
· Kuchipudi- from Andhra Pradesh
· Odissi- from Odisha
· Kathakali- from Kerala
· Sattriya- from Assam
· Manipuri- from Manipur
· Mohiniyattam- from Kerala

I remember my school days; we had mandatory classes for Indian music and dance as a part of the school curriculum. Of course, it wasn’t in-depth, but it served as an introduction to the classical arts that would, in turn, spark more interest in Indian culture. Arts & culture aren’t just about entertainment – it’s also good for the whole family to know about other cultures. So it’s great that today we can see Indian classical music and dance not just in the movies and theatres, but also at community places like Kallang CC, where everyone can enjoy them!

On that note, I thought I’d mention that Arts for All  will be taking place at 15 Community Arts and Culture Nodes islandwide. In case you haven’t discovered them, these nodes are actually a network of arts and cultural touchpoints, designed for people to come together and enjoy the arts right where they are.

So it’s time to whip out your calendars (or phones), mark down these dates and get set for a thrilling arts adventure!

Arts by the Waterway, SAFRA Punggol

Details: Sun, 19 Feb 2017, 1pm – 4pm

Join acclaimed story-teller Roger Jenkins as he takes children on a heroes-themed magical journey through stories, games and crafts.

Don’t miss the other signature event at Siglap South CC featuring Subin Subaiah, Gerald Chew and Krissy Jesudason. Embark on an amazing journey with them to experience the Navarasas (or 9 Basic Human Emotions) through the immortal words of William Shakespeare as we celebrate his 400th anniversary.

For tickets, call 62411925.

Monthly Music Series, Pasir Ris Elias CC

As part of Pasir Ris Elias CC’s monthly music series, join The Shanghai Jazz Club (爵队上海) on a trip to yesteryear where Shanghai Jazz music filled the dance halls and airwaves of 1930s Shanghai.

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Arts for All!

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3. Hashtag #artsforallsg and #MumsBabiesgiveaway
4. Complete a survey at any Arts for All event and walk away with your tote bag!

Stay tuned for more details:

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