Those who love dancing can join the themed mass dance weekends starting 7 October where the public can put on their dancing shoes to take part favourites such as the tango, hip-hop, cha-cha and line-dancing.
There are also four new genres - Korean hip hop, K-pop, music video dance and a-go-go to experiment with.
Among the many programmes available at the sixth da:ns festival, is the 'Footwork' workshops offering a variety of dance classes from youth and adults, parents and kids (7 to 10 year olds) and twinkle toes (3 to 6 year olds).
The workshops that include new genres such as K-pop, Korean hip hop, burlesque and adult ballet, and feature Parent-Child sessions are so popular that a number have been booked out.
According to Faith Tan, Programming officer at The Esplanade, its popularity can be seen through "many sold out workshops among the new genres like K-Pop, Burlesque and Zumba, which reflect the current trends of popular dance now."
"We also sold out the workshops that had the regular favorite genres like Salsa, Jazz and Tango, and all six of our parent-child workshops such as Bollywood Baby and Pop Baby were sold out very quickly as we see many parents bonding with the children through fun movements."
With an estimated number of more than 60,000 people flocking to the festival last year, Tan believes the festival's popularity is due to a rising number of youth taking an interest in dance.
"What is interesting is in recent years, we have seen more young audiences at the festival. Many youths are now interested in dance, mainly as they were introduced to dance through popular culture through music videos and popular dance reality programmes."
Dance aficionados will appreciate the fresh perspectives at the da:ns festival this year with one of the key highlights being the Asian premiere of 6,000 miles away with legendary ballet dancer Sylvie Guillem.
This is one of a pair of co-productions, with the other being 'We Came From the East' by JeckoSDance, an Indonesian choreographer who created his own unique dance style called 'Animal Pop'.
A nod to the artistic dance movement in Asia also sees the presentation of 'Black and White', a contemporary styled Khon (Thai dance) performance that explores the balance between opposite forces, in a search to find inner peace within oneself.
This commissioned work by Pichet Klunchun from Thailand is through the festival's annual da:ns artist–in-residence programme.
Tan said that the efforts "help profile Asian artists and encourage the development of new works by providing the artist with support to realise a new dance production."
The biggest bill however is the festival's opening performance, 'Political Mother' by the Hofesh Shechter Company.
"The critically acclaimed work has been described as 'part dance show and part heavy-rock gig'" said Tan.
"The work questions what power means for a community and nationhood. A very apt work in today's turbulent times."
The performance that will include an ensemble of military drummers and rock guitarists live on stage alongside dancers, has been described as a bold and powerful work.
The Esplanade's da:ns festival 2011 will be held from 7 – 16 October.
-CNA/vl
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