Night Festival 2012: Feel younger at heart this weekend at the festival

Mylar - FUERZABRUTA
Image credit: Ozono Producciones.

Last weekend, the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct was transformed into a dazzling and spectacular playground, thanks to the Night Festival 2012 presented by the National Heritage Board.

After hours of partying at the festival last weekend, will there be any more good reason to visit the Night Festival 2012 again this upcoming weekend?

The answer is clearly a "Yes". The new programmes at this upcoming weekend's Night Festival 2012 with their extravagance and novelty are likely to influence the audience to feel younger at heart. Find your way to the Night Festival on 31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012!

One of the performers from Ozono Producciones.
Image credit: Derrick See

If it helps you in your endeavours to feel younger at heart, please make your way to the following programmes at the Night Festival this weekend:

FUERZABRUTA
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
Mylar | 8.45 p.m., 9.45 p.m., 10.45 p.m.
Corredoras | 8.30 p.m., 9.30 p.m., 10.30 p.m.
Venue: Singapore Management University Green
These performances by Ozono Producciones (Argentina) are set to break free from the confines of the spoken language and theatrical convention. The mind-blowing visual effects and the powerful experiences will prove to remind the young at heart that taking calculated risks and experimenting beyond the conventional could be worthwhile in the long-run.

In Mylar, four dancers slip and slide in rapturous motions in a translucent 15-metre pool that will be suspended eventually just inches above the heads of the audience.

Mylar - FUERZABRUTA
Image credit: National Heritage Board.

For an experience of a magical stage where two elegant dancers somersault and dive at a fast speed across a large silver screen, be sure to watch Corredoras.

Corredoras - FUERZABRUTA.
Image credit: National Heritage Board.

Corredoras - FUERZABRUTA.
Image credit: Ozone Producciones.

FUERZABRUTA - La Argentina. 
The Analog Girl | Kiat | Dharni | Bloco Singapura 
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
8.30 p.m., 9.30 p.m., 10.30 p.m.
Venue: Armenian Street
If celebrating through music and dances entices you, find your way to the Armenian Street (where there will be road closures from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m.) and re-experience how it would have been during the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Argentinean Independence. Feel joyful. This is one of the gifts of being younger at heart!

In the performance that is named La Argentina, a crane holds an athletic dancer in the air. Nearby, musicians from Bloco Singapura pound and strum on the drums. The music is likely to get people to start dancing with the beat. Isn't this a great way to feel younger at heart?

Tip: To enjoy the music from these engaging performances better, it will help to bring along a pair of good earplugs to protect the ears. It will also help to wear comfortable shoes so as to keep up with the pace of the performance when it moves from one part of Armenian Street to another.

Fuerzabruta - La Argentina.
Night Festival 2012.

Flying in the air! La Argentina.
Image credit: Derrick See.

La Argentina. Be transported to a land of fantasy and movement.
Image credit: Derrick See.

Night Painting | Cast in Light
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012 
8.30 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m.
Venue: Vanguard Builing, 71 - 77 Stamford Road, Singapore.
This performance will add a touch of artistic flair to the historical Vanguard Building, which used to be the former MPH Building. Imagine the two performers - one in darkness, one in light - exploring and interacting with the architecture of the building and the office-like spaces in their voyeuristic adventure.

To appreciate this performance, it is essential to have a youthful outlook to appreciate the interesting sense of humour that the two performers, Li Cassidy-Peet and Terry Wee, have. Thankfully, being young at heart does not mean that one has to abandon one's memories of the former MPH building.

Night Painting. At Vanguard Building.
Night Festival 2012.

Vanguard Building. Former MPH Building.

Fish Tank at No. 8 
Venue: No. 8 at SAM at 8Q, 8 Queen Street.
This is a light installation that people are likely to smile and to delight in. This live virtual aquarium with its giant red fishes looks so life-like that it will earn a heartfelt smile from each of its visitors. Laughter and smiles could potentially help a person feel younger at heart. Why not consider catching this light installation even though it is not new to this year's Night Festival?

Fish Tank at No. 8.

Free Running
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.
Venue: Handy Road Open Park, in front of The Cathay. 2 Handy Road.
If you have missed this last weekend, there is still a chance to do so this weekend. Phenomenal free runners of Ashton Movements Agency will entertain audiences with awe-inspiring moves involving rolling, climbing, jumping through obstacles with creative manoeuvres and more.

Before watching the performance, the young and enthusiastic ones may like to be registered for the special workshops to learn the fundamentals of free running. This workshop will be conducted by the finest practitioners in Singapore.

In these workshops which will take place from 6.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. during the Night Festival, participants will learn the basics such as landing and the fastest way to overcome a wall. To register, please email askme@thepresentingcompany.com or call Tel: 6438-6466/ 8139-4766.

Night Festival 2012. Free Running. Handy Road Open Park.

Essentially, it is possible to feel younger at heart this weekend simply by attending the Night Festival 2012!

On the other hand, if you prefer to reminisce and to be nostalgic, please visit this link for some ideas: Interesting Night Festival 2012 programmes for the nostalgic folks.

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To help you to plan your time at the Night Festival, here is a suggested itinerary for your consideration:

8.00 p.m.: Free Running.
8.15 p.m.: Start walking to Singapore Management University Green.
8.30 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – Corredoras
8.45 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – Mylar
9.15 p.m.: Start walking to Armenian Street.
9.30 p.m.: Fuerzabruta – La Argentina |The Analog Girl | Kiat | Dharni | Bloco Singapura 
10.00 p.m. or 11 p.m.: Night Painting | Cast in Light

Updates (1 Sep 2012): Based on my personal observations at the Night Festival 2012, the actual performance timings for Mylar and La Argentina may vary slightly from the published information (about 15 to 30 minutes difference).

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Night Festival 2012
24 Aug and 25 Aug 2012
31 Aug and 1 Sep 2012
7.30 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Free admission
For more details, please visit: http://www.brasbasahbugis.sg/nightfestival

Nearest MRT stations: Bras Basah, City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut.