[Applause] hi everyone my name is LinkedIn and I’m
hi everyone my name is LinkedIn and I’m
hi everyone my name is LinkedIn and I’m here to tell you how performance I can
here to tell you how performance I can
here to tell you how performance I can change society
change society
change society my parents signed me up for belly when I
my parents signed me up for belly when I
my parents signed me up for belly when I was four to me that was kind of a ball
was four to me that was kind of a ball
was four to me that was kind of a ball as a tomboy back then I didn’t see the
as a tomboy back then I didn’t see the
as a tomboy back then I didn’t see the need for me to dance so gracefully it
need for me to dance so gracefully it
need for me to dance so gracefully it just didn’t feel like I was in my own
just didn’t feel like I was in my own
just didn’t feel like I was in my own skin in secondary school and junior
skin in secondary school and junior
skin in secondary school and junior college I joined the modern dance clubs
college I joined the modern dance clubs
college I joined the modern dance clubs I picked it up pretty quickly and I
I picked it up pretty quickly and I
I picked it up pretty quickly and I actually enjoyed it because I had a
actually enjoyed it because I had a
actually enjoyed it because I had a foundation for my ballet classes so this
foundation for my ballet classes so this
foundation for my ballet classes so this is actually from my last Sol and in the
is actually from my last Sol and in the
is actually from my last Sol and in the stool dance competition I was a year two
stool dance competition I was a year two
stool dance competition I was a year two in anglo-chinese junior college and this
in anglo-chinese junior college and this
in anglo-chinese junior college and this dance was an ethnic and Japanese fusion
dance was an ethnic and Japanese fusion
dance was an ethnic and Japanese fusion style
style
style I was actually thankful to be able to
I was actually thankful to be able to
I was actually thankful to be able to have given the opportunity to learn this
have given the opportunity to learn this
have given the opportunity to learn this because it was totally out of my comfort
because it was totally out of my comfort
because it was totally out of my comfort zone and I really hate that the fact
zone and I really hate that the fact
zone and I really hate that the fact that I looked really good dancing it but
that I looked really good dancing it but
that I looked really good dancing it but over time I was thankful because it was
over time I was thankful because it was
over time I was thankful because it was a real challenge and it actually
a real challenge and it actually
a real challenge and it actually increased my versatility upon entering
increased my versatility upon entering
increased my versatility upon entering university I joined the hip-hop dance
university I joined the hip-hop dance
university I joined the hip-hop dance clubs and actually liked it so I could
clubs and actually liked it so I could
clubs and actually liked it so I could see that there’s actually beauty in both
see that there’s actually beauty in both
see that there’s actually beauty in both classical and Street styles so I thought
classical and Street styles so I thought
classical and Street styles so I thought that if one could bridge them together
that if one could bridge them together
that if one could bridge them together seamlessly
seamlessly
seamlessly hashtag goals my first contemporary
hashtag goals my first contemporary
hashtag goals my first contemporary instructor was a member of the Sangha
instructor was a member of the Sangha
instructor was a member of the Sangha company of a local dance company the
company of a local dance company the
company of a local dance company the dance company th is short for the human
dance company th is short for the human
dance company th is short for the human expression under her tutelage and
expression under her tutelage and
expression under her tutelage and watching many of their performances I
watching many of their performances I
watching many of their performances I was exposed to dance and imagined dance
was exposed to dance and imagined dance
was exposed to dance and imagined dance was beyond just choreographed steps and
was beyond just choreographed steps and
was beyond just choreographed steps and Cowens it was the art of human
Cowens it was the art of human
Cowens it was the art of human expression I was so drawn to movement as
expression I was so drawn to movement as
expression I was so drawn to movement as a form of storytelling and more
a form of storytelling and more
a form of storytelling and more importantly as a social commentary on
importantly as a social commentary on
importantly as a social commentary on things that we couldn’t really see
things that we couldn’t really see
things that we couldn’t really see outright
outright
outright it might be talked about in the media or
it might be talked about in the media or
it might be talked about in the media or handled by the government but dance
handled by the government but dance
handled by the government but dance performance give the common people a
performance give the common people a
performance give the common people a voice on things that they wouldn’t be
voice on things that they wouldn’t be
voice on things that they wouldn’t be able to speak the world is plagued with
able to speak the world is plagued with
able to speak the world is plagued with social issues and many social
social issues and many social
social issues and many social organizations and spokespeople employ
organizations and spokespeople employ
organizations and spokespeople employ various methods to get the message
various methods to get the message
various methods to get the message across dance as a tool to move the issue
across dance as a tool to move the issue
across dance as a tool to move the issue from statistics to the people themselves
from statistics to the people themselves
from statistics to the people themselves is not uncommon with the advent of
is not uncommon with the advent of
is not uncommon with the advent of social media there has been an increase
social media there has been an increase
social media there has been an increase in the awareness of various social
in the awareness of various social
in the awareness of various social issues and it has proved to be
issues and it has proved to be
issues and it has proved to be successful a student-led organization
successful a student-led organization
successful a student-led organization called and said was started by a senior
called and said was started by a senior
called and said was started by a senior of mine from college the organization
of mine from college the organization
of mine from college the organization was started last year and they aim to
was started last year and they aim to
was started last year and they aim to surface social issues by marrying them
surface social issues by marrying them
surface social issues by marrying them the performance at the main event was a
the performance at the main event was a
the performance at the main event was a play title every Singaporean daughter so
play title every Singaporean daughter so
play title every Singaporean daughter so what you see above that’s the poster
what you see above that’s the poster
what you see above that’s the poster here’s me at the booth promoting the
here’s me at the booth promoting the
here’s me at the booth promoting the cause so what they did was that they
cause so what they did was that they
cause so what they did was that they actually wrote remarks on my body
actually wrote remarks on my body
actually wrote remarks on my body showcasing that those were impressive
showcasing that those were impressive
showcasing that those were impressive remarks women that women received on a
remarks women that women received on a
remarks women that women received on a daily basis can have Pavan permanent
daily basis can have Pavan permanent
daily basis can have Pavan permanent effects on our identity so my senior had
effects on our identity so my senior had
effects on our identity so my senior had this idea to do a dance cover so it was
this idea to do a dance cover so it was
this idea to do a dance cover so it was about relationship issues and he wanted
about relationship issues and he wanted
about relationship issues and he wanted this dance cover to promote the play he
this dance cover to promote the play he
this dance cover to promote the play he approached my friend and I and we got
approached my friend and I and we got
approached my friend and I and we got the talking we try it around in a dance
the talking we try it around in a dance
the talking we try it around in a dance studio and here’s what we came up with
I’m really can you sit a little bit long
I’m really can you sit a little bit long don’t walk away
you don’t even care if I go not mama
you don’t even care if I go not mama don’t my but I keep taking my
don’t my but I keep taking my
don’t my but I keep taking my chances don’t waste my time
chances don’t waste my time
chances don’t waste my time you know father
you know father
you know father every time
oh sorry letter don’t come back
oh sorry letter don’t come back aside my BTA something I don’t come back
aside my BTA something I don’t come back
aside my BTA something I don’t come back for the fat won’t break yet
for the fat won’t break yet
for the fat won’t break yet [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] so this was mainly a dance cover my
so this was mainly a dance cover my
so this was mainly a dance cover my friend and I choreographed the steps
friend and I choreographed the steps
friend and I choreographed the steps such that it will convey the physical
such that it will convey the physical
such that it will convey the physical and emotional abuse through physical
and emotional abuse through physical
and emotional abuse through physical movements and accompanied with the
movements and accompanied with the
movements and accompanied with the lyrics of the song which hinted merely
lyrics of the song which hinted merely
lyrics of the song which hinted merely at relationship abuse after the video
at relationship abuse after the video
at relationship abuse after the video was posted online several people who saw
was posted online several people who saw
was posted online several people who saw it came up to me they wanted to talk
it came up to me they wanted to talk
it came up to me they wanted to talk about the concept surrounding the
about the concept surrounding the
about the concept surrounding the choreography the conversation gradually
choreography the conversation gradually
choreography the conversation gradually shifted the relationship issues and I
shifted the relationship issues and I
shifted the relationship issues and I realized that many young people actually
realized that many young people actually
realized that many young people actually have experienced some form of emotional
have experienced some form of emotional
have experienced some form of emotional or physical abuse by their partners last
or physical abuse by their partners last
or physical abuse by their partners last year I found out that my friend was
year I found out that my friend was
year I found out that my friend was raped it was difficult to come to the
raped it was difficult to come to the
raped it was difficult to come to the terms with the fact that someone that I
terms with the fact that someone that I
terms with the fact that someone that I knew so well had been living in secrecy
knew so well had been living in secrecy
knew so well had been living in secrecy for so long it may be wonder about how
for so long it may be wonder about how
for so long it may be wonder about how many more of my own friends who are
many more of my own friends who are
many more of my own friends who are going through similar situations but
going through similar situations but
going through similar situations but have yet to seek help or speak up it had
have yet to seek help or speak up it had
have yet to seek help or speak up it had it had been incredibly difficult for her
it had been incredibly difficult for her
it had been incredibly difficult for her to deal with it because the effects was
to deal with it because the effects was
to deal with it because the effects was so pronounced on every part of her life
so pronounced on every part of her life
so pronounced on every part of her life it’s easy to label a rapist and a victim
it’s easy to label a rapist and a victim
it’s easy to label a rapist and a victim when you don’t know them when it is
when you don’t know them when it is
when you don’t know them when it is traditionally known that people are
traditionally known that people are
traditionally known that people are often raped only by strangers in only
often raped only by strangers in only
often raped only by strangers in only violent situations but what happens when
violent situations but what happens when
violent situations but what happens when a girl is raped by her boyfriend well
a girl is raped by her boyfriend well
a girl is raped by her boyfriend well they are in a committed serious
they are in a committed serious
they are in a committed serious relationship it’s not so easy now isn’t
relationship it’s not so easy now isn’t
relationship it’s not so easy now isn’t it it was difficult for her to come
it it was difficult for her to come
it it was difficult for her to come forward to confess that all the pain
forward to confess that all the pain
forward to confess that all the pain inflicted upon her was by someone she
inflicted upon her was by someone she
inflicted upon her was by someone she loved so dearly sex is a taboo topic of
loved so dearly sex is a taboo topic of
loved so dearly sex is a taboo topic of which the act is often associated with
which the act is often associated with
which the act is often associated with shame especially in Singapore there is
shame especially in Singapore there is
shame especially in Singapore there is also the case that survivors unaware
also the case that survivors unaware
also the case that survivors unaware that they had been in such situations in
that they had been in such situations in
that they had been in such situations in the first place or knew how to seek help
for almost nine and 10 survivors of
for almost nine and 10 survivors of sexual assault the perpetrator was
sexual assault the perpetrator was
sexual assault the perpetrator was someone they knew in a study done by the
someone they knew in a study done by the
someone they knew in a study done by the weekend campaign it can be hard to
weekend campaign it can be hard to
weekend campaign it can be hard to reconcile the dichotomies surrounding a
reconcile the dichotomies surrounding a
reconcile the dichotomies surrounding a situation whereby the person whom you
situation whereby the person whom you
situation whereby the person whom you thought you could trust the most
thought you could trust the most
thought you could trust the most actually hurt you the most
the reality is that 70 percent of such
the reality is that 70 percent of such cases go unreported
cases go unreported
cases go unreported according to statistics by the same
according to statistics by the same
according to statistics by the same study the survivors are either unwilling
study the survivors are either unwilling
study the survivors are either unwilling to report their cases because they don’t
to report their cases because they don’t
to report their cases because they don’t want people to find out that they have
want people to find out that they have
want people to find out that they have had sex or have been violated this is
had sex or have been violated this is
had sex or have been violated this is dangerous
dangerous
dangerous because this gives the perpetrators the
because this gives the perpetrators the
because this gives the perpetrators the green light to continue inflicting
green light to continue inflicting
green light to continue inflicting violence upon their partners
violence upon their partners
violence upon their partners intentionally or even unintentionally
there needs to be more in-depth and
there needs to be more in-depth and transparent discussion about sex and
transparent discussion about sex and
transparent discussion about sex and consent in Singapore because the reality
consent in Singapore because the reality
consent in Singapore because the reality is that sex is actually committed by
is that sex is actually committed by
is that sex is actually committed by many young couples more than we might
many young couples more than we might
many young couples more than we might think an informal survey by The Straits
think an informal survey by The Straits
think an informal survey by The Straits Times of 60 teens and a 2003 Nanyang
Times of 60 teens and a 2003 Nanyang
Times of 60 teens and a 2003 Nanyang Technological University study of 350
Technological University study of 350
Technological University study of 350 students found that one in five had sex
students found that one in five had sex
students found that one in five had sex but youth counselors fear that this
but youth counselors fear that this
but youth counselors fear that this ratio is only going to go on saving
ratio is only going to go on saving
ratio is only going to go on saving themselves for marriage just doesn’t
themselves for marriage just doesn’t
themselves for marriage just doesn’t seem to matter anymore said mr. Jerry
seem to matter anymore said mr. Jerry
seem to matter anymore said mr. Jerry young our focus on the family a pro
young our focus on the family a pro
young our focus on the family a pro abstinence group which has conducted
abstinence group which has conducted
abstinence group which has conducted sexuality workshops for 17,000 students
sexuality workshops for 17,000 students
sexuality workshops for 17,000 students today we need to recognize this people
today we need to recognize this people
today we need to recognize this people do have urges we are biologically
do have urges we are biologically
do have urges we are biologically engineered their way but it doesn’t give
engineered their way but it doesn’t give
engineered their way but it doesn’t give us a free pass to assume that people
us a free pass to assume that people
us a free pass to assume that people want it the same way that we do however
want it the same way that we do however
want it the same way that we do however there is really much talk about consent
there is really much talk about consent
there is really much talk about consent in Singapore talk about sex
in Singapore talk about sex
in Singapore talk about sex in the national narrative exists in
in the national narrative exists in
in the national narrative exists in mainly three categories sorry four
mainly three categories sorry four
mainly three categories sorry four categories when the population control
categories when the population control
categories when the population control is affecting our economy the nature of
is affecting our economy the nature of
is affecting our economy the nature of the media to leverage upon sex to gain
the media to leverage upon sex to gain
the media to leverage upon sex to gain viewership it comes from a very top-down
viewership it comes from a very top-down
viewership it comes from a very top-down perspective from the seat from the media
perspective from the seat from the media
perspective from the seat from the media to the common person let’s not forget
to the common person let’s not forget
to the common person let’s not forget pornography teaching boys that goes like
pornography teaching boys that goes like
pornography teaching boys that goes like it rough or that they play hard to get
it rough or that they play hard to get
it rough or that they play hard to get propagating the expectation that a
propagating the expectation that a
propagating the expectation that a submissive female has to be naturally
submissive female has to be naturally
submissive female has to be naturally chaste pornography teaches people that
chaste pornography teaches people that
chaste pornography teaches people that it is okay to have meaning meaningless
it is okay to have meaning meaningless
it is okay to have meaning meaningless foreplay and sex bye-bye you don’t need
foreplay and sex bye-bye you don’t need
foreplay and sex bye-bye you don’t need to respect the other partners wishes or
to respect the other partners wishes or
to respect the other partners wishes or even like them as a person
lastly persuading youths to abstain from
lastly persuading youths to abstain from sex to prevent ate via formal sex
sex to prevent ate via formal sex
sex to prevent ate via formal sex education but what do you think are we
education but what do you think are we
education but what do you think are we doing enough to equip the youths on
doing enough to equip the youths on
doing enough to equip the youths on healthy sex practices we haven’t taught
healthy sex practices we haven’t taught
healthy sex practices we haven’t taught on the dangers of sex and how it can
on the dangers of sex and how it can
on the dangers of sex and how it can lead to sexually transmitted diseases so
lead to sexually transmitted diseases so
lead to sexually transmitted diseases so the best way is to use a condom or
the best way is to use a condom or
the best way is to use a condom or completely abstain from it but there are
completely abstain from it but there are
completely abstain from it but there are so many more layers beyond that of
so many more layers beyond that of
so many more layers beyond that of simply protection because unwanted sex
simply protection because unwanted sex
simply protection because unwanted sex physically forced or emotionally
physically forced or emotionally
physically forced or emotionally manipulated upon your partner can be
manipulated upon your partner can be
manipulated upon your partner can be seriously damaging for the survivor and
seriously damaging for the survivor and
seriously damaging for the survivor and no amount of condoms can ever prevent
no amount of condoms can ever prevent
no amount of condoms can ever prevent the feeling that you have been used by
the feeling that you have been used by
the feeling that you have been used by someone whom you trusted there needs to
someone whom you trusted there needs to
someone whom you trusted there needs to be more education on consent definition
be more education on consent definition
be more education on consent definition of abuses and ways to seek help in the
of abuses and ways to seek help in the
of abuses and ways to seek help in the end my friends stop pursuing the matter
end my friends stop pursuing the matter
end my friends stop pursuing the matter after a year in the meantime she managed
after a year in the meantime she managed
after a year in the meantime she managed to heal emotionally by seeking
to heal emotionally by seeking
to heal emotionally by seeking professional help and talking to people
professional help and talking to people
professional help and talking to people that she trusted
by seeking help from various
by seeking help from various organizations and care centers they were
organizations and care centers they were
organizations and care centers they were able to help her negotiate her identity
able to help her negotiate her identity
able to help her negotiate her identity surrounding the effects of her rape I
realized the importance of performance
realized the importance of performance art as a medium to give a voice on how
art as a medium to give a voice on how
art as a medium to give a voice on how pronounced the effects of sexual abuse
pronounced the effects of sexual abuse
pronounced the effects of sexual abuse head on its survivors and the same could
head on its survivors and the same could
head on its survivors and the same could be extended to other pertinent issues
be extended to other pertinent issues
be extended to other pertinent issues there is a strong power in dance
there is a strong power in dance
there is a strong power in dance provoking thought on uncomfortable
provoking thought on uncomfortable
provoking thought on uncomfortable social issues the nature of dance is
social issues the nature of dance is
social issues the nature of dance is that it is visceral you can inform
that it is visceral you can inform
that it is visceral you can inform invoke a mood or emotion which appeals
invoke a mood or emotion which appeals
invoke a mood or emotion which appeals to the audience it is an effective
to the audience it is an effective
to the audience it is an effective medium because with each individual in
medium because with each individual in
medium because with each individual in the audience they perceive the same
the audience they perceive the same
the audience they perceive the same stimuli from the stage but they do it
stimuli from the stage but they do it
stimuli from the stage but they do it differently it means different things to
differently it means different things to
differently it means different things to them therefore this increases memory
them therefore this increases memory
them therefore this increases memory retention as the impression formed is
retention as the impression formed is
retention as the impression formed is owned solely by them this is able to
owned solely by them this is able to
owned solely by them this is able to stick in their minds more easily because
stick in their minds more easily because
stick in their minds more easily because people remember how they felt at that
people remember how they felt at that
people remember how they felt at that time more than what information they are
time more than what information they are
time more than what information they are exposed to attitude changes have more
exposed to attitude changes have more
exposed to attitude changes have more lasting effects than awareness does
lasting effects than awareness does
lasting effects than awareness does therefore I think performance art is an
therefore I think performance art is an
therefore I think performance art is an extremely creative vehicle that engages
extremely creative vehicle that engages
extremely creative vehicle that engages people on an active level instead of
people on an active level instead of
people on an active level instead of just reading about the issue via
just reading about the issue via
just reading about the issue via pamphlet or a brochure because issues
pamphlet or a brochure because issues
pamphlet or a brochure because issues and not just about statistics and facts
and not just about statistics and facts
and not just about statistics and facts they are about people and people react
they are about people and people react
they are about people and people react more effectively to emotions so have an
more effectively to emotions so have an
more effectively to emotions so have an issue you wish more people would pay
issue you wish more people would pay
issue you wish more people would pay attention to you don’t have to dance you
attention to you don’t have to dance you
attention to you don’t have to dance you don’t even have to perform you can do
don’t even have to perform you can do
don’t even have to perform you can do whatever things you have whatever
whatever things you have whatever
whatever things you have whatever talents you already have in order to
talents you already have in order to
talents you already have in order to spread the message in a creative and
spread the message in a creative and
spread the message in a creative and rest
rest
rest or manner sexual violence is definitely
or manner sexual violence is definitely
or manner sexual violence is definitely a topic that we shouldn’t avoid along
a topic that we shouldn’t avoid along
a topic that we shouldn’t avoid along with many other social causes we can
with many other social causes we can
with many other social causes we can never be satisfied because issues will
never be satisfied because issues will
never be satisfied because issues will always be evolving and resurfacing we
always be evolving and resurfacing we
always be evolving and resurfacing we should continue to remain open to these
should continue to remain open to these
should continue to remain open to these disparities even as we grow old we will
disparities even as we grow old we will
disparities even as we grow old we will never have the answers so it is
never have the answers so it is
never have the answers so it is important to find new ways to say
important to find new ways to say
important to find new ways to say someone even if that person could be
someone even if that person could be
someone even if that person could be yourself before I and today I would like
yourself before I and today I would like
yourself before I and today I would like to demonstrate the struggle of a rape
to demonstrate the struggle of a rape
to demonstrate the struggle of a rape survivor through her circumstances I
survivor through her circumstances I
survivor through her circumstances I read I wish to represent all those who
read I wish to represent all those who
read I wish to represent all those who have been sexually assaulted one way or
have been sexually assaulted one way or
have been sexually assaulted one way or the other I hope this will leave you
the other I hope this will leave you
the other I hope this will leave you with an idea of how performance can
with an idea of how performance can
with an idea of how performance can transform the way people view about
transform the way people view about
transform the way people view about various social issues from some from
various social issues from some from
various social issues from some from numbers to something more emotive and
numbers to something more emotive and
numbers to something more emotive and real
god only knows where I love this right
god only knows where I love this right for me
for me
for me [Music]
last
last [Music]
[Music]
[Music] oh my
oh my
oh my [Music]
[Music]
[Music] No
[Music]
[Music] No
No
No [Music]
”
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