A cultural dance performance in Singapore usually costs SGD 600 to 1,500 for a 15 to 20 minute Malay dance set or a classical Indian solo, SGD 800 to 2,500 per set for a Chinese cultural dance, and SGD 1,200 to 3,500 for a Bollywood troupe. A bhangra troupe of 4 to 6 dancers usually costs SGD 1,000 to 2,200, and a full 60 to 90 minute showcase with several styles SGD 2,500 to 4,500.
Cultural dance price table (SGD)
| Performance | Line up and length | SGD |
|---|---|---|
| Malay dance (joget, zapin) | group, 15 to 20 min | 600 to 1,500 |
| Bharatanatyam solo | 1 dancer, 15 to 30 min | 600 to 1,500 |
| Bharatanatyam solo or duet | 1 to 2, 10 to 20 min | 500 to 1,200 |
| Kathak | 1 to 3, 10 to 20 min | 600 to 1,400 |
| Odissi | 1 to 2, 10 to 15 min | 600 to 1,300 |
| Chinese dance (fan, ribbon, classical) | group, per set | 800 to 2,500 |
| Bollywood troupe | 3 to 6, one set | 1,200 to 3,500 |
| Bollywood troupe | 4 to 8, 20 to 30 min | 1,200 to 3,000 |
| Bhangra troupe | 4 to 6, 15 to 20 min | 1,000 to 2,200 |
| Dhol drummers | 1 to 4, 15 to 30 min or roving | 400 to 1,800 |
| Fusion, classical plus Bollywood | 4 to 6, 20 to 30 min | 1,500 to 3,200 |
| Kompang, wedding procession | 15 to 30 min | 600 to 1,500 |
| Kompang, corporate welcome | 10 to 20 min | 800 to 2,000 |
| Kompang, Hari Raya stage set | 20 to 30 min | 1,000 to 2,500 |
| Full cultural showcase | 8 to 15, 60 to 90 min | 2,500 to 4,500 |
Some styles appear twice because the ranges were published for different line ups and lengths. These are typical ranges for a single booking. Friday and Saturday bookings and festival dates cost more than a weekday.
What moves the price
- Number of performers. A solo classical dancer costs less than a troupe of eight. A bhangra or Bollywood troupe is priced by its line up.
- Length. A 10 minute item costs less than a 30 minute set. A full showcase with several styles is priced as a programme.
- Live music or a track. Live musicians, such as a dhol drummer, a gamelan or kompang group, or a sitar and tabla duo, add to the fee.
- Costumes. Complex costumes and costume changes between dances push the fee up.
- Travel and access. Venues far from central Singapore, or with difficult loading access, can add a travel line.
- The date. Friday and Saturday bookings cost more. Festival dates cost more, such as the Hari Raya public holidays.
- Lead time. Booking close to a festival leaves fewer performers free, which can raise the price or narrow the choice.
What a fee includes
The fee typically covers the performers' time, a briefing before the event, their preparation and the agreed performance time. Traditional costumes and props such as fans, ribbons or lanterns come with the dancers, and the music is provided. Special costumes, travel to remote venues, overtime and custom choreography are quoted separately. For a Hari Raya or a festival booking, extras such as henna artists or craft tables are add ons, priced on top.
How to compare two quotes
Two quotes at the same total are not the same if one is for four dancers and 15 minutes and the other for six dancers and 25 minutes. Ask every quote to show the number of dancers, the length of the set, live music or a track, and what is extra. Agree the overtime rate before the day too. The guide to booking a cultural dance performance has the full checklist.
Ways to spend less
- Book a weekday, or well ahead of the festival peak.
- Match the troupe size to the stage, not the other way round.
- Choose one strong 15 minute item instead of a long programme.
- For a festival, book early, before the peak dates fill.
Get a price for your date
Send the date, the venue, the guest count and the dance you have in mind on WhatsApp or through the quote form. You get troupes that are free and a price broken down by dancers, length and music. See the corporate events page and the Malay dance page for occasion details.
