Suspension of Operations : The Ridge

As you might have noticed, the ridge has not been published for the past three months spanning the duration of October 2009, November 2009 and January 2010. This statement is to explain the reasons behind the suspension of operations.

The October 2009 and November 2009 were not published due to the expiration of the ridge’s MICA license.The NUSSU Executive Committee had been informed about the need to renew the MICA license in June 2009 and was also told that approval for the license takes one to two months.

However, the renewal was not submitted on time and the previous NUSSU Executive Committee (2008 – 2009) failed to inform their incoming counterparts about necessity for action.

Due to prompt action not being taken even though the ridge took the necessary steps to inform all relevant parties, the ridge was forced to cancel its October 2009 publication even though the issue was completed and ready for print.

After obtaining the MICA license (MICA (P) 207/11/2009), the ridge worked towards publishing a January 2010 issue. Just as the issue was about to go to print, NUSSU Executive Committee (2009 – 2010) decided to pull the January issue once again voiding all the hard work of the editorial board, writers and layout designers, citing the late publication date of the issue as the reason. However, you will be able to access the January Issue at our website (http://ridgeonline.wordpress.com) after it has been uploaded.

The cancellation of publication based on the date of issue is a deviation from the working agreement and standard operating procedure we have been following for every back issue, as NUSSU Executive Committee has no authority to interfere or dictate the workflow and publication dates of the ridge, both of which are decided by the Chief Editor and the Editorial Board of the ridge.

In order to ensure that such a situation does not arise in the future and to make clear in writing any grey areas, the ridge proposes the following.

1. From henceforth all matters relating date of publishing for any issue rests solely with the Chief Editor of the ridge.
2. All creative control and content rests with the Chief Editor of the ridge. However, all articles will be submitted for vetting and will only be pulled on the basis of inflammatory stances towards politics,  race or religion.
3. NUSSU can also bring any events with it deems newsworthy to the ridge’s attention, but the ridge is in no way shape or form bound to run the story.
4. the ridge online website remains autonomous and wholly under the control of the ridge.

The main aim of these points is to safe-guard the interest of the members of the ridge who work diligently to ensure that the pages of the ridge maintain the high standards that you have come to expect.

We also aim to create a fairer balance of power between the ridge and NUSSU Executive Committee.

We would like to re-iterate that the ridge sees itself as a Standing Committee of NUSSU. However we feel that the Executive Committee is incapable of adequately understanding the operations of the ridge, the effort that goes into writing, designing and publishing every issue and does not honor the respects and wishes of the Editorial Board.

This is clearly reflected in the ad-hoc decision to cancel the publication of the January Issue, in direct conflict with the wishes of the Editorial Board which worked very hard to ensure that the issue hit stands in time. This position was communicated with clarity and in no uncertain terms to the NUSSU Executive Committee.

the ridge has always tried to work with NUSSU and has always respected their wishes. We continue to work towards a February 2010 Issue and hope NUSSU Executive Committee will be amicable towards our proposal.

Hurrairah bin Sohail
Chief Editor, the ridge
ridgechiefeditor@gmail.com

Oh Joonsung Drama Concert – Music from Korean Drama Favourites

Photos courtesy of The Esplanade Co Ltd

The Korean wave sweeps over Esplanade in February on two special evenings of songs and instrumental pieces from the soundtracks of some of the most popular Korean drama series written by composer, arranger and lyricist, Oh Joonsung.
Considered one of Korea’s most sought-after composers and lyricists, Oh Joonsung will direct his 9-piece band, Green Cacao and a 23-piece orchestra in a night of beautiful music. Some of these songs will be accompanied by music videos from the dramas. Joining them will be Korean popstars Bobby Kim, SHINee and Mario& who will perform their signature tunes from dramas such as Dream, My Girl, Get Karl O Sujung, Witch Amusement, King and I, The Queen Returns, Heading to the Ground and Boys Over Flowers.

1 & 2 Feb 2010, Mon & Tue
7.30pm (90mins, no intermission)
Esplanade Concert Hall

$150, $130, $110*, $90**
Limited Concessions for NSF, senior citizens and students: $95*, $75**
Tickets are available at Esplanade Box Office and all SISTIC’s authorised agents.

Start-Up @ Singapore 2010

Singapore-Sketches of the Lion City

Nathanael Ps | nathanaelps@gmail.com
theridge transmedia
A NUSSU Publication

ww.loretteroberts.com

British artist and illustrator Lorette E. Roberts has just launched her new book, “Singapore, Sketches of the Lion City”- a collection of sketches, water colour paintings and illustrations that describes the unique experience that is Singapore. In her sixth illustrated book (and her first about Singapore), she gives her readers an insight on the life, culture and traditions of the various places in Singapore. Her work features popular tourist spots such as the Raffles Hotel, the Marina and Orchard road as well as the less well known areas such as the Kranji farms and the Art Bridge. Readers are in for a visual treat as they experience page after page of Lorette’s dynamic and fascinating drawings. Be you a tourist, expatriate or local, the book has something for everyone.

Born in 1945, in Bath, England, Lorette had taken a keen interest in drawing since a young age. Over the many years, she has experimented with various themes and techniques, developing her own style of water colour sketching. Armed with just her pencils, water colours and sketch pad, she usually does her sketching on location if time permits. An avid globetrotter, Lorette is a self confessed ‘Asiaphile’ who frequently visits China, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. No stranger to travel, she has also resided in the USA, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Hong Kong. It was in the Cantonese island that she first attempted sketching as a means to preserve her memories of her stay in her city. One thing led to another and she soon published her first sketchbook, “Sights and Secrets of Hong Kong” in 2003 which sold over 15 000 copies. Over the next four years, Lorette published four more sketchbooks on China and Hong Kong; receiving international acclaim for her illustrations. She currently resides in Suffolk, United Kingdom and continues to host various joint exhibitions both at home and abroad.

For more information about Lorette and her work, do visit her website at ww.loretteroberts.com

Highlights of October

	Singapore-Sketches of the Lion City British illustrator Lorette Roberts launches “Singapore, Sketches of the Lion City”, her first sketchbook of Singapore
	Singapore Writers Festival 2009
	The Next Wave: Re-imagined and Refreshing
	25th Singapore French Film Festival

The Next Wave: Re-imagined and Refreshing

Aaranya Rajasingam | aaranya.rajasingam@gmail.com
theridge transmedia
A NUSSU Publication

Have you ever been in that bubble where you are sucked into the world of the artist and it becomes part of your own, not only in building multiple facets of reality, but also, in reflecting your reality in a variety of ways? The Next Wave 2009, presented by the NUS Dance Ensemble on Friday the 18^th of September, was a night of such introspection and revelry for both the audience and performers alike. It was a platform for new choreographies by both guest choreographers such as the award-winning choreographer Mr. Dan Kwoh, Ensemble alumni members as well as the resident choreographer of the Ensemble, Zaini Mohammad Tahir.

The Next Wave 2009 was part of the annual celebration of dance entitled “Dance Reflections” organized by the NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA) and was yet another stepping stone for the Ensemble in their aim to not only showcase new talent but also to explore and widen its existing repertoire. They were able to perform a variety of rhythms and movements, from the traditional to the unconventional, incorporating dance movements such as contemporary, jazz, ballet and hip-hop in their multi-faceted repertoire.

The evening opened with the moving piece titled “Rapture”, choreographed by Shahbirul Zaki Ahmad who was one of the pioneer members of the NUS Dance Ensemble and is now a well known local choreographer. The black costumes and powerful dance movements combined with effective lighting evoked a feeling of pain and searching. The dancers’ repetitive, constant motion of “stripping away” emphasising a search and the revelation that was to be found at the end – that could have well possibly meant a new beginning.

This was well-matched by Dan Kwoh’s choreography of “In My dream”, which saw the continuous exploration of the motif of searching and longing. The depicted dream-scenes lead us to dear ones that have passed away who live on, beyond mere picture frames that are brought to life on stage, and precipitated the question if all dreams are made out of real things? Possibilities bloom in that hushed, concentrated space where the imagination rushes in. Nonetheless, one felt that there was little need for props such as frames for such an emotionally-charged performance.

“Conversations” by Zaini adds momentum to the repertoire of soul-searching, where he explores the nuances and difficulties of Asian cultures that place an importance on the “face” as representation of communication in an era of technology and modernity where individuals no longer need to be physically present in interactions. The angular formations help highlight the chaotic and organized spaces of our lives and the need to negotiate them constantly.

The Deyi Movement and Dance Group, who has risen to fame through their many performances overseas, especially their performance as the largest contingent for the opening of the South Asian Games 2009, also performed a powerful and evocative peace full of regal flavour.

There was a display of novel themes, such as the inner conflicts and turmoil of a prison inmate depicted in a number choreographed by Julihanna Annuar and Nazri Ishak, entitled  “One.O.Seven”,. Interesting formations and jail pillar props enhanced the suffocation of a death row inmate whose initial denial progresses to a state of acceptance and inevitable resignation to his fate.  It was a perfect foil for “Crush Blush” by Chen Jiexiao which took off on a lighter note, taking audiences young and old down memory lane, reminding them of first kisses and young love. The dancers were transformed into school-going students and displayed the pleasure and innocence of youthful affections. The song “Oh It Was Love..” soon had the audience humming and tapping along to the beat. “I Know” by Huang Zheng on the other hand identified important aspects of our society, where even knowledge and power can sometimes have adverse effects on our holistic growth, and emphasizing the importance of an old world charm and innocence that modernity seemed to have lost. “Rhythm Stylus” was a show stopper with their love for simply dancing showcased through jamming beats.

The range demonstrated by the different pieces on Friday was quite remarkable, as if they were testing how diverse your taste could be. However, they were all carried by enthusiasm for performance itself. It was evident that such a curious blend was only made possible through the bold choreographies that strove to transcend fixed stereotypes within the various dance forms. The atmosphere that evening was charged with excitement and expectation and the performance was both exhilarating and new. The costumes were very well-put, matching the mood of each performance and the lighting managed by Lighting Designer Roy Chooi complemented the evening throughout.  All the hard work clearly paid off as the dancers had impeccable timing as they performed their various formations with grace and vigour while they glided across stage to a packed auditorium, almost seamlessly at times. It was an enchanting performance by a gifted troupe of performers.