Dance, Family, and Heritage: A Singaporean Student on Identity

In this interview, ROOTS had the opportunity to speak to a Singaporean citizen with a unique connection to cultural heritage, demonstrated through her long-lasting passion for classical Indian dance. Her experiences demonstrate the ability of culturally-diverse social environments to aid individuals in becoming accepting of others’ and their own cultural heritage. 

Explaining her background, the student notes that she grew up in Singapore but was born in Malaysia. 

In terms of the conceptualization of her identity, she explains a feeling of being surrounded and a strong connection to Hindu culture, based on the fact that this is the culture her parents most resonate with, as they are Indian. 

“I just say Singapore honestly because I’m a Singaporean citizen.” She says, a response to our question about how she typically introduces her identity to those around her. “I feel like since I've grown up here, I've felt more connected to Singapore than any other country.”

Yet, there have also been difficulties in externalizing her cultural identity. When discussing her interactions with others regarding her identity, she mentions that she has had people tell her “what” she looks like, often assuming her nationality. The aspect of physical appearance, however, she notes that she doesn’t really think about what she looks like when identifying herself or understanding her roots. 

The student uses her passions in the arts as a sense of identity formation. “I do dance, and I like music. Arts in general are a passion.” 

Another aspect that influences her identity is language, where she references her recognition of English as “home” since her parents have only spoken English to her since she was young. This fits quite well with Singapore’s multilingual culture, with English and mandarin benign the primary mediums of instruction and communication.

To conclude, her story reflects the experience of an individual with diverse cultural experiences, revealing the impacts of family and passions on conceptualising one’s cultural identity.