How One Man Spent 2 Decades in Chingay

Mr Quek Zhong Yi posing with his student performers during dinnertime, before the full dress rehearsal. PHOTO: SHEENA RAGNHILD WOON YANG PENG

This year’s Chingay parade marks the 60th year of the People's Association’s (PA) community-building efforts in Singapore. One man has been part of this event for one-third of its history.

“I started in the year 2000. Back then, I was a student performer. I stopped performing in the year 2003 onward and I've been the contingent leader since then,” said Mr Quek Zhong Yi, 36.

When asked why he chose to be involved in Chingay for so long, he said: “It’s really the fun factor and the people factor. I get a kick out of it.”

In 1960, PA was created to foster social cohesion during a time of social and racial unrest. 13 years later, PA organized the first ever Chingay in Singapore and it has become a norm for many Singaporeans to watch during the Lunar New Year ever since. In this long history of culture and arts, Mr Quek has spent 20 years of his life being a part of this journey.

Despite being a 47-year-old tradition, Chingay has stayed true to its purpose of celebrating diversity. Every year, performers of different races and generations spend months practising in order to put up a colourful show for the country. For this year’s parade, there is an astounding amount of 6000 volunteer performers involved, all of them spending long and hard hours preparing for the parade.

Mr Quek mentioned that there is no bad part about being involved in Chingay, despite his 20 years of grueling rehearsals. He highlighted that although it can be quite draining at times, he likes “the adrenaline rush at the end of the day. [He] enjoys that fun feeling”.

As a veteran in Chingay, Mr Quek has seen first hand how the festive event has transformed over the years. He reminisces the days when the Chingay parade would travel throughout Singapore’s town area. “That was the history of Chingay, it started on the roads but after that our Singapore government created this space (F1 Pit) so they moved everything here,” said Mr Quek.

When he is not commanding his contingent for the Chingay Parade, Mr Quek is a dance instructor. As an avid participant in Singapore’s art scene, Mr Quek recognises what Chingay has contributed to the scene. He said: “It provides a really good platform to bring the community-arts to the community.” This parallels the PA’s vision of community building.

Mr Quek cites Chingay @ Heartlands as an accessible and affordable way for the average Singaporean to consume arts. This year, Chingay @ Heartlands will be visiting areas like Woodlands, Bishan and Jurong West to allow residents to experience the vibrant performances without having to chip in a single cent.

“Every mere commoner does not have to pay high-end arts price just to go to Esplanade or the other major theaters in Singapore to experience the arts. Not everyone has the means to experience the arts. Hence, that’s how I feel Chingay contributes to the art scene,” said Mr Quek.

(497 WORDS)