National Day 2023: Shining Our Light on Singapore
By Loke Si'En, Michele (23S42) and Teo Ci En, Teresa (23S55)
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The theme “Onward as One” brought Singaporeans to build a shared future as one united people. Following this, producer, singer and songwriter Don Richmond, as well as co-writer and performer, Shigga Shay, collaborated with local performers such as Olivia Ong and Iman Fandi to create this year's National Day theme song, “Shine Your Light”. After 16 dance practices, 3 National Education (NE) shows and 2 National Day Parade (NDP) previews, dancers from our very own Victoria Junior College (VJC) opened this year's NDP alongside Bedok View Secondary School and East Spring Secondary School live on national television, with a dance to a remix of “Shine Your Light''. The dancers danced energetically in bright and vibrant outfits, making it undeniable that they did the song justice.
Members of the NDP dance team. Photo taken by VJC Dance.
The dancers performing during NDP. Photo taken by VJC Dance.
This year, more than 100 students from VJC signed up for this opportunity to perform. Students who were all from different backgrounds; some who had trained in dance previously, some who had no prior experience and wanted to learn, and some who simply just wanted to contribute to the school and our country. Despite their differences in many aspects, all these unique individuals were brought together, and with resilience and teamwork, they managed to put on a beautiful performance. It is not often that we see so many youths volunteer to work together and invest so much effort into such a big event, especially one that is outside of the typical academic schedule. However, the dancers managed to prove it possible with their teamwork and perseverance. Their performance at NDP was truly remarkable, indeed proving what unity can contribute to our country.
Many of the dancers wished nothing but the best for our country, and their perseverance while they practised dancing under the scorching hot sun was a testament to their patriotism. The theme of shining one’s light held deep meaning and significance for many of the performers, with them expressing great willingness to contribute to the future of the country. When asked what the theme meant to him, performer Chew Wei Quan from 23S42 explained that, “To me, shining my light simply means everyone going forth and contributing to the relevance of Singapore on the global stage. Therefore shining my light would mean that it’s now the newer generation’s time to carry on the legacy that our previous generations have paved for Singapore.” He also expressed great love for our country and all that Singapore has achieved throughout its 58 year tenure, citing many of our nation’s significant achievements. Similarly, Dance Chairperson Beatrice Priscilla Yaury of 23S56 wished for Singapore to remain united, inclusive and harmonious, and for its continued prosperity.
The dancers, on the day of NDP. Photo taken by VJC Dance.
The performance on the actual day would not have achieved such flawless excellence if the dancers had not persevered through hardships. With the limited time they had a month before exams, many dancers tried to revise their work between rehearsals. However, most found the convection area they were put in during rehearsals loud, overpacked and distracting. They had to make a lot of sacrifices to put their best effort into performing.
Moreover, there was great stress juggling both academic and NDP commitments, which was further intensified as practices were held during the June Holidays despite exams being immediately after it. One of the dancers, Zhou Hongxi from 23S55, expressed that they had many dance practices held on the weekends, and thus she had to bring her work to study during breaks. According to the aforementioned performer Wei Quan, while he managed to juggle his commitment to NDP and his academic workload in the end, NDP rehearsals often resulted in him reaching home late and being too exhausted to be productive. As the Chairperson of Dance, Beatrice stressed that she “had to think of how to help (the) 100 dancers learn their moves fast and effectively, since everyone (was) still coping with National school games, concerts and academic commitments”. She found that the experience was physically demanding, especially since they had to practise for long hours under scorching hot weather.
Though the struggles faced were not little, the dancers persevered, spurred on by their love for dancing and our country. They recalled having feelings of euphoria at the idea of performing for the Singaporean public and expressed great fondness and appreciation for the crowd cheering them on. Lim Qian Yu Hazel from 23S42 also elaborated, “While I was waiting for our item, hearing the loud cheers from the crowd motivated me to do my best and made me smile much more while performing.” Beatrice agreed, saying that “the drive for perfection and the strong sense of camaraderie among fellow participants kept (them) motivated and determined to overcome these challenges as a team”. Krystal Loo Chuan Rui from 23A13 also felt that this experience taught her how to manage her time better, since she had to juggle between dance practices and her other commitments. Others also felt pride for their dancing and voiced that they were honoured to be given this opportunity to represent VJC and perform. Afterwards, the dancers were even visited by Singapore’s Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing, who stopped to take a selfie with the team, a highly memorable moment for some.
The dancers posing for a photo with the Education Minister. Selfie taken by Mr Chan.
Several dancers posing for pictures with their fellow performers. Photo taken by VJC Dance.
Many NDP dancers also expressed happiness for the friendships formed during the rehearsals. “I really enjoyed spending (NDP) with friends and making new ones,” Krystal explained, “There were so many other performers so I didn’t feel nervous.” Faced with such a big audience, both in real life and online, it was undeniably intimidating at first. However, unity between the dancers calmed their nerves and gave them the confidence needed to perform well. Beatrice agreed, adding that “The unwavering support and camaraderie among (their) fellow participants kept (them) motivated.” She also credited VJC “for provid(ing them) with resources, facilities, and guidance to help (them) prepare for (their) performance” The combined support from everyone played a huge role in the success of their performance.
The dancers’ perseverance in the face of challenges was definitely something to be admired and praised. Their unwavering commitment served as inspiration for us all, and their performance set a reminder for what unity and dedication can bring to our country. With their coordination, synchronisation and love for the nation, the NDP performers have brought honour to the school, the country, and to themselves.
The dancers, gathered together for a photo. Photo taken by VJC Dance.
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