A Chinese dance performance brings grace and colour to a Singapore event: dancers in flowing silk costumes, fans sweeping in a wave, a story told through movement and traditional music. It suits a formal dinner, a company gala, a wedding banquet, a cultural festival and, above all, Chinese New Year.
Price: a Chinese cultural dance usually costs SGD 800 to 2,500 per performance set. See how much a cultural dance performance costs in Singapore.
Chinese dances you can book
- Classical Chinese dance. Elegant, highly stylised movement with roots going back many centuries, drawing on martial arts and a ballet like fluidity. It suits formal functions and cultural showcases.
- Fan dance. Dancers open, close and sweep their fans to create flowing shapes and patterns, often to traditional Chinese music. The fan dance can tell a story or express a feeling, and it is associated with grace and elegance.
- Ribbon dance. Long silk ribbons swirled into spirals, associated with happiness, prosperity and good fortune. It has its own page: the Chinese ribbon dance.
- Lantern dance. Glowing lantern props for Chinese New Year, the Mid Autumn Festival and evening events.
- Ethnic minority dances. China is home to many ethnic groups with their own dances, from the Dai peacock dance to routines inspired by Tibetan and Mongolian traditions.
- Contemporary fusion. Traditional technique with modern choreography and music, for a modern brand event.
What a booking includes
You choose the length: a short showcase of 3 to 5 minutes or a full performance of 10 to 20 minutes. The dancers come in traditional costume with their props, such as fans, ribbons or lanterns, the music is provided, and the routine is choreographed to the style and mood of your event. Interactive segments, where guests try a few movements, can be added on request.
Which dance suits your event
A fan dance suits a formal dinner or a banquet, where guests are seated and the room is calm. A ribbon dance adds energy to a public celebration or a festive opening. For Chinese New Year, a fan or ribbon dance in red and gold can follow the lion dance, which is a separate act. For a mixed audience, a Chinese item can sit inside a multicultural showcase with Malay and Indian dance.
Planning tips
- Book early for Chinese New Year. Chinese dancers are in high demand around the festival. Companies start booking from November.
- Check the space. The dancers need enough stage or flat floor to move safely. Fan and ribbon dancers with wide movements may need a high ceiling.
- Pick the moment. Time the item around guest arrivals, the speeches or an intermission, when the room can watch.
- Add music or an emcee. Traditional musicians such as guzheng, erhu or pipa players, or an emcee to introduce the item, complete the segment.
See the festivals page for Chinese New Year timing, and the corporate events page for a dinner and dance. When you are ready, send the date and the venue on WhatsApp or through the quote form.
