Singapore is known as a melting pot of cultures. Mei Fei, a Singaporean Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, has gradually carved a niche for herself amidst that diversity.
Despite being of Chinese descent, her deep passion for Indian classical dance has become an inspiration to many today.
Starting With Curiosity
Speaking to We Are Majulah, Mei Fei says her Bharatanatyam journey began as a co-curricular activity in secondary school. She and her friends suddenly enrolled in a dance class after seeing a poster in the school corridor.
At the time, it was just curiosity. However, over time, over five years of training, that curiosity turned into a deep love.
Family Perspective
She said her family and friends were a bit hesitant in the beginning. They did not understand where this dance path would take her. But with time, they realized that this was Mei Fei’s dream.
Today, her family and close friends respect this decision and stand by her.
Positive Experience
Most of her experiences while dancing Bharatanatyam were positive for her. She received unwavering encouragement from the audience and dance lovers. Many people, in particular, expressed their happiness that an artist of a different ethnic identity had adopted the Indian dance style.
This recognition inspired her to move forward.
Dance is not Just on Stage
Mei Fei says that in Indian culture, dance and music are not just stage-centric. They are part of everyday life.
Festivals, joy, collective feelings—dance and music are involved everywhere. This perspective has deeply moved her and taught her to think in a new way as an artist.
Singaporean Reality
As a Singaporean, Mei Fei believes that our society has always had a desire to embrace new cultures. According to her, when we look at different cultures closely, we can understand that, in fact, there are more similarities than differences between us.
Common beliefs and common feelings are what bring people together.
Social Media Reactions
Mei Fei’s dance and story have received widespread praise on social media. Many have mentioned her body language and the purity of her dance with admiration. Some have said that such cultural fusion is possible only in a country like Singapore. Others believe that art has no boundaries—it becomes one’s own when there is love.
Many believe that her journey beautifully highlights Singapore’s multicultural identity. This story of embracing a different culture has become a silent inspiration for the new generation today.
Watch the video here.
@wearemajulah When Mei Fei first joined her school’s Indian dance CCA, she didn’t expect to fall in love with the art form. 💃🏽✨ What began as a curious step has become her lifelong pursuit. From learning the intricate gestures of Bharatanatyam to teaching the next generation, Mei Fei has shown that passion knows no boundaries of race or culture. Over the years, she’s found support from family, friends, and even strangers who admire her devotion. She hopes more people will open their hearts to learn about other cultures, and realise that beneath the differences, we all move to the same rhythm of humanity. 🌸🇸🇬
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