A platform for youths to inspire and be inspired

Singapore

YOUNG talents from Singapore dance groups Sugar Rush Crew and Stylo Mylo, together with aspiring music talents from Singapore and the region, performed at the "imagin.Asia 2019 - Game On!" event at Far East Square last Saturday.

Members of these two dance groups are from The Little Arts Academy and 10 Square Youth, which are beneficiaries of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The fund supports arts training for children and youth from underserved communities.

imagin.Asia is an annual concert platform that showcases Singapore's rising music and dance talents and their counterparts across Asia.

Among the 20-plus performers at this year's event included a pipa quartet from China, an electone player from Japan, an up-and-coming violin prodigy from the Philippines, a DJ, flautist and a beatboxer from Singapore.

This year's theme, "Game On!", was inspired by music from popular arcade games such as Dance Dance Revolution, Tetris and Street Fighter.

The event was organised by not-for-profit arts organisation The RICE Company Limited (TRCL), and conceptualised by its wholly-owned subsidiary Global Cultural Alliance together with local electronic music artist Evan Low as its music director.

Tan Tee Tong, the director of TRCL, said: "(Our young artists) have a chance to inspire and be inspired, and to take part in a creative process that transcends borders. Last year's inaugural imagin.Asia saw new friendships made between our Singapore youths and their peers around Asia. Such a platform definitely helps aspiring Singapore talents to deepen understanding and forge friendships and new connections in the region."