Check out what you can do in August

The circus is back
When the blue and yellow tents come up on Bayfront Avenue, we know that the circus is in town. Cirque du Soleil presents Kooza, a heart-stopping acrobatic performance that is interspersed with comic relief by clowns. Every touring show this Canadian company produces has a theme, such as Saltimbanco, which celebrates life, and Quidam, which tells the story of a girl who escapes to a whimsical world.

Kooza, or koza, is a Sanskrit word that means “box”, “chest” or “treasure”. The word was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box”. A character called The Innocent takes a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, he encounters a world filled with people who are brave enough to do things differently from everyone else. There are daredevil stunts by the Unicycle Duo and acrobatic feats by the performer in the chairbalancing act.

Two acts will keep you on the edge of your seat: the high-wire act and the wheel of death. In the former, props such as bicycles and chairs are used by a quartet to walk the tight rope, while in the latter, two men walk, jump and leap inside and outside two wheels that are turning continuously.

To make the outing more enjoyable, book the VIP tickets — you not only get the best seats but also a glass of champagne or wine and delicious nibbles before the show and during intermission. The plus factor is that the toilets are available only for VIPs, which means you don’t have to queue for the portable public toilets outside. Kooza is on from now until Aug 27.

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Performance time:
Tuesdays to Fridays: 8pm
Saturdays: 4.30pm and 8pm
Sundays: 1.30pm and 5pm
Tickets: From $88
Bookings: www.sistic.com.sg or
www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

The art of dance
Van Cleef & Arpels is not only known for creating exquisite watches and jewellery but is also a keen supporter of the arts, especially dance. This interest can be traced back to the 1940s, when the maison first launched its iconic ballerina clip, which features a dancer festooned with precious gems.

Van Cleef & Arpels, in collaboration with the Singapore International Festival of Arts 2017, presents the Asia- Pacific premiere of Le Syndrome Ian, the conclusion to award-winning choreographer Christian Rizzo’s trilogy centred around “found” anonymous dances.

Le Syndrome Ian takes audiences back to England in 1979. It sets the stage in a London club where club-goers are enthralled by the sounds of Manchester band Joy Division and its lead singer, Ian Curtis. Rizzo recaptures the sense of intoxication as he transports the audience to a world where the grooves and moves were all that mattered.

From the three-minute clip we watched on YouTube, you are in for a treat, as Rizzo uses his personal experience to show what happens on the dance floor in a club. It is no wonder that this performance was awarded the FEDORA — Van Cleef & Arpels Prize for Ballet.

Date: Aug 24 to 26
Time: 8pm
Venue: SOTA Drama Theatre
Tickets: $45, $60, $75 on sistic.com
(25% SIFA Friend discount, 20% discount for NSFs, students and seniors)

Embrace diversity
Feast on great food at SPRMRKT and appreciate the beautiful artworks by South African artist and textile designer Deborah McKellar in the Noodles, Rice, Spice & Potatoes series. This mixed media collection celebrates multicultural society and includes a visual representation of the four races in Singapore. The exhibition is on until Sept 26.

On Aug 17, SPRMRKT will host a Celebrate Diversity party that will allow guests to fully appreciate McKellar’s work and merchandise. Even the food served that evening will be given a local interpretation — the menu includes grilled chicken skewers with sweet-spicy kecap manis and peanut sauce; crostini with dhal puree, cucumber and yoghurt; and dry laksa with fish cake slices, eggs and sprouts. For dessert, there is the Peranakan favourite, kueh salat.

Venue: 2 McCallum Street
Time: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Tickets: By invitation only.
To receive an invitation, email [email protected]
 or register on the event page on SPRMRKT’s Facebook page.
Registration closes on Aug 14.

This article appeared in Issue 790 (July 31) of The Edge Singapore.