The Legend - Ramayana Performance in Singapore.

Image © Apsara Asia Pte Ltd. Used with permission.

If you're in Singapore at the beginning of August, do catch Apsara Asia and Maya Dance Theatre's artistic reimagining of the Ramayana legend, titled The Legend: The Journey Begins.

I've discussed the Ramayana legend before, and how it manifests in Southeast Asian art forms like the kecak performances in Bali. The tale of Rama and Sita is such a rich gold mine for art and culture in the region, that most countries in the region have their own version of the legend.

The Legend: The Journey Begins attempts a synthesis of the region's many versions, casting a diverse cast of performers into a grand narrative of the Ramayana epic, using varied traditional dance forms like the Indian Bharatha Natyam and Balinese Baris and Wayang Wong.

The Legend: The Journey Begins will show on August 1 and 2 at the University Cultural Centre (UCC) Theatre in Singapore. Tickets can be bought from www.sistic.com.sg for SG$25, $23, and $19 (excluding booking fee).

For more information on the performance, email Info@MayaDanceTheatre.org or visit their website: www.MayaDanceTheatre.org.