When my class reached the location, it was raining. Heavily. Many of us were complaining about the weather and how we were gong to get sick or feel uncomfortable throughout the show. Yet, the ushers there displayed warmth and friendliness as they passed out ponchos to us efficiently with bright smiles on their faces though they too, were stuck under the rain.
It took a long time for other schools and classes to reach and settle down in which during that time, we got soaked and left drenched from head to toe. In that period, the hosts did their best to distract us from the rain with activities like cheering competitions and kallang wave. I could feel their sincerity to let us have the best time there. Here are a few of the performances that left deep impressions on me.
The first performance had many girls dressed in a shining blue dress attatched to a crescent moon with stars stilt walking to 城里的月光, an old singapore song. It heigntened the mood with the dancer's enthusiasm. The song was a chinese song, but i noticed people from other races like indonesian, korean and indian! I do wonder how the people from other countries feel like after watching the performance! Proud? United? coming to a foreign land must be a whole new experience.
Crescent moon dancers
The next performance was one where there was a giant float with a huge malay drum placed on top. The lights flashed and everyone was cheering loudly by this time. A malay song was blasted at tip top volume while malay dancers did the malay dance, joget. They were dressed in the traditional malay costume, baju kurung, and danced expertisely to the rhythm of the music while one man stood on top of the float with the drum guiding the beat with the drum. The audiemce sang along to the music energeticly and i am sure everyone felt the singapore spirit then. i wonder if anyone felt nostalgic then, listening to the music and enjoying the dance, thinking about their childhood... As someone who spent a few years in malaysia when i was younger, i definately felt my childhood memories relived again.
malay dancers with drum
my favourite performance was the one where the ahboys to men theme song was played and a float was put up with bright lights with two giant army soldier figurines at the side on display. This is because Ah Boys to Men is one of the most famous and well known singaporean movies of all time. it it humorous and shows a lot of the singapirean life. the performers dressed up as officers spiced up things quite a bit and i laughed way too much for my own good.
ah boys to men
Chingay was set up in 1970 to celebrate chinese new year with fire crackers and fire works as a tradition.
fireworks
in 1976, chingay became a multicultural event, where many races come together to celebrate the chinese new year and embrace racial harmony.
Chingay definately fulfilled its purpose of uniting one singapore, different races. It allowed us to bond and remember.
