Cultural Dances

Singapore's cultural dances offer a vibrant display of its multi-ethnic society. Behind each dance form - be it Chinese, Indian, Eurasian & Western or Malay - lies a wealth of history, culture, tradition and artistry. As seen in the four designs in this issue - for 1st Local, 2nd Local, $1.10 and $2 stamps- they provide a potpourri of cultural diversity and styles that is truly a feast for the senses.

Chinese cultural dances. Introduced to Singapore by the migant Chinese, these dances are rich and varied. They were originally steeped in folk tradition - performed at communities and celevrations. But with the flowering of arts and culture in the Han and Tang dynasties, more Chinese dance forms were created, especially for imperial court entertainment.

Indian cultural dances. In Indian culture, dance is a form of worship and an expression of human emotions. Divided into two categories - folk and classical - Indian cultural dances often include other art elements like Indian mythology, literature, music, poetry, mime and sculpture. Dancers usually enact stories through a series of facial expressions, elaborate body movements, hand symbols and postures.

Eurasian & Western cultural dances. Being a former British colony, Ballet and western dances like the Waltz and Tango are an integral part of Singapore's culture. The Eurasian community - with its fusion of western and Asian parentage - has also made a distinctive mark on the local dance map. Mostly portuguese in origin, with dance steps, music and costumes influenced by Portuguese folk dances, the repertoire includes dances like the Branyo. Uniquely Eurasian, they are often a mixture of Malay and Portuguese folk dances and were widely enjoyed by the earliest European settlers from Portugal.

Malay cultural dances. From folk to ethnic-tribe to court-classical, Malay cultural dances are graceful and rhythmic. Among them, the most popular are the Ronggeng and the Joget. The traditional folk dances were usually performed in villages for joyful occasions such as weddings and engagements, while the ethnic-tribe dances were related to rituals, such as the harvest festival.

Date of Issue: 16 May 2007
Denominations: 1st Local, 2nd, $1.10 and $2.00
Stamp Size: 50mm x 30mm
Perforation: 14 x 14
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset-Lithography
Printer: Southern Colour Print
Sheet Content: 50 stamps per sheet
Designer: Tze Ngan

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$4.45

Vanishing Trades

Since independence, Singapore has made tremendous progress in terms of economic development. With rapid urbanisation and modernisation come change, and many of the trades that were once a common sight in Singapore are now canishing. Some of these trades have vanished, replaced by modern machinery. Some are still thriving, given a new "facelift" while others are being phased out.

This set of ten stamps (5 x 1st Local stamps and 5 X $0.80 stamps) features some of these vanishing trades. The clog maker, wooden bucket maker, spice grinder, snake charmer and the satay man were featured in the set of five 1st Local stamps. The mama store, the roti man, the back-lane barber, the Chinese medicinal teashop and the tin bucket maker appeared in the set of five $0.80 stamps.

Beautifully illustrated, the stamps captured an important slice of Singapore's heritage, preserving parts of its multi-cultural lifestyles.

Date of Issue: 24 May 2006
Denominations: 1st Local and 80¢ (each value 5 designs)
Stamp Size: 34mm x 23mm
Perforation: 13
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset-Lithography
Printer: Beijing Stamp Printing House
Sheet Content: 10 stamps
Designer: Tze Ngan

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$5.85