Chingay 2017: Bringing families closer together

THE LOVE OF A MOTHER: Madam Liu Bo Ping helping her daughter to prepare for the Chingay 2017 full dress rehearsal. She straightens out her daughter's costume and adjusts her accessories to make her look performance-ready. (PHOTO: Chelsea Charlotte Smith)

On normal weekends, families usually spend time at home or out at malls spending time together. However, the Liu family has been spending their weekends a little differently. Madam Liu Bo Ping and her daughters are part of the growing number of families seen signing up to be performers at the Chingay parade. Having gotten the opportunity to perform through her two daughters’ dance instructor asking her to do so, she feels that there are more benefits to joining the parade as a performer. “I am very happy as this serves as a bonding session together as a family,” says Madam Liu, who is performing in the “WeCare For The Past” segment of this year’s Chingay. Many performers from the segment also share the same sentiments as her which has resulted in the wide performer’s age range which is 3 to 73 years old. Despite the age differences, this opportunity has allowed performers to mingle with one another. In fact, performers are using this chance to appreciate the one another. Mdm Ng Siew Moy, who is the contingent leader of the Chinese Dance Artistes’ Association (CDAA) says: “Performers that are young and old have a very good chance to understand what Chingay really is about.” Younger performers who have no clue about what traditional Chinese dance was like 40 years ago now have the chance to learn more about its culture.

Teamwork and a sense of camaraderie can be seen when performers are mingling with one another. This is surely due to the habit of performers chatting with one another and sharing personal stories. It is also an avenue for performers who have performed in Chingay before, to share their past experiences. From putting in countless hours of rehearsals to performing in the rain, these families agree that it has been an exhausting experience so far. While there are renowned dance instructors assisting and participating in the parade, most of the performers performing with their family members feel that their efforts have been worthwhile as nothing compares to the thrill and pride that they get from performing in front of a huge crowd. Mdm Liu, who is participating with her family members for the first time, hopes that it will become a yearly tradition of her performing in the Chingay parade with her daughters. She, along with other families, believe that in a nation where parents are working long hours and students are busy with school commitments, participating in Chingay allows them to get a breather and is also an outlet for them to have fun and bond. Chingay 2017 has become a platform used by many to broaden their perspectives and learn from one another. Having started performance practices since ­­November 2016, performers have gotten the invaluable chance of working with people from all walks of life. This has helped shaped them into people who understand the value of teamwork, unity and perseverance.

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