Do you ever get that feeling inside your bones to just get up and move? The National Arts Council is bringing back the Got To Move nationwide dance movement for the third time this October, and whether you’re a prima ballerina or think you have two left feet, there’s more than enough activities and programmes to cater to each and every level of dancer!
Got to Move is a national initiative intended to engage the public more keenly with the dance medium, anywhere and everywhere and making it a key part of their daily life. Since beginning in 2015, Got to Move has only been growing stronger with each subsequent year, seeing an increase in participation and bigger and better programmes each time. This time around, Got to Move will be collaborating with organisations beyond the arts alone, including both the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and ActiveSG, creating a concerted, cross disciplinary effort to promote the local dance scene.
A key component of Got to Move will be the ISLANDWIDE programme, a ‘festival’ that will feature a total of 39 programmes partners held daily from 13th to 29th October all across Singapore. Split into three sections based on the activities’ target audience, highlights from the programmes include a multi-genre urban dance workshop for youths (Little Red Dot Challenge by Legacy Dance Co), a multi-generation traditional barn dance workshop by The DanceSport Academy, and a new dance app that provides an augmented dance experience by Telematique. Whether you’re a senior, a kid or simply want to learn something new about dance, these free dance programmes are available for anyone and everyone to be a part of: all you have to do is sign up!
For the first time this year, Got to Move will also be engaging 14 ambassadors to share their own experiences with dance and having made it a key part of their life, promoting how it can be beneficial to mind, body and general well-being. At the media preview we were introduced to three of the ambassadors that will be participating in Got to Move: Serene Tan, art director of the Sheng Hong Arts Institute and trained in Chinese Dance since her youth, Seema Harikumar, an Indian dancer with Apsaras Arts, and ex-SOTA dance student Deanna Binte Dzulkifli, who delved into choreography and production management while recovering from a final fusion surgery that left her unable to dance for a few months.
The Got to Move ambassadors will also be key in spreading word about the Got to Move inaugural social media challenge. Titled the “Happy Dance Challenge”, the friendly competition will encourage members of the public to upload a short video of their own unique happy dance on social media platforms using the hashtag #GotToMoveSG, and even stand to win attractive prizes. Check out their informative How To video in the link below:
The entire Got to Move culminates in a final, half day celebration titled the “Got to Move SPOTLIGHT”. Held around the Civic District on a car free Sunday (29th October) from 8am-12pm, SPOTLIGHT will be anchored by its central activity of the Got to Move Dance-Walk, a fun walk in collaboration with ActiveSG that will be led by instructors who will guide them through the route and incorporate dance into their movements as they walk. Along the way, participants will also be taking breaks at pit stops, where they can engage in more dance-related activities, along with enjoying performances and a mega-selection of activities throughout the rest of the carnival, organized by local dance companies and groups.
It doesn’t end here though; Got to Move will continue in March and June 2018 with two additional pop up events to be announced so Singapore can be motivated to keep dancing each and every day of the year! But for now, keep those leg muscles warmed up and a steady rhythm going as you get ready to shake it out and dance at the 2017 edition of Got to Move this October!
Photo Credit: National Arts Council
Got to Move 2017 takes place from 13th – 29th October at various venues across Singapore. For a full list of free events and registration, check out NAC’s website here
Got to Move 2017 will culminate in a mega half day festival on 29th October around the Civic District. For full details and a map of the events that will be happening on the day itself, check out the website here
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