When Cultural Heritage Becomes a Costume, Where Do We Draw the Line?

The viral video of a Chinese dance troupe performing in Singapore while dressed in Nyonya-style sarong kebaya has certainly sparked a heated debate.

For me, the issue isn’t simply about who the dancers are or whether foreigners are allowed to wear our traditional attire. Culture should be shared, appreciated and celebrated by everyone.

But context matters.

The sarong kebaya is more than just a pretty costume. For many Singaporeans and Peranakans, it carries history, identity, craftsmanship and a sense of elegance. Seeing it paired with aggressive, kung-fu-inspired movements and performed loudly in a restaurant and public spaces understandably made some people uncomfortable.

At the same time, I don’t think every controversial cultural performance should automatically be labelled as an insult. Perhaps the dancers saw the kebaya simply as part of the visual concept of their performance, without fully understanding what the attire represents to the community.

And that, perhaps, is the real lesson here.

Cultural appreciation requires more than wearing the clothes. It requires understanding the story behind them.

Singapore is a multicultural society. We should welcome people who are interested in our culture — but we should also be able to say when something feels insensitive or out of place.

You can appreciate creativity while still asking for cultural respect.

Tradition is not just a costume. It carries a story. 🇸🇬🌺