Preview: Got To Move 2018 by National Arts Council

The fourth edition of the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Got to Move (GTM) is back this October to get the public on their feet and dancing away! Celebrating Singapore’s diverse dance forms all across the nation, the initiative aims to grow appreciation for dance in Singapore and in this edition, will explore creative ways of bringing Singaporeans together through its programming.

GTM 2018 will engage the public with dance programmes of all forms, working particularly on reaching out with inclusive programming to engage children and youths from under-served communities, so that everyone from all walks of life have the opportunity to experience and appreciate dance.

Back in May, NAC organised a networking session in May for interested islandwide, in which past participants of GTM spoke about the public dance programmes they had organised, and attendees discussed how this year’s programming could be improved with even more unique offerings.

Says Toh Bao En, Outreach Lead for RedDot Bhangra: “The networking session allowed me to meet like-minded advocates who are spreading the message that dance is for anyone and everyone, and that it knows no boundaries. I was fortunate to have met and eventually collaborated with talented individuals to produce a special joint Got to Move ISLANDWIDE programme this year. As a result, RedDot Bhangra, Dance Dynamics and P7:1SMA will be coming together to run a programme that allows the public to sample Indian, Chinese and Malay dance forms, and dress up in the traditional dance costumes of each culture.”

GTM 2018 will be officially launched with an anchor festival running daily from 12th to 28th October, featuring a wide range of ground-up dance programmes all around the island, from unusual event spaces, like on the roof garden of Lot One Shopper’s Mall and a coffee shop in Lengkok Bahru. Other highlights of this year include Singapore’s first social dance-cum-street dance party, a special co-choreographed piece between a hearing and a hearing-impaired choreographer, and activities that allow participants of all ages to learn different dance styles and groove along Orchard Road.

At the end of the two week festival, GTM will celebrate with a single mega carnival held at the Civic District on 28th October from 8.30am to 12pm. Welcoming participants of all ages, the public can look forward to get their groove on and work up a sweat with fun-filled activities incorporating different dance genres or enjoy themselves at the dance photography exhibition. Held in conjunction with Car-Free Sunday SG in October, the carnival continues to support and cement NAC’s commitment to reinvent and activate urban spaces by bringing communities together through the arts.

Also happening during the carnival will be the return of Got to Move Dance-Walk, a playful mashup between a danceathon and walkathon. Conceptualised by Creative Producer Ryan Tan, in collaboration with SportSG, the event starts off with a fun warm-up routine, participants are then flagged off from the National Gallery Singapore City Hall Steps and make their way through stops along the route where they get to learn different dance moves.

Says Ms Diana Seng, Director of ActiveSG Academies and Clubs, Sport Singapore: “We are excited to be partnering with NAC. Exercise and fitness doesn’t always have to be boring and we hope that the specially choreographed Dance-Walk will show people that walking too, can be a good workout infused with fun. We look forward to seeing families, friends and colleagues come to join in the Got to Move Dance-Walk together with our SportSG ambassadors. Participants can make new friends and have fun while living better through sport.”

Says Ms Elaine Ng, Senior Director of Sector Development for Performing Arts at NAC: “Got to Move provides Singaporeans not only the opportunity to get a snapshot of the vibrant dance scene but also the chance to be inspired and engaged through the diverse range of programmes. This edition will also see more activities for families with young children and cross-genre collaborations as GTM continues to be a platform for our artists to work together and push their creative boundaries to reach a wider audience.”

This October, get movin’ with the National Arts Council as the island gets up to go dancing in every unexpected corner, with Got to Move 2018.

Photo Credit: National Arts Council

Got to Move ISLANDWIDE 2018 takes place from 12th – 28th October 2018 across various venues, culminating in a mass event (Got to Move SPOTLIGHT) on 28th 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, while a full list of events can be found here