It was dances, songs and epic tales galore as Suntec City welcomed the Lunar New Year with a bang.
It was dances, songs and epic tales galore as Suntec City welcomed the Lunar New Year with a bang.
If astrologers are to be believed, those born in the Year of the Monkey are witty, creative and quite the life of the party. So it was fitting that Suntec City put up an exuberant show, which ran from early January to mid-February, to ring in the Year of the Red Fire Monkey. A riot of song and dance, it showcased the deft footwork of award-winning performing arts troupes from China, whose members lit up the stage with performances inspired by Chinese history and culture.
Deserving of a special mention is Gansu Dance Drama and Opera Ensemble’s performance of a snippet of its epic dance drama Silk Road, the six-act piece featured in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics opening ceremony. Dancers clad in saffron, emerald and indigo costumes leapt and soared as they depicted a tale of friendship between the Chinese and foreign merchants during the Tang dynasty – a period widely considered to be China’s golden age. The crowd at Suntec City was also treated to other riveting performances, such as To Meet The Grand Canal. Presented by children from the Hangzhou Opera and Dance Drama Theatre, it celebrates China’s Grand Canal, a manmade waterway that connects the country’s five great rivers, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze. Incidentally, this architectural marvel was named a Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site in 2014.
The Nanjing Little Red Flower Art Troupe, Anhui Performing Arts Group and Yunnan National Dress Performance Troupe, too, put forth entertaining acts. Apart from this arts and culture extravaganza, the 960,000 sq ft mall – one of the largest in Singapore – also held a Lunar New Year Spring Bazaar (right) at its North Atrium. The bazaar gave shoppers the chance to browse and buy traditional Chinese arts and crafts, such as paintings, silks and paper-cut art. Adding to the festive vibe was the mall’s decor. Elements of spring decorated the walls, glass doors and common areas, while the escalators, pillars and the landscaping around the Fountain of Wealth were adorned with red and pink blooms. The festivities closed with – what else? – a spirited lion dance performance on Feb 15. The acrobatic stunts executed by members of the Wen Yang Lion Dance Troupe atop high poles (right) made this the pinnacle of the festivities, bringing it all to a thrilling end. Huat a show, indeed.
