Soulstice dancers with their resident instructor, Sherilynn Chionh.
Held at the SOTA Studio Theatre, The Fifth Season marked Soulstice's first full-length production, conceptualised and led entirely by the 2025 Soulstice Executive Committee (Exco), students from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), as well as their resident instructor, Sherilynn Chionh. The production also brought together dancers from NTU's Contemp{minated} and SIT's Poco A Poco, reflecting Soulstice's commitment to collaboration, artistic growth, and community-building through dance.
A shared stage and shared journey: SUSS Soulstice alongside NTU Contemp{minated} and SIT Poco A Poco.
Beyond choreography and performance, the production demanded extensive planning. Soulstice members took on roles spanning artistic creation, production management, stakeholder engagement and technical coordination while balancing academic commitments alongside the realities of mounting a professional-standard show. From securing external venues, coordinating rehearsals and navigating licensing requirements, the journey mirrored real-world arts management practice.
Soulstice dancers in action during The Fifth Season
At its core, The Fifth Season embodied SUSS' ethos of Dream, Dare, Do. The team dared to imagine a production beyond routine showcases, pursued it with discipline and resilience, and delivered a meaningful artistic experience for both performers and audiences. The production comprised a matinee and an evening performance. Both performances received strong audience support, with the night show sold out and the matinee performance drawing near-full capacity.
As Soulstice reflects on the success of The Fifth Season, the production stands as a reminder that student-led initiatives can extend far beyond campus activities. With the proper support and a shared vision, students can create work that resonates artistically while developing skills that will shape their future journeys.
An engaged, full-house audience celebrating the dancers’ final curtain call
Bernyce Goh Xiu Wei, 2025 Soulstice Vice Chairperson, reflected, "Soulstice has always been about growth. Not just as dancers, but as individuals. This production challenged us to dream bigger, dare to take on unfamiliar roles, and do the hard work together, even when the process was tough."
Soulstice looks forward to continuing its mission of nurturing dancers, fostering collaboration, and creating platforms where student creativity can thrive.