Inter/change
NUS Chinese Dance and NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble
10 Mar | 8 pm | UCC Ho Bee Auditorium
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DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Jenny Neo
Artistic Director
Welcome to Inter/change: a collaboration between NUS Chinese Dance and NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble where the rapport of music and movement invigorated the authentic exchange of cultures.
The inspiration for this work came from the legacy of the Silk Road, which served as a cultural artery for exchange of goods and cultures between the East and the West. I would like to thank NUS Centre For the Arts for giving me this opportunity and trust to direct this production. Moreover, it has been a joy to be able to work with Mr Nawas Mirajkar, the artistic director of NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble. We met in 2017 at the ASEAN Arts Forum exchange in Thailand, where we both represented Singapore in sharing our arts and skills with the participants. Over there, we shared our thoughts and really looked forward to collaborating in the future. And this dream will finally come alive here at the NUS Arts Festival. Inter/change is going to be a glorious treat and a luxurious enjoyment. Luxurious not because it is expensive but the special and rich blend it will present. Be prepared to be enriched with a myraid of flavors of the Silk Road we have carefully handpicked. So, do join us on this exciting journey specially curated for you.
Mr Nawaz mirajkar
Music Director
I always envisioned a collaboration between IIE and Chinese Dance, having had some discussions with Miss Jenny on the subject for the past two to three years, and now it is finally materialising on such a grand scale.
We decided on the concept of the Silk Road because it perfectly describes the fusion of cultures, artforms and traditions in a visual metaphor. The Silk Road was integral for cultural exchange and interactions between different peoples, having a great significance on our modern globalised world. Inter/change is like a bouquet of flowers where the different flowers are all stories of the mystical Silk Road, a confluence of civilisations and mutual inspirations leading to many revolutionary scientific and more importantly, artistic inventions. Each piece of this production is specially composed and arranged for this purpose. We portray the lifestyle of the nomadic peoples living in the Silk Road through pieces which are a conglomerate of Spanish, Persian and Indian musical styles. We also portray the technological revolution caused by the Silk Road through the exploration of an Indian raga done through a Chinese style.We promise to showcase to you the rich flavours and vibrating melodies of Asia. I am so excited to be able to bring you another program with the amazing talent of NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble, Chinese Dance, and Chinese Orchestra. I really had great fun working with each of them. We hope you'll enjoy the graceful dances and the breathtaking music. Most importantly hope all of you would enjoy this unique blend of music and dance, our own odyssey through the Silk Road called “Inter/Change”.
Inspired by the historic Silk Route, NUS Chinese Dance and NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble come together for the first time in a vibrant, dynamic collaboration exploring how the space between destinations can host a lively interchange for the flow of art and ideas.
SYNOPSIS
For the first time, NUS Chinese Dance and NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble come together in this vibrant, dynamic collaboration, inspired by the historic Silk Route. This exploration of journeys and discovery features the artistic direction of Neo Jenny, choreography by Xiao Jing, and music led by Nawaz Mirajkar.
Discover how the space between two destinations can host a lively interchange of art and ideas, resulting in an enduring economic and cultural legacy, as well as a diverse melting pot of communities.
COMPOSITION list
Prelude 序幕
The Origin of Silk 春蚕一生
Composition: Prarambh - The beginning
Scene 1 第一幕
The Northern Routes: The Cave of Dunhuang 北路
Composition: Mangal Dhwani
Scene 2 第二幕
The Southern Routes: The Path of New Beliefs 新的信仰之路
Composition: Trail of Traditions
Scene 3 第三幕
The Great Inventions 伟大的发明
Composition: Panchakala - The Mystical 5
Epilogue 尾声
The Modern Silkroad 现代丝绸之路
Composition: Sangeet Utsav - A celebration
CREATIVE TEAM
Jenny Neo
Artistic Director
Xiao Jing
Choreographer
Mr Nawaz Mirajkar
Music Director
MUSICIANS
Vocalists
Aparna Giri Shankar, Srishti Ramakrishnan, Sneha Athreya, Rasamayi Rallapalli Vembar Srinivasa, Vidya Pradeep, Rajanala Sri Priyanka, Harshita Krishna, Deethya Ganesh, Vignesh Iyer, Jev Akshay Jeevan
Plucked Strings
Divyadarshini Thiru, Eshitha Jithendra Kumar, Uma Gowri Ramanathan, Vedisha V Roopun, Chan Xin Tong
Violins
Viasar Malavar, Shalini Seshadri, Neha Lakshmanan
Keys
Ashwin Seetharaman, Vaishnavi Hari, Shantanu Modak
Percussion
G Lakshmanan, Abhishek Balaji, Srinivasa Ramanujan
NUS Chinese Orchestra Musicians
Gildon Choo, Zhao Zhuohan, Emannuelle Ng, Bian Tong
Guest Musician
Azrin Abdullah
DANCERS
Ling Jia Yan, Deborah
Prelude & Scene 2
Passion Goh Wei Ling
Prelude & Scene 2
Sarita Zhang
Prelude & Scene 2
Seah Yi Yi Chloe
Prelude & Scene 2
Teo Kate-Lyn
Prelude & Scene 2
Chen Jiafang
Prelude & Scene 2
Gao Yuanhui
Prelude & Scene 2
Li Shuning
Prelude & Scene 2
Liew Shaw Jun
Prelude & Scene 2
Long Yiqi
Prelude & Scene 2
Sima Luyue
Prelude & Scene 2
Soh Wan Ying
Prelude & Scene 2
Tang Shu Hua, Chloe
Prelude & Scene 2
Choo Bei Fang Amy
Prelude & Scene 2
Fu Ziying
Prelude & Scene 2
Lam Si Man
Prelude & Scene 2
Liu Yutong
Scene 2
Cheng Yixin
Scene 2
Yong Fong Sin
Scene 1 & 2
Mohamad Syazraid Aidil Bin Mohamad Sulaiman
Scene 1 & 2
Chong Jun Hoe
Scene 1 & 2
Poh Jing Cheng Desmond
Scene 1 & 2
Wong Liang Yu, Bernard
Scene 1 & 2
Cheah Man Lin
Scene 1 & 3
Tong Kai Qing Chermine
Scene 1 & 3
Phua Suet Cheng
Scene 1 & 3
Chloe Foo Yunn Shah
Scene 1 & 3
Xing Hui Xin
Scene 1 & 3
Liu Jiaqi Georgia
Scene 1 & 3
Wong Xiang Fang
Scene 1 & 3
Lee Ruo Shi
Scene 1 & 3
Tan Qian Ni
Scene 1 & 3
Tan Yee Bin
Scene 1 & 3
Liu Yumeng
Scene 1
Ng Yan Zhi
Scene 1
Hu Yi
Scene 1
Zhang Xiaoqian
Scene 1
Yan Yizhou
Scene 1
Tan Qiu Yue
Scene 1
Yang Xueqi
Scene 1
Goh Yee Xin
Scene 1
Song Zihan
Scene 1
Li Haojuan
Scene 1
Wang Sizhe
Scene 1
NUS Chinese Dance
Over the last 40 years, NUS Chinese Dance has earned a reputation for excellence through the development and performance of a repertoire of highly challenging works – from technically demanding traditional Chinese dance to fresh and evocative contemporary Chinese pieces.
As part of a continued mission to raise the standards of Chinese dance, dancers are given a firm grounding in traditional Chinese dance aesthetics, while also being encouraged to explore contemporary styles and choreography as part of their dance development.
Through a combination of performances within NUS and various external engagements, NUS Chinese Dance aims to foster expertise and experience in Chinese dance as well as an appreciation for Chinese culture, striving to bring this unique art form to the masses. NUS Chinese Dance also regularly collaborates with overseas dance troupes, such as the internationally acclaimed Beijing Dance Academy.
NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble
Through the practice and performance of music that has its roots deep within Indian culture, the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) provides an open and inclusive environment to stage cultural dialogues with a diverse range of genres across the world.
Since its founding in 1987, IIE has explored a variety of themes that form the basis of traditional Indian music ranging from the evolution of music in the Indians sub-continent to religion and socio-political dialogues in the South Asian region.
IIE is made up primarily of four musical sections – percussion, plucked strings, violin, keys and vocals – with members also proficient in other instruments such as the flute and ukulele. This range of instruments allows IIE to perform music that is representative of the ethnic diversity within India, from the Hindustani music of North India to the Carnatic music of South India. IIE continues to champion the traditional art form within the context of world music through grounding themselves in the pure rudiments of Indian music while experimenting and exploring with fusing the old and the new. By blending Eastern and Western instrumentation and influences, IIE hopes that a bold new sound can be brought forth that reflects the vibrant identity of modern Asian youth today.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 22/23
NUS Chinese Dance
NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble
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CREDITS
Benedict Soh
River Valley High School
Grace Chen Liang
