Music of Dunhuang: SCFA Hosts a Free Cultural Exchange Performance

On the afternoon of 24 October 2026, the Singapore-China Friendship Association (SCFA) hosted “Music of Dunhuang” (乐动敦煌·盛世妙音), a Singapore–China cultural exchange performance at Dance Ensemble Singapore. Open to the public free of charge, the event offered audiences a close encounter with Chinese cultural heritage while encouraging exchange among Singapore’s diverse communities. In his welcome address, Chew Sin Hwa, head of SCFA’s cultural group, warmly welcomed the visiting Dunhuang arts delegation from Gansu, China. He described Dunhuang as both a historic home to Buddhist artistic treasures, including the Mogao Caves, and a major meeting point on the ancient Silk Road. Over the centuries, different peoples, religions and cultures came together there, creating remarkable artistic achievements. “Dunhuang is remarkable not only for its long history and outstanding art, but also because it embodies the exchange and blending of different cultures,” he said. He noted that Singapore, too, is a place where people of different ethnicities, languages, religions and cultures live together and inspire one another. The visit was therefore more than a performance: it was a living example of cultural exchange. The programme was planned by Yuexie International (乐协国际), with venue and logistical support from Dance Ensemble Singapore. The Music of Dunhuang team from Gansu Performing Arts Group presented pipa solos and ancient melodies, including the Tang-dynasty piece “Qing Bei Yue” (倾杯乐), reflecting the musical exchanges of the Silk Road. Dance Ensemble Singapore’s contemporary troupe contributed energetic performances including “Wu Dong” (舞动) and “Jun Ma Ben Teng” (骏马奔腾). A highlight was the joint performance of “Yizhou” (伊州) by Dunhuang musicians and a Singapore-based Indian tabla master. The bright tones of the pipa met the resonant rhythms of the tabla in a conversation between musical traditions. Delicate passages evoked the distant bells of Silk Road caravans, while more vigorous phrases recalled the movement of desert winds. Listening and responding to one another, the musicians showed how music can connect people across cultural boundaries. The event also opened with an introduction to Dunhuang mural culture and an interactive dance session. Guided by the artists, audience members explored the imagery of this “art gallery in the desert” and tried the distinctive hand gestures and expressive movements of Dunhuang dance. These hands-on activities brought the traditions to life beyond the stage. After the performance, SCFA Vice President Ng Yan Huay presented a commemorative gift inscribed “乐动敦煌·艺融狮城” to Zhang Jing, Director of the Dunhuang Art Application and Promotion Research Centre of Gansu Performing Arts Group. The performers and audience then gathered for a group photograph. SCFA reaffirmed its commitment to friendship and cultural exchange between the people of Singapore and China. Alongside economic and social cooperation, lasting friendship depends on understanding and trust, and the arts provide an important bridge between people. The Association also expressed its hope that the Dunhuang team would return with a larger-scale stage production, bringing the richness of Dunhuang music and dance to Singapore audiences in an even fuller form. By combining performance with participation, the event brought the centuries-old arts of Dunhuang into the local community and added a vivid Silk Road dimension to Singapore’s multicultural landscape.