SINGAPORE \u2013 When the music started, the dancers swayed in unison, laughing and encouraging one another as they performed the Malay dance moves.<\/p>\n
Minutes later, the music changed, and the group seamlessly transitioned into an English dance.<\/p>\n
What began as an interest group to promote Malay dance has now evolved into a showcase of multiculturalism \u2013 among its members and in the art forms they are learning.<\/p>\n
Events organiser Seriwati Salim, 46, started the interest group in 2023 under the Toa Payoh West Community Club Malay Activity Executive Committee with just four members.<\/p>\n
After people from other races asked if they could join the group, it evolved into a multicultural dance troupe\u00a0with\u00a0more than 40 members aged seven to 73.<\/p>\n
Today, about half the members are Chinese, with about 30 per cent of the group Malay, 20 per cent Indian and two from Africa.<\/p>\n
Most are women, with only four men so far. They come from across Singapore, including Woodlands and Jurong.<\/p>\n
For them, racial harmony is not just a concept to be observed on July 21 yearly<\/span><\/a>, but part of their lived experience throughout the year.<\/p>\n The group is called Lentera Tari (dance lantern in Malay) \u201cbecause lanterns are used in Malay, Chinese and Indian culture\u201d, said Seriwati.<\/p>\n It performs\u00a0almost every month at grassroots events, festive celebrations and National Day functions, dancing to Malay, Chinese, Indian and English songs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Off the stage, members bond over meals, birthday celebrations and festive gatherings after their Tuesday and Sunday practice sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seriwati also invites members from different ethnic backgrounds to help choreograph dances from their own cultures.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a challenge coordinating members from the different ethnic groups, but for those who cannot understand English, the rest will help translate,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cDance is a universal language. When the music plays, we just have fun,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n To her, the dance group is a platform for all to learn more about each other\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n It is all right even if they forget their dance steps occasionally during performances.<\/p>\n \u201cJust smile,\u201d she told the members. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be perfect. The most important thing is to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n Retired teacher Annet Okullo, who hails from Uganda, travels from Pandan Gardens to Toa Payoh for practice sessions with her 24-year-old daughter, Eleena. Both are Singapore permanent residents.<\/p>\n Okullo, who knows Seriwati personally, said: \u201cI taught English at international schools, so I am sensitive to different cultures. I like this community because they are willing to share about their knowledge and cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n Kareena, who goes by one name,\u00a0joined in May after watching the group perform at an event.<\/p>\n The 60-year-old, who has some training in Bollywood dance, said: \u201cI was fascinated and asked if I could join them. Everyone here is very welcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n She also enjoys helping them with their Indian sarees, including tying the scarves.<\/p>\n To Seriwati Salim, the dance group is a platform for all of them to learn more about each other\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n To\u00a0many members, a highlight is being able to don different ethnic costumes and learn about them.<\/p>\n Maggie Liew, 72, loves wearing sarees during performances.<\/p>\n The part-time cleaner, who joined the group at the invitation of her friends, said in Mandarin: \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of glitter, and I get to wear many accessories, like all these bangles.\u201d<\/p>\n The former line dancer said she enjoys Malay dances as they are easier.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get to spend so much time with other races before this,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cEveryone is just so cooperative and helps each other with the moves.\u201d<\/p>\n Across Singapore, similar friendships are taking root through neighbourhood activities and simple daily routines.<\/p>\n Vellasamy Narayanasamy, Ho Thiam Chwee and Lee Weng Kay meet several times a week for coffee, gardening sessions and their favourite 10-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar Plaza to Chinatown Complex.<\/p>\n Their friendship began through Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru\u2019s H.U.N.C.L.E. (Healthy Uncles who Network, drink Coffee, Learn and Exercise) programme, launched in 2024 for men aged 50 and above to stay physically, mentally and socially active through exercise, health talks and community activities. More than 500 \u201cHuncles\u201d have joined.<\/p>\n (From left) Ho Thiam Chwee, Vellasamy Narayanasamy and Lee Weng Kay began their friendship through Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru\u2019s H.U.N.C.L.E. (Healthy Uncles who Network, drink Coffee, Learn and Exercise) programme.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: GIN TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n For 68-year-old part-time banquet staff Vellasamy, who lives alone, signing up was an easy decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want to spend all my time sitting at home,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I saw the poster at my lift lobby, I thought, why not?\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking English, Tamil, Malay and Hokkien, Vellasamy quickly became friends with the rest, including 68-year-old Ho, a retired lecturer, and 74-year-old Lee, a retired instrument mechanic.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re very helpful,\u201d Vellasamy said. \u201cThey keep me updated on community activities and even taught me how to download my CDC vouchers.\u201d<\/p>\n The trio attend festive celebrations organised by the Tanjong Pagar Community Club and Tanjong Pagar Plaza Residents\u2019 Network.<\/p>\n Vellasamy also invited his friends to his home for briyani during Deepavali. In return, his Chinese friends introduced him to Chinese New Year traditions.<\/p>\n \u201cAs he\u2019s still single, we give him red packets during Chinese New Year,\u201d said Lee. \u201cWe also share with him the Chinese customs that have been passed down through generations.\u201d<\/p>\n While Vellasamy admitted sheepishly that receiving red packets is his favourite part of the festivities, he has also picked up some Chinese customs, such as not sweeping the floor on the first day of the New Year.<\/p>\n When he travelled to Australia recently, he missed his buddies and called Ho about the chilly weather.<\/p>\n \u201cI told him to enjoy the cold while he could,\u201d said Ho, who offered to pick him up from the airport, with a laugh. \u201cSingapore is so hot.\u201d<\/p>\n They are planning a holiday together to Hat Yai.<\/p>\n Asked whether they have ever quarrelled, Ho was quick to say: \u201cNever! So old, quarrel for what?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n SINGAPORE \u2013 When the music started, the dancers swayed in unison, laughing and encouraging one another as they performed the Malay dance moves. Minutes later,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=70429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70429\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/70430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=70429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=70429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=70429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/picture><\/div>
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