Old Telok Ayer comes alive through dance

As Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre moves into its 11th year, the company's performance on Aug 1 is a nostalgic reflection on the history of Telok Ayer.

- Jocelyn Chng

DANCE IMPRESSIONS OF TELOK AYER Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre Sota Drama Theatre Aug 1

A neighbourhood synonymous with the immigrant Chinese community during colonial times, the cultures of the various dialect groups who lived there have left their imprint on the surrounding area. Such a theme certainly aligns with the current zeitgeist of SG60 celebrations.

Impressions Of Telok Ayer is presented in four distinct segments, each giving a treatment of a different aspect of life in old Telok Ayer.

After a short prologue, the first segment, Strokes Upon A Faded Page, conjures up the challenging circumstances of Chinese immigrants in post-war Singapore, for whom home and family would have been distant yearnings.

The scene is presented against the backdrop of letter-writing. Calligrapher Koh Eng Tat performs the role of a letter-writer who helps illiterate clients write letters to their families back in China.