The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a big blow to T.H.E (The Human Expression) Dance Company, like it’s done to many others in the arts scene. The company cancelled tours, classes, workshops and performances - losing more than S$120,000 in revenue in 2020. But its founder and artistic director Kuik Swee Boon isn’t one to dwell in what was lost. He got his dancers Zoom accounts and found new ways to keep them in shape. Then he tried to bring his audience back through livestreaming. He even produced PheNoumenon, Singapore's first full-length 360-degree virtual-reality dance film. These efforts at digitalisation aren't quite paying off yet - only about 15 per cent of its livestream audiences have paid for their tickets, according to T.H.E’s business manager. But Swee Boon is unfazed, saying: “We need to be bold and innovate, and not be afraid of failures.” Swee Boon is one of 12 individuals CNA Insider has tracked over the past year to see what the pandemic recession has cost Singaporeans, and how ordinary folks dug deep to meet the challenge - and came out tougher for it. Click to explore Surviving Recession, a CNA Insider special: https://cna.asia/survivingrecession Watch the other videos in this series: I Lost My Boutique - Now I'm Fighting To Keep It Alive Online: https://youtu.be/KoNzcXUU-qU He Lost His Income, Then Sank Into Depression. Now This Exotic Dancer Is Fighting To Get Back On Track: https://youtu.be/CUd6h_8xxnI Burning Out, But Wildlife Rescuer Isn’t Giving Up: https://youtu.be/jnBIS02wRhc For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Instagram: https://ift.tt/2C3sZiR Facebook: https://ift.tt/2PPEuNA Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider
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