《如果是现在》 If it's Now (2022)

About Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Esplanade is Singapore’s national performing arts centre. It hosts a year-round line-up of about 3,500 All rights reserved. Information correct at time of print. UEN:199205206G live performances and activities presented by Esplanade, its partners and hirers. Esplanade also brings the arts virtually to audiences in Singapore and beyond, through its diverse range of digital programmes on Esplanade Offstage, an all-access backstage pass to the performing arts and guide to Singapore and Asian arts and culture, with videos, podcasts, articles, quizzes and resources. As an arts centre for everyone, Esplanade also creates opportunities for seniors, youth, children and underserved communities to experience the arts. More than 70% of the shows that take place each year at the centre are free for all to enjoy. The centre works in close partnership with local, regional and international artists to develop artistic capabilities and content, push artistic boundaries and engage audiences. Esplanade supports the creation of artistic content by commissioning and producing new Singapore and Asian work for the international stage. It also develops technical capabilities for the industry nationally. Turning 20 in 2022, Esplanade marks the occasion with a year-long celebration themed 20 and Beyond: Keeping the Lights On. In addition to the presentations of its year-long festivals, programme series, and special initiatives and events, there will also be a season of new works by Singapore and Asian artists specially commissioned for the arts centre’s 20th anniversary and of cial opening of its newest venue, Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is operated by The Esplanade Co Ltd (TECL), which is a not- for-pro t organisation, a registered Charity and an Institution of a Public Character. The Charity Council awarded TECL the Charity Governance Award – Special Commendation for Clarity of Strategy in 2016, and the Charity Transparency Award for four consecutive years since 2016. Esplanade is Singapore’s rst Dementia-Friendly Arts Venue and a certi ed Dementia Go-To Point, as well as a Guide-dog Friendly centre. TECL receives funding support from Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and its Community Programmes are supported by Tote Board Family, comprising Tote Board, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. Visit Esplanade.com for more information. Board Members Mr LeeTzuYang (Chairman) Mr Daryl Neo MsYvonneTham (Chief Executive Of cer) Mr Kenny Powar Ms Janet Ang Ms Rahayu Buang Mrs Rosa Daniel Mr Sim Hwee Cher Mr Lee Eng Beng Mr Suhaimi Zainul Abidin Ms Lee Huay Leng Dr MingTan Mrs Clara Lim-Tan Esplanade is a proud member of Association of Asia Pacific www.esplanade.com EsplanadeSG Performing Art Centres EsplanadeSingapore www.aappac.com #esplanadesg #mydurian 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 Tel: 6828 8222 Fax: 6337 3633 Customer Service Hotline: 6828 8377 SISTIC Hotline: 6348 5555

FESTIVAL MESSAGE How have you been coping with the pandemic? At the start of 2021, with more flexibility while working from home, I decided to commit to a healthier lifestyle and joined a fitness programme. Each 45min session of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) left me totally exhausted. But I persevered. Three months later, I found that the dopamine released at the end of every session made me feel cheerier and increaseda my optimism. I lost some weight in the process too! To keep ourselves going in this pandemic, we have to each find our own way to stay strong—not just physically but mentally. For those working in the creative and performing arts industries, this pandemic has brought about many “what ifs” and uncertainties: from reduced seating capacities, changing audience priorities, to the lack of resources and restrictive safe management guidelines that complicate the creative process. But we persevered. We must. Arts institutions and artists persevere not only because creating and presenting the arts is what we do. We are also cognisant that the arts can sensitively and critically reflect the times we live in, and play a part in bringing inspiration, optimism and strength amidst the difficulties. Or at the very least, the arts can entertain and make one laugh, even after a hard day. And so for this 20th edition of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, we bring to you new, original works by Singapore artists (five commissions and two co-productions) that delve into what really matters in our lives in times like this. First and foremost, family bonds. In the original play, Between You and Me, written and directed by Nelson Chia of Nine Years Theatre and featuring a strong cast, a long-buried family secret is unveiled when a celebrated actress and a mother of three daughters come under the spotlight once again after winning a prestigious film award. It is timely that as Nine Years Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022, they are commissioned to stage their first large-scale production at the Esplanade Theatre. Or join Tuan Tuan as she hosts an interactive virtual reunion dinner for family, friends and strangers alike in You’re Invited, a digital production by Artwave Studio commissioned for the festival. Next, it’s about staying healthy. What would a music concert inspired by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Chinese philosophy be like? Hear it for yourself in the newly commissioned work, 5lements by Ding Yi Music Company, Singapore’s leading Chinese chamber music ensemble commemorating its 15th anniversary in 2022. 1

What’s a healthy lifestyle without mental wellness? Experience the powerful story of a man who keeps a list of all the things that make him happy in his life, in Every Brilliant Thing, written, directed and performed by the talented Oliver Chong and co-produced with The Finger Players. In the newly commissioned Get in Touch – A Theatrical Music Concert featuring pipa artist Gildon Choo and ruan musician Leah Lo, amongst others, we bring audiences on a musical journey that shines a light on mental issues and the importance of feeling connected. Besides looking from within, we also need to be more aware of our environment and the struggles others are facing in our society. Veteran Singapore theatre practitioner Tan Beng Tian revives Karung Guni Boy, an original production for children, first presented in Esplanade’s PLAYtime! series, that teaches all of us to look out for the people around us. Experience the bittersweet stories of women from different eras fighting against traditional female stereotypes told through the language of dance in If It’s Now, co-produced with Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre. In addition to these exciting live performances, audiences can also look forward to film screenings of Read Sing Eileen Chang and Reading Dreams, Talking Narratives by Zuni Icosahedron (Hong Kong). In our second iteration of the Dance en Scene series, Esplanade is commissioning well-known Singapore filmmaker Royston Tan to produce a new dance film co-choreographed by Zhuo Zihao and Yarra Ileto. As we commemorate 20 years of Huayi, we look forward to the festival growing stronger and more meaningful year on year. Our heartfelt thanks go to our Principal Sponsor Knife Cooking Oil, Supporting Sponsor Berries 百力果 and Supporters Polar Premium Drinking Water and The Silent Foundation. We remain grateful to all those who have journeyed with us including our artists and audiences who have supported us and believed in our aim for Huayi to be the pinnacle festival for Chinese artists around the world. May we inspire and lift each other’s spirits as one community in the Year of the Tiger! WOOHU! Delvin Lee Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts Senior Producer   2

MESSAGE BY KNIFE BRAND Knife brand is a household name in Singapore that is synonymous with wholesome family cooking since 1948. With its unique peanut aroma and proprietary blend, Knife brand cooking oil is a perfect cooking aid that brings the family together over the dining table throughout the festive period. As part of our continuous support for the arts and culture, which are especially needed at a unique time like this, Lam Soon’s Knife brand is proud to be the Principal Sponsor of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, for the fourth year running. We hope you will enjoy the festival this year, both online and in person! We wish you and your family a Happy Chinese New Year! 虎福临门! Mr. Whang Shang Ying Executive Chairman Lam Soon Singapore Pte Ltd.   3

ARTISTIC From a young age, I have been DIRECTOR’S fascinated with narrative writing, and MESSAGE I enjoyed putting myself in the shoes of the protagonist, wondering: “If I were ‘him’…” I would like to express my gratitude to Esplanade for the opportunity to co-produce If It’s Now in this year’s Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, co- choreographed by Ben and myself. I am grateful to be able to work with Ben for this production. The fusion of masculinity and femininity in our work, along with his positive spirit of “everything has a way out”, have greatly inspired me to strive for greater heights in dance. I cherish every creative process in my choreography, and especially so for this production because of its theme. It has allowed me to deepen my understanding of the struggles women had to endure through time, which largely centred around their roles, identities, and statuses. If It’s Now will be presenting women’s experiences in the past and present through the interaction of different timings, space and characters. The transformation of time and space, the evolution from past to present, and the contrast and fusion of art—do join us to see how this work unveils! Neo Jenny Artistic Director Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre 4

CREATIVE Persevere through innovation, innovate DIRECTOR’S through perseverance. MESSAGE Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre is honoured to be part of this year’s Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, where we will be presenting If It’s Now. The work translates the emotional and physical forces of love, suffering and life into a profound work of dance installation, created for a specific dimension of time and designed to change the perception of the performing space. In different time-spaces of different eras, If It’s Now reflects on the role and identity of women through an exploration of traditional female stereotypes and a celebration of femininity. It is my pleasure to work with Jenny, a long-time friend who shares similar beliefs and values in dance-making, to persevere through innovation and innovate through perseverance, all while holding on dearly to our roots. I look forward to sharing our new creation with the audience. I strongly encourage all our existing audiences as well as those who are new to us to watch it with an open mind, as this new work reflects upon different perspectives and interpretations of the evolution of Chinese dance. Benedict Soh Creative Director Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre   5

SYNOPSIS If It’s Now If we were to traverse the paths of the past, would we be happier? If we were to attempt what was done in the past, would things turn out differently? If It’s Now by Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre (SCDT) is inspired by the many bittersweet stories of women from different eras and the labels that they have borne, and the work explores the journey of women through time. Co-choreographed by acclaimed dance practitioners Neo Jenny and Benedict Soh, Artistic Director and Creative Director respectively of SCDT, If It’s Now reflects on the role and identity of a woman through an exploration of traditional female stereotypes and a celebration of femininity. The past and present meet in a showcase of classical Chinese dance and an evolving contemporary style that is a hallmark of SCDT. (45mins, no intermission) Narrated in Mandarin, no surtitles. Admission for ages 13 and above. 6

INSPIRATION BEHIND THE WORK Flowerpot shoes Despite foot binding being widely practiced, the Manchu women did not practise it. In fact, foot binding was banned by Manchu rulers. However, small feet were still seen as a symbol of beauty amongst women, which made the Manchu women envious of the Han women’s small feet. In order to achieve this without binding their feet, they wore flowerpot shoes that allowed them to hide their large feet under their skirts. Furthermore, the heights of the soles naturally resulted in an elegant sway with every step that they take. Lotus shoes Lotus shoes were worn by Chinese Han women who bound their feet. Small feet were seen as a symbol of status and beauty, and often a characteristic that could improve a girl’s marriage prospects, which was the most important milestone for a girl at that time. Girls began the foot binding process from the age of five to six, with the procedure usually carried out by their mothers or grandmothers. The ideal size of the bound feet was around three inches, which birthed the name to which they are referred as 三寸金莲 (Three Inches Golden Lotus). As a result of the bound feet, lotus shoes were created to accommodate the tiny feet sizes. These shoes were made to resemble a lotus bud and were believed to have accentuated the beauty and elegance of women as they walked. High heels As beauty standards evolved, practices such as foot binding were eventually phased out, and women’s footwear have also evolved to where they are today, with high heels being one of them. What remains unchanged is women’s desire for beauty. Similar to the lotus shoes and flowerpot shoes, high heels are not the most comfortable footwear, but women continue to wear them because of various beauty reasons. These shoes represent more than just an accessory for the feet— they tell deeper stories about the ever-evolving roles, identities, and statuses of women. If It’s Now aims to illustrate the journey of women through time by navigating the use of these different footwear in the dance installation. 7

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS NEO JENNY Artistic Director / Co-choreographer Neo Jenny began her dance journey at the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts and Cultural Troupe under her mother’s tutelage. She received a training grant and scholarship from the National Arts Council and the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan to further her professional training at the Beijing Dance Academy. This is followed by a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Dance at LASALLE College of the Arts in 2009. Jenny currently leads Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre as the Artistic Director to promote Chinese dance through artistic and creative excellence. She also teaches Chinese dance modular classes and choreographs works in LASALLE College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She was appointed as the Principal Tutor of the National University of Singapore (Chinese dance) in 2020. One of her best works include The Wilderness — a 35-minute dance drama that won the Gold award at the 2017 Vietnam International Dance Festival. Her recent work Phases - Within our control was presented at Esplanade in 2021. 8

BENEDICT SOH Creative Director / Co-choreographer Benedict is trained in both Chinese classical and contemporary dance under the mentorship of renowned dance choreographer and educator Ng Chay Kuang. He continues to hone his choreographic skills with acclaimed dance practitioners like Helen Herbertson and Don Asker throughout his career as a performer, educator and choreographer. He holds a Master of Fine Arts with First Class Honours majoring in Choreography from the University of Melbourne (Victorian College of the Arts). With more than 20 years of professional experience, Benedict has a flair for creating works that are original, visually arresting and resonating with the audience. A notable work of his is the 2008 Metamorphosis, which won the first place and Best Choreography and Contemporary Dance title at the 12th Europe New Prague Dance Festival. He has also been credited as the Creative Director and Resident Choreographer of Dance Horizon Troupe since 2001, contributing more than 20 works and two full-length features to the company’s repertoire. 9

DANCERS Gabriella Gleichenia Gautama Gabriella Gleichenia Gautama graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a Diploma in Dance. She was a recipient of NAFA’s Dean’s List Award (2019 and 2021), the Tan Chay Bing Scholarship (2019) and the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Merit Award (2020). Gabriella has performed in several NAFA productions where she worked with choreographers Aditep Buanoi (Thailand), Boo Lin Pin (Singapore), Christina Chan (Singapore), Donn Neo (United Kingdom), Filomar Tariao (Philippines), Lim Moi Kim (Singapore), Lionel Araya (USA), Rosa Park (Republic of Korea), Son Yu Joung (Republic of Korea) and Zhuo Zihao (Singapore). Gabriella joined SCDT as an apprentice in 2021 and was promoted to Junior Artiste in 2022. Low Kai Tong Low Kai Tong started dancing at the age of six at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ Junior Dance Department (Chinese dance course), during which she completed she completed the Beijing Dance Academy graded examinations and participated in five performances with the school. She later joined the Dance co-curricular activity in Nan Hua High School, taking part in various school performances and events such as Chingay Parade and Singapore Youth Festival. In 2017, she began learning contemporary dance with dTeam (dAcademy), where she participated in The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing competition and a performance. Kai Tong joined the SCDT Youth Performance Troupe in 2021 and till date, she has performed at Gardens by the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival. 10

Wong Wen Ru Wong Wen Ru is a passionate dancer from Malaysia who started her dance journey at the age of 13. She graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a Diploma in Dance and was a recipient of NAFA’s Dean’s List Award (2019 and 2021). Wen Ru has performed in several NAFA productions where she worked with choreographers such as Christina Chan (Singapore), Hwa Wei An (Malaysia), Lim Moi Kim (Singapore), Rosa Park (Republic of Korea), Son Yu Joung (Republic of Korea), Tan Xin Yen (Malaysia) and Zhuo Zihao (Singapore). Wen Ru just joined SCDT as an apprentice in 2021 and was promoted to Junior Artiste in 2022. Ng Pei Yao Ng Pei Yao started his dance journey in 2008 under the tutelage of Benedict Soh in River Valley Dance Society (RVDS), River Valley High School. He spent a total of six years in RVDS from 2008 to 2013, while also joining Dance Horizon Troupe Singapore from 2011 to 2016. In university, Pei Yao joined NUS Dance Synergy under NUS Centre For the Arts, where he continued to hone his contemporary dance skills. Throughout his years of dance, he had the opportunity to perform in various performances, including That Which Cannot Be Divided, The Odd One by Albert Tiong as part of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts and Fuse(d): Moving Thoughts, Idle by Zhuo Zihao as part of NUS Dance Synergy’s production in October 2019. 11

Ng Zhu Juan Jack Jack has practised dance since 2009, training mainly in contemporary dance and Chinese dance. He has performed in dance clubs such as River Valley Dance Society (RVDS) and NTU Contemp{minated}, as well as semi-professional companies such as Dance Horizon Troupe Singapore and T.H.E. Second Company. Jack actively seeks out new ways to expand his dance vocabulary and has recently branched out into cross-disciplinary works such as dance films and performances involving live music, spoken word and dance. Sabril Amin Sabril is a full-time dancer from Singapore. He started dancing at the age of eight with hip hop. Over the years, he took on various genres such as modern jazz, classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance and Latin American ballroom. He took part in professional modern dance and Latin competitions locally and internationally, under Jitterbugs Swingapore, WannaStudio and The Dancesport Academy. He furthered his studies in a Diploma in Dance programme at LASALLE College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). He performed in the shows of both institutions, working with professional choreographers from around the world. He was also a scholar with Frontier Danceland from 2018 to 2019, and a scholar of Singapore Dance Theatre since 2019. 12

Yong Fong Sin Yong Fong Sin started dancing in 2014 as a co-curricular activity in River Valley Dance Society (RVDS). During his six years in RVDS, he trained in ballet and Chinese dance fundamentals. In 2017, he took part in the MOE Dance Talent Development Programme, where he was exposed to various types of dances. He also took part in three rounds of the Singapore Youth Festival Chinese Dance category where his school attained the Distinction award. Under the tutelage of his dance teacher Benedict Soh, Fong Sin has taken part in various performances outside of school such as Hello! Goodman, Inhabitant and The Greatest Good. He continues to hone his Chinese dance fundamentals as a Trainee at SCDT. 13

ABOUT SINGAPORE CHINESE DANCE THEATRE Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre (SCDT) was incorporated in 2014 as a professional dance company, with the mission to promote Chinese dance of artistic and creative excellence. Led by Artistic Director Neo Jenny, SCDT plays a vital role in developing and exploring Chinese dance identity in Singapore. In addition to local performing arts events, the company also showcases its works and participates in exchange opportunities on overseas platforms. Its performances are met with acclamation in countries such as China, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia. SCDT is also committed to presenting engaging performances, nurturing promising talents and making Chinese dance more accessible to the broader community. These efforts contribute to a vibrant performing arts scene in Singapore. 14

CREATIVE TEAM HellofromFlour Set Designer HellofromFlour, a space styling and experience design studio, was founded by Larry and Jophia. The husband-wife duo strives to curate artful and thought-provoking spaces that transform into experiences that stress the harmony and affinity between man and nature, and how man interact with nature. In If It’s Now, the duo hopes to reinvent traditional forms and bring them close to the contemporary world, yet at the same time, revering cultural heritage and art traditions. Their recent works include Three Perfections, Aura, Pop-up Living, Sky Aesthetics and Colour Quiz. Phang Kok Jun Composer Known to be a multifaceted composer, Phang Kok Jun’s music transcends the concert halls, with a repertoire that also includes theatre, film and other forms of media. An award-winning composer on both a local and international scale, Kok Jun is influenced by a wide variety of musical styles, and has been described as a composer who “comfortably melds Chinese, Western and popular idioms to excellent effect”. For more information, or to get in touch, please visit www.phangkokjun.com. James Tan Lighting Designer James Tan was conferred The Young Artist Award and the Arts Professional Scholarship by The National Arts Council of Singapore. He attained a Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design at the University of California San Diego. James’ selected Singapore lighting design credits include Memoirs of the Lion City (Huaxia Cultural Hub Ltd. and Golden International Holdings, in collaboration with Dance Ensemble Singapore), Joget (Esplanade – Theatres on The Bay), Sounding Body + SSLD:7 (Raw Moves), The Sleeping Beauty (Singapore Dance Theatre) and Eat a Bitter Bloom (Arts Fission). His selected events and architectural lighting design projects include From Singapore to Singaporean: The Bicentennial Experience (Singapore Bicentennial Office), OCBC Garden Rhapsody: Rainforest Orchestra – Asia & Australia Edition (Gardens by the Bay) and The Art of the Brick® Exhibition by Nathan Sawaya (MBS ArtScience Museum). He also has a selected public artwork titled Yellow - REWRITTEN: The World Ahead of Us (The Public Art Trust). 15

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM Artistic Director / Neo Jenny Co-choreographer Creative Director / Benedict Soh Co-choreographer Dancers Gabriella Gleichenia Gautama Low Kai Tong Wong Wen Ru Ng Pei Yao Ng Zhu Juan Jack Sabril Amin Bin Muhammad Fawzie Yong Fong Sin Set Designer HellofromFlour Composer Phang Kok Jun Music Assistant/Editor Tan Ting Yan, Rebecca Musicians Rit Xu (Dizi / Xiao) Yvonne Tay (Guzheng) Natasha Liu (Cello) Ann Lek (Vocals) Lighting Designer James Tan Technical Manager Tay Huey Meng Production Stage Manager Tan Ching Ting Costumes Costumes Connection Special thanks to Melissa Singapore for the loan of shoes for If It’s Now. 16

华艺节监制 的寄语 华艺节监制的寄语 疫情之下，你过得好吗？ 2021年年初，由于居家办公，日程安排较为灵活，我决定让生活方式变得更健康，并参与 了一项健身计划。每次时长45分钟的高强度间歇训练（HIIT）让我疲惫不已，但我就这样 坚持了下来。三个月后，我发现每次训练时释放的多巴胺让我感觉更快乐，人也变得更乐 观。除此，我还瘦了！为了度过疫情，我们确实需要找到适合自己、让身体和心灵变得更强 大的方式。 对于在创意和表演艺术领域里打拼的人而言，疫情带来了许多“如果”和不确定因素：从 减少入场人数、观众的生活态度的改变，到缺乏资源及带来诸多限制的安全管理措施，创 作过程也因此变得更为复杂。但是我们坚持了下来。我们也必须如此。 艺术团体和艺术家坚持不懈地创作，不仅仅是因为创造和展示艺术是我们的工作。我们 意识到，艺术可以敏锐地、带有批判思维地反映我们所处的时代，并在困境中启发大家、 培养乐观积极的心态，并且带来无以名状的力量。又或者最起码，它可以娱乐大众，让人 开怀大笑，消除一天的疲劳。 因此，第20届华艺节为大家带来了新加坡艺术家们的全新原创作品（五部委约作品和两 部联合制作），这些作品深入探讨了在这样的时代背景下，究竟什么才是我们生活中真正 重要的东西。 首 先，打 头 阵 是 家 庭 。原 创 剧 目《 你 我 之 间 》由 九 年 剧 场 的 艺 术 总 监 谢 燊 杰 编 写 和 执 导， 搭配强大的演员阵容，讲述一位知名女演员赢得著名电影奖项后获万众瞩目，然而她与 三 个 女 儿 之 间 的 矛 盾 越 演 越 烈，一 个 埋 藏 已 久 的 秘 密 也 随 之 浮 出 台 面 。2 0 2 2 年 是 九 年 剧 场 创 团 十 载，这 也 是 他 们 在 滨 海 艺 术 中 心 的 第 一 部 大 型 委 约 作 品，可 谓 是 恰 逢 其 时 。 除此，《团圆饭》的主人翁团团为家人、朋友和陌生人摆了一桌虚拟团圆饭，由Artwave Studio 特为华艺节制作的线上节目欢迎你的加入。  接下来，保持身心健康。一场受传统中医理论和中国哲学启迪的音乐会会是什么样子的 呢？让本地杰出的华乐室内乐团——鼎艺团告诉你。鼎乐团成立15周年之际，以最新委约 作品《五行》，用五音五行滋养你的五脏。   17

健康的生活意味着心灵也应当要健康。有这么一个男子，他将生活中所有让他快乐的事 情一件一件地收集起来了。由才华横溢的钟达成担任编剧、导演及主角，与十指帮联合制 作的《每一件美好的事》邀你一同笑看人生。琵琶演奏家朱伟康与阮演奏家罗彩霞携好友 们呈现委约作品《请留言》跨界音乐剧场，带领观众开启一场别具意义的音乐之旅，探究 精神健康，以及人与人之间心灵相接的重要性。  除了检视内心，我们也需要关注周遭环境还有其他人在社会中所面临的挑战。新加坡资 深剧场人陈鸣阗将以华语与新加坡手语呈献《我是小小Karung Guni Boy》。这部曾于滨 海艺术中心《小玩艺！》系列中亮相的原创儿童剧作借此演出提醒大小观众应该多关心身 边的人。与新加坡华族舞蹈剧场联合制作的《如果是现在》则通过舞蹈，道出身处不同时 代的女性为打破性别陈规、苦乐参半的人生经历。 除 了 以 上 精 彩 的 现 场 演 出，观 众 还 可 以 观 赏 由 进 念 · 二 十 面 体（香 港）带 来 的《 说 唱 张 爱 玲 》、《 解 梦．说 戏 》录 播 剧 场 作 品 。至 于 第 二 季 的《 舞 蹈 风 景 》，滨 海 艺 术 中 心 委 约 了 新加坡著名导演陈子谦执导由舞者卓子豪和Yarra Ileto联合编排的舞蹈影片。  随着华艺节迎来了20周岁生日，我们期待华艺节一年比一年更盛大，一年比一年更有意 义。我谨代表滨海艺术中心，由衷感谢主要赞助商刀标油、赞助商Berries百力果、Polar Premium Drinking Water 和沉默基金会。在此也对与我们同行、支持并且相信我们的宗 旨——成为全球华人艺术家首选的顶尖艺术节的所有人，包括艺术家和观众，致以诚挚的 谢意。 新的一年，让我们携手并肩，共勉共励！ 虎年大吉！ 李国铭 华艺节 高级节目监制 18

主要赞助商的话 刀标牌自1948年以来就是新加坡家喻户晓的品牌，是家庭健 康烹调的代名词。刀标油独特的花生香气与专利配方，调制 出一道道美味佳肴，让家人齐聚一堂，共度佳节喜气。 为了继续在支持文化艺术方面尽上一份力，尤其在这个特殊 的时期，刀标牌很荣幸连续第四年赞助滨海艺术中心的华艺 节。我们希望大家会喜欢华艺节2022的精彩节目——无论线 上或是现场。 祝愿大家新年快乐、虎福临门! 黄上盈 执行主席 南顺（新）私人有限公司   19

艺术总监的话 古今穿越，心中之“话”… 自幼，就偏向描述性质的写作，喜欢把自己 放在主角的角色里，幻想：如果我是“他”… 2022年，迎来新加坡华族舞蹈剧场和滨海艺 术中心合作的机会，呈献新创舞蹈《如果是 现在》。这支作品由我和健龙一起编创，我很 感激有这位大哥的助阵。我们刚柔并济的美 感配搭，加上他充盈饱满的正能量，“有事行 无事”的气魄，激发我更积极地为舞蹈艺术 而奋斗。 我很珍惜每个舞蹈编创的过程，尤其是这次 的题材，让我能够更深入地探索、了解女性 在不同时代的心酸和一直都围绕着女性的 话题、空间、身体、女权等等。通过时空转移 和人物塑造来刻画过去和当下女性所经历 过的种种生命经验！ 時空转换，物換星移，抚今论昔，在艺术的 对比与融合之下，会擦出什么样的火花呢？ 《如果是现在》，我们且拭目以待！ 梁杰旎 艺术总监 新加坡华族舞蹈剧场     20

创意总监的话 在创新中坚守，在坚守中创新 。 新加坡华族舞蹈剧场很荣幸参与今年的华 艺节，表演舞蹈新作《如果是现在》。此作品 通过舞蹈艺术呈现不同的时间与空间维度， 培育观赏者对表演空间转换的微妙感知。 在不同时空里，经历慰藉、舒适、惬意等等的 心境，在绵长的时光中，空间互相碰撞之际 所激发出的精神与心灵对话，是否能产生意 想不到的共鸣呢……《如果是现在》让过去 和当今的女性相遇于传统华族舞的舞台上， 在时间长河里探讨女性作为历史第二性的 坚韧不屈、顺从与出走的命运纠葛。 非常庆幸能与杰旎一起合作编创这支舞作， 杰旎是一位在舞蹈创作理念上和我有着相 似信念与价值观的战友，我们在创新中坚守 的 同 时，也 在 坚 守 中 创 新 。不 仅 今 日 如 此， 明日也将更积极地奋斗！ 由衷期待着与观众们分享我们的新作品。 希望透过作品，以华人独特的思维，引领现 有观众群以及新“朋友”们进行思考与诠释， 从中体会作品的意涵，领悟身为华人与何谓 华人的意义。 苏健龙 创意总监 新加坡华族舞蹈剧场 21

演出简介 如果是现在 在这个虎虎生风的正月里，滨海艺术中心与 新加坡华族舞蹈剧场联合制作的《如果是现 在》，站在“现在”的时间轴点，通过对传统女 性刻板印象的挖掘和回望，怀着对女性这个 历史第二性的共情与尊重，用华族舞蹈的 肢体语言带领观众认识女性的社会身份与 角色。 舞蹈艺术装置舞作《如果是现在》由本地著 名舞蹈工作者、新加坡华族舞蹈剧场艺术总 监梁杰旎和创意总监苏健龙联袂编创。 舞者们通过“身、心、灵”的有机融合，用舞蹈 语言，化繁为简，超越时间与空间的局限，让 过去与现在的女性于传统华族舞的舞台上 相遇，探讨女性在时间长河里作为历史第二 性的困境，以及她们多元的身份与角色。 (45分钟，无中场休息) 以华语叙述，无附字幕。 只限13岁及以上的观众入场。 22

作品的灵感 花盆底鞋 虽然当时流行缠足，但是满族妇女是不缠足的。实际上，满族皇帝下令禁止妇女们缠足。 不过，由于小脚仍然是当时的审美标准，满族妇女因此都很羡慕汉族妇女们的小脚。 为了得到小脚的效果，满族妇女穿上了花盆底鞋，把她们的大脚藏在裙底里。花盆底鞋那厚 厚的鞋底自然凸显了妇女们走起路来婀娜多姿的体态。 三寸鞋 三寸鞋是古代汉族妇女因缠足而穿的鞋类。当时，小脚不仅象征着女子的美，也代表着她们 的身份地位，甚至影响她们的婚姻前景。女子们从一到五、六岁时，母亲或祖母就会开始帮她 们缠足。缠足的标准尺寸公认为三寸左右，也是小脚被称作“三寸金莲”的来源。 因此，三寸鞋是为了迁就妇女们的小脚而制作的。三寸鞋形状如莲花瓣，女子们穿上它们走 起路来更是文雅，飘逸。 高跟鞋 随着审美标准的演变，女子的鞋类发展成了今天的丰富多样，当然不变的是女性对于美的渴 望。就如三寸鞋和花盆底鞋，即使穿得再不舒服，女子们还是会为了追求美感而选择穿上高 跟鞋。 这些鞋子不仅仅是脚上的配饰，它们更深层地揭露了女性不断演变的角色、 身份和地位。《如果是现在》希望通过这次的舞蹈装置，以及这些不同的鞋类 阐述女性的历史。   23

关于编舞 梁杰旎 艺术总监/编舞 梁杰旎现任新加坡华族舞蹈剧场艺术总监、 拉萨尔艺术学院和南洋艺术学院外聘讲师 和新加坡国立大学华族舞蹈团导师。在母亲 林美琴女士的熏陶和培育下，自幼学习华族 舞蹈。2004年到北京舞蹈学院继续进修中国 舞编导，并考获了北京舞蹈学院中国舞等级 考试、中国民族民间舞蹈等级考试（高级）与 爵士舞教师资格文凭。2009年毕业于拉萨尔 艺术学院 (LASALLE College of the Arts) ， 获学士学位。除了曾为全国妆艺大游行以及 国庆庆典等大型节目编排节目之外，她也曾 参加多项比赛，包括2011年由国家艺术理事 会主办的 Sprouts–New Works Platform for Budding Choreographer 舞蹈比赛（她 所编导的作品《哽咽》获得“最受欢迎作品” 奖项）。她的著名作品有舞剧《原野》、《空》、 《隐晦曲折》、《阿佤旅》等。 24

苏健龙 创意总监/编舞 苏健龙毕业于墨尔本大学(维多利亚艺术 学 院 ) 一 等 荣 誉 硕 士 学 位，主 修 舞 蹈 编 导 。 1987年，他在新加坡著名资深舞蹈家及启蒙 恩师——黄捷宽老师的培育教导与熏陶下, 开始学习并接触了华族舞蹈和现代舞。近年 来，他 在 澳 大 利 亚 舞 蹈 艺 术 家 海 伦 赫 伯 森 (Helen Herbertson)和唐阿斯科博士(Don Asker)的指导下，更进一步的开拓及探索当 代舞和舞蹈创作的视野领域。同时也是新加 坡豁然生舞苑创意总监兼驻团编导的他， 从2001年至今共为豁然生舞苑编创超过20 个作品。2007年，他编创的作品《女人的心 跳》在“香港国际艺术节”荣获两项金奖。在 2008年，编创作品《蜕变》参加“捷克布拉格 国际舞蹈艺术节”活动中荣获“最佳编导奖” 及“最佳现代舞蹈奖”。 5 25

舞者 吴慧英 吴慧英毕业于新加坡南洋艺术学院舞蹈系，曾获颁院长荣 誉奖（2019、2021）、陈济民奖学金（2019）及陈振传基金会 优异奖（2020）。在校期间参与多项校内外演出，合作过的编 导包括 Aditep Buano（i 泰国）、Boo Lin Pin（新加坡）、曾家爱 （新加坡）、Donn Neo（英国）、Dr Filomar Tariao（菲律宾）、 林美琴（新加坡）、Lionel Araya（美国）、Rosa Park（韩国）、 Son Yu Joung（韩国）和卓子豪（新加坡）。毕业后，加入新加 坡华族舞蹈剧场担任见习舞者而在今年正式提升为舞者。 刘垲彤 刘垲彤6岁开始在南洋艺术学院少年儿童艺术学校（华族舞 蹈系）学习舞蹈，除了完成北京舞蹈学院中国舞等级考试课 程，她也参与了校内的五场演出。随后，她加入南华中学的舞 蹈团并代表学校参与许多演出，包括妆艺大游行和新加坡青 年节。2017年，垲彤加入 dTeam (dAcademy)，开始接触当代 舞，还参与了CSTD的比赛。2021年，垲彤加入新加坡华族舞 蹈剧场青年表演团，而参与了滨海湾花园庆中秋的演出。 26

黄文汝 黄文汝，13岁 开 始 接 触 舞 蹈，随 后 从 马 来 西 亚 考 入 新 加 坡南洋艺术学院舞蹈系，并于2021年毕业 。她曾获颁院 长荣誉奖（2019、2021），在校期间参与多项校内外演出， 合作过的编导包括曾家爱（新加坡）、华维安（马来西亚）、 林美琴（新加坡）、Rosa Park（韩国）、Son Yu Joung（韩国）、 陈欣嫣（马来西亚）和卓子豪（新加坡）。毕业后，加入新加坡华 族舞蹈剧场担任见习舞者而在今年正式提升为舞者。 黄培耀 黄培耀于2008年开始学习舞蹈，并在立化中学舞蹈团接受 了苏健龙老师六年的教导。2011年至2016年，他曾加入新加 坡豁然生舞苑。随后，培耀进入新加坡国立大学，并加入NUS Dance Synergy，通过当代舞训练来提高身体素质。学舞至 今，培耀参与了诸多演出，其中包括由编舞张咏翔编创于华 艺节2019上呈献的《无法被整除-单》以及由编舞卓子豪编 创于NUS Dance Synergy 2019上呈献的Fuse(d): Moving Thoughts, Idle。 27

黄主眷 黄主眷于2019年开始接触当代舞和华族舞。求学期间，他 加入校内舞蹈团，包括立化中学舞蹈团及南洋理工大学的 Contemp{minated}，并参与了诸多演出。毕业后，他加入本 地半专业舞蹈团——新加坡豁然生舞苑以及舞人二团。主眷 积极寻找新方式来扩展他的舞蹈语汇，最近还参与了舞蹈影 片录制和涉及现场音乐、读白及舞蹈表演的跨领域制作。 Sabril Amin S a b r i l 是 一 名 新 加 坡 的 全 职 舞 蹈 员 ，自 8 岁 开 始 接 触 街 舞 。步 入 舞 坛 多 年，S a b r i l 学 习 的 舞 种 包 括 现 代 爵 士 舞、古 典 芭 蕾、现 代 舞、当 代 舞 及 拉 丁 美 洲 交 际 舞 。 他曾代表 Jitterbugs Swingapore, WannaStudio 和 The Dancesport Academy 参加国内外的现代舞和拉丁舞 比赛。Sabril 毕业于南洋艺术学院舞蹈系，并且有幸与世界 各 地 的 专 业 编 导 合 作 。他 也 曾 担 任 新 典 现 代 舞 蹈 团 (2018/19) 和 新加坡舞蹈剧场 (2019-至今）的学习班舞者 。 28

杨弘胜 杨弘胜于2014年加入立化中学舞蹈团，至此开始学习芭蕾 和华族舞蹈。他曾代表学校参加3届新加坡青年节舞蹈展演 并都获得了优等奖。2017年，弘胜参加了由教育部推出的 舞蹈人才培养计划，开始接触到许多不同的舞种。在舞蹈老 师苏健龙的指导下，弘胜也陆续参与了许多校外演出，包括 Hello! Goodman、Inhabitant 和 The Greatest Good。目前， 弘胜是新加坡华族舞蹈剧场的实习舞者。 29

关于 新加坡 华族舞蹈 剧场 新加坡华族舞蹈剧场原先是福建会馆文化 艺 术 团 属 下 的 舞 蹈 团 。2 0 1 3   年，舞 蹈 剧 场 荣 获 国 家 艺 术 理 事 会 颁 发 的 种 子 基 金，并 在 福 建 会 馆 的 鼎 力 支 持 下，于   2 0 1 4   年 成 为 专 业 舞 蹈 团 体 。转 型 后 的 舞 蹈 剧 场 不 断 鞭 策 自 己 继 续 保 持 专 业 水 准，努 力 攀 登 辉 煌的艺术高峰。2016 年舞蹈剧场再次荣获 国 家 艺 术 理 事 会 主 要 辅 助 计 划 的 赞 助，并 在 2017 年 2 月 15 日正式改名为“新加坡华 族舞蹈剧场”，这也凸显了它为本地华族舞 蹈的推广与发展扮演的重要角色。  成立至今，舞蹈剧场已呈献了各种卓越的艺 术作品，培养了许多具有潜能的青年人才， 也尝试使用不同、有趣的方式把华族舞蹈的 特色展现给更大的社群。  除了经常受邀参与本地各种艺术盛会，舞蹈 剧场也多次受邀参加海外艺术节及文艺交 流活动，因而获得不少将本地华族舞蹈展现 给海外观众的机会。  在现任艺术总监梁杰旎的带领下，舞蹈剧场 坚持通过创作，弘扬及探索华族舞蹈文化！  30

创意团队 HellofromFlour 场景设计师 HellofromFlour是由王进禄和蔡诗玉夫妻俩创立的一个空间造型和体验设计工作室。两位 力求策划巧妙及发人深省的空间，营造一种强调人与自然和谐相处、人与自然进行互动的 体验。 进禄和诗玉希望能通过《如果是现在》重塑传统，让它们更接近当代世界，而同时也不忘致敬 宝贵的文化遗产和艺术传统。 冯国峻 作曲家 冯国峻，出生于新加坡的音乐人兼作曲人。作品融汇中西，创作素材多样。迈着探索音乐、发 掘新声的脚步，国峻近年来不断尝试跨领域合作及发展，为音乐剧场及媒体等多种不同艺术 形式进行创作。他与世界各地著名交响乐团、华乐团、剧场、室内乐团、指挥、导演、演奏家等 合作，作品时常受邀演出，深获乐界好评。 欲知更多详情或联络方式，请浏览网站 www.phangkokjun.com。 陈坤松 灯光设计师 陈 坤 松 是 新 加 坡 国 家 艺 术 理 事 会 青 年 艺 术 家 奖 和 艺 术 专 业 奖 学 金 得 主，拥 有 加 利 福 尼 亚大学圣迭戈分校灯光设计艺术硕士学位。灯光设计作品包括《: 忆向狮城》(华夏文化促 进会、金航国际集团，新加坡聚舞坊联合呈献)、 Joget (滨海艺术中心)、 Sounding Body + SSLD:7 (Raw Moves)、《睡美人》(新加坡舞蹈剧场) 和 Eat a Bitter Bloom (化生艺术团）。精选 活动以及建筑灯光设计作品包括：《从新加坡到新加坡人——新加坡开埠200年历史体验展》 (Singapore Bicentennial Office )、OCBC Garden Rhapsody灯光秀:Rainforest Orchestra ——亚洲和澳大利亚版（滨海湾花园）和艺术家Nathan Sawaya的The Art of the Brick®️ 展览 （滨海湾金沙艺术科学博物馆）。精选公共艺术作品：Yellow - REWRITTEN: The World Ahead of Us (国家艺术理事会公共艺术信托金）。 31

创意暨制作团队 创意总监/编舞 梁杰旎 艺术总监/编舞 苏健龙 舞者 吴慧英 刘垲彤 黄文汝 黄培耀 黄主眷 Sabril Amin Bin Muhammad Fawzie 杨弘胜 场景设计 HellofromFlour 作曲 冯国峻 音乐制作助理 陈婷嫣 乐手 许凯翔（笛子、箫） 郑怡雯（古筝） 刘君艳（大提琴） 安夏天（配音） 灯光设计师 陈坤松 技术总监 郑惠明 舞台监督 陈瑾婷 服装 Costumes Connection 可田 感谢 Melissa SG 为《如果是现在》提供鞋子赞助。 32

Esplanade Huayi Presents Chinese Festival of Arts 华艺节 Thank you for joining us at Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2022. Please take some time to share your feedback with us. Thank you. 感谢您的莅临, 请与我们分享您的反馈。 www.esplanade.com/huayi



We’ve saved you a seat Leave your legacy by adopting Your kind donation will be acknowledged UEN: 199205206G Information correct at time of print. and dedicating a seat for yourself in the following ways: or a loved one in our new theatre. Seat plaque Your gift will help us to put the Invitation to a special Appreciation and Preview Experience nishing touches on the Singtel Invitation to receive Esplanade&Me Black Card Priority ticket purchase to the Singtel WaterfrontTheatre’s Waterfront Theatre and develop it as opening festival a space that bene ts our next Full tax deduction of donation amount generation of artists and audiences. 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981 | Customer Experience Hotline: 6828 8377 Esplanade is a charity and not-for-pro t organisation. www.esplanade.com EsplanadeSG Help us bring the joy and inspiration of the arts to EsplanadeSingapore different communities, including the underserved. #esplanadesg #mydurian

Esplanade gives our heartfelt thanks to our Esplanade partner, arts benefactor, donors and sponsors for believing in our vision to be a performing arts centre for everyone. They made all these possible!ˆ 3,915 activities took place at Esplanade. Ticketed 1,111 Non-Ticketed 2,804 1,920,590 People attended our activities at the centre. Ticketed 311,234 Non-Ticketed 1,609,356 We believe that everyone should be able to 597 14,476 experience the joy of the arts, including children, Activities Participants youth, seniors, migrant workers and individuals with special needs. Our community engagement activities bring the arts to those in need. ˆFigures for Esplanade’s activities from Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2020. Your contribution* will make a difference. On behalf of the communities we serve, thank you! Find out how you too can make a difference through the arts at Esplanade. Donate at www.esplanade.com/donate [email protected] or speak with us at 6828 8321. Esplanade is a charity and an Institution of a Public Character. Your donation to us is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Cultural Matching Fund. Please note that the prevailing tax exemption scheme for donors and sponsors of Arts-Related Businesses will depend on the qualifying criteria imposed by IRAS.

With Gratitude Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to strive to bring the arts to many Singaporeans from different walks of life. In these uncertain times, we count even more on our supporters to help us bring the joy and positive impact of the arts to everyone. We extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our Partner, Sponsors and Donors, for their steadfast belief in our mission and for generously supporting us from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. ESPLANADE PARTNER Join us in sharing the joy of MingYi Foundation the arts and help us reach more communities in need. SPONSORS Allen & Overy LLP We believe that an experience with the CLS International (1993) Pte Ltd arts is special and that with your generous EFG Bank Ltd support, more people will get a chance to Field Catering & Supplies Pte Ltd (Polar Water) enjoy the arts. Join us in sharing the joy of Hong Leong Foundation the arts and help us reach more Keppel Corporation Limited communities in need. Lam Soon Singapore LCH Lockton Pte Ltd The Silent Foundation Ltd DONORS Alex Ho Allen & Overy LLP Alvin De Souza Chan Boon Kheng D-Y Lin &Tom Donnelly Elisabeth Clarice Esther Gustava de Rothschild Jerusha Tan Ker Jyn & Swee Shang Lee Tzu Yang Mojito DME Pte Ltd NeoYong Sheng Kevin Ng Yi-Kheong President’s Challenge Singtel Vemala Rajamanickam Waty Raz William & MavisTok Xinyue Zhang Yeow Chee Keong Yvonne Tham The above are donors who contributed $1000 and above The Esplanade Co Ltd is funded by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and our Community Programmes are supported byTote Board Family, comprisingTote Board, Singapore Pools and SingaporeTurf Club.







Esplanade Huayi Presents Chinese Festival of Arts Roar into the new year with Huayi 2022! A series of exciting live and online free performances await you! From Chinese dance, instrumental and choral music, to evergreen hits and performances, there will be something for everyone! 华 艺 节 2022 福虎生辉 福气冲天! 一系列老少皆宜的免费现场表演 及 线 上 节 目，从 精 彩 的 舞 蹈 、 华 乐 演 出，常 青 歌 曲 演 唱 等， 欢迎大家齐来观赏！ Programme details 节目详情 www.esplanade.com/huayi

Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2022 is made possible with the generous support of: 华艺节2022谨此感谢以下赞助商的慷慨赞助： Principal Sponsor 主要赞助商 Lam Soon Singapore Supporting Sponsor 赞助商 Berries World of Learning School Supported by 赞助商 Field Catering & Supplies Pte Ltd The Silent Foundation Ltd