Week 5 - Importance of Culture

This Saturday, some of us went to Swe Daw Yeik Thingyan. It was a mixture of cultural and modern performances. Although the timing was way out of the schedule mentioned on the ticket and in my opinion it is becoming more commercial, the performances still carry the essence of Myanmar Culture. Yes, I said Myanmar Culture not Myanmar New Year. This year, although Myanmar songs and dances are presented, I found it bare cultural values but not much of water festival. The performance of Pa Dauk Chit Thu and Thingyan group dance are the only things impressed in my mind as Thingyan performance. What I like were
1) the jokes during traditional duet dance
2) Pan Dauk Chit Thu song, Shwe Pyi Gyi,
3) The short story (Opera)
3) The dance by a group of youth (I think it is hip hop)

What I didn't like are
1) Wrong information of timing (on the ticket) - it was completely wrong to mention 4:45-9pm and the actual performance was 5:30-11:30pm.
2) Too many songs by the band
3) Poor audio system and equipment

Like Thingyan and Tasaungtaing performances in my younger days, the slogans (Than chat) are the highlight of the whole show. They reflect what the ordinary people think and it was proved by the thunderous applause. They also highlight the history-making facts of life (both in Myanmar and Singapore).

Not forgetting the fact that the performers are the armatures, I would say it was a big success to showcase some facets of Myanmar Culture and tradition. Thank you very much for the RIT alumni and the youth who put so much effort to make it happen for (if I remember correctly) 10 consecutive years.

Since there are more and more Myanmar settling in Singapore, we have opportunity to enjoy more cultural occasions such as Thingyan, Kahtein, Saya PuZaw Pwe and even a literature talk last year. Do you think such events are important to you? Why is that so? How about the significant contribution to the community, do you think these events are important to the community?