KER, Eugene Ban Hing 郭万兴
Performing Arts in Singapore (Dance),
Accession Number 003963
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 20
Total Reels
- Teo Kian Giap
Interviewer
- 19:17:43
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 20
Metadata
- 20 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee was born in 1962 in Singapore, near Teban Garden area. He talked about his father, who came from Nan An City. Interviewee accompanied his father back to his home town in 1984. He studied at Whye Nam School (first few years) and Eng Khoon Primary School. There was a Chinese temple near his house, where Chinese wayang was staged. Interviewee came from a poor family, and he was the tenth of 12 children. He talked about duck farming. Father was strict with the children. He sold newspapers near Jurong Drive-in Cinema. He talked about his father compound.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 20
Metadata
- 20 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:57:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee studied at Boon Lay Secondary School where Mr Ng Siok Yen was the school principal. He was active in school activities, was a member of the horticulture club and was roped in by teacher Mr Ng Chay Kuang to dance at a school function. In 1980, the school staged a performance at Victoria Theatre where he danced in a few items.
Interviewee talked about the Chinese dance troupes at that time. He singled out Mdm Lee Shu Fen as a key player in the Chinese dance scene. In 1975, interviewee's family was relocated to HDB flat. Adjustment process was smooth.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 20
Metadata
- 27 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee graduated from Boon Lay Secondary School in 1980. He was invited to dance in an item for Singapore Ballet Academy as it needed more male dancers. Interviewee had to learn the basics of ballet from scratch. He was enlisted into National Service (NS) in 1981, and still found time for dance training. He was stationed at Jurong Police station, handling anti-drug cases. He talked about the few cases that he had encountered, and mentioned his supervisor Peter Lim. In 1982, interviewee was asked to dance in National Dance Company's Chinese dance production, led by Mdm Lee Shu Fen. .
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Reel/Disc 4 of 20
Metadata
- 27 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:57:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee continued his discussion on the National Dance Company's Chinese dance production. He talked about one dancer Mr Huang Liang. He mentioned briefly his twenty-first birthday celebration. He gave his views as an audience on the Chinese dance production featured in Dance Festival 1983, which he felt was a milestone event. He mentioned dance items choreographed by Low Mei Yoke. He said that Mdm Lee Shu Fen trained many next generation dancers and choreographers. He talked about Malaysia's effort in promoting Chinese dance. From 1983 to 1985, interviewee joined the Bukit Panjang Dance Company and he danced in a few productions. At the same time, he learnt ballet from Ms Chew Sock Choo.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 20
Metadata
- 10 Jan 2015
Recording Date
- 00:58:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee mentioned a few performances that he danced before joining People's Association (PA) Dance Company. These included performances with Bukit Panjang dance Company, a combined school (Jurong/Boon Lay/Yuan Ching) performance coordinated by Chong King Ching, and PA 25th Anniversary Cultural Show. The latter was with the Cairnhill Community Centre ballet company, led by Chew Sock Choon.
Interviewee talked about the formation of PA Dance Company on 16 Aug 1968, and the key milestone. His first performance was Don Quixote, a collaboration of Tan Swie Hian, Lim Fei Shen and Phoon Yew Tien. He talked about training at the company, which was held at the PA Kallang building.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 20
Metadata
- 10 Jan 2015
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Japanese guest choreographer Yasuhiro Okamoto came in 1985 to prepare a contemporary piece for the dance company. People's Association (PA) Dance Company staged outdoor Christmas show at various locations in Singapore. He mentioned the 1986 production choreographed by Lim Fei Shen. Interviewee was also involved in the Chingay procession, where in some years, National Theatre (NT) was the end point of the contingents. He gave his views on NT. PA also introduced an initiative called Showtime which brought dance performances to the schools.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 20
Metadata
- 10 Jan 2015
Recording Date
- 00:58:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
In April 1987, People's Association (PA) Dance Company presented "Next Step". It was the first an all evening of contemporary dance pieces was staged. He talked about Phoon Yew Tien, who composed music for one item Xi Fang Ping.
Interviewee gave his impression of Lim Fei Shen and her works, citing "Memory" as one of his favourite works of hers. Before leaving for Hong Kong, interviewee taught at some schools. At Nan Hua Primary School, the school principal found ways to get all her students involved in a dance production. At Yu Hua Primary School, interviewee led the lion dance troupe to a Gold medal at the national lion dance competition.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 20
Metadata
- 18 Jan 2015
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Lion dance was introduced into Singapore from Guandong and Fujian provinces. Interviewee gave an account of the southern and northern type of lions, and the development of Qing lion in Singapore. Dragon dance was introduced in Singapore by Fuzhou Wood Association. Yue Guang (moon-lit) dragon was started in Singapore in 1967. Interviewee talked about lion dance competitions. He noted the need to get new blood into lion dance troupes. He talked about the formation and history of the Juboon Community Centre Lion Dance Troupe.
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