Part A: Surjit Nongmeikapam (India) & Rianto (Indonesia)
17 Oct, Sat, 3pm
18 Oct, Sun, 8pm
Part B: Xiao Ke x Zi Han (China) & Yuya Tsukahara (Japan)
17 Oct, Sat, 8pm
18 Oct, Sun, 3pm
After travelling across Asia to research and interview 88 Asian dance-makers, Singapore artist Choy Ka Fai collaborates with dance artists from four countries to present a performance series from his monumental research project SoftMachine.
Through intimate dance portraits, Choy leads us into the deeply personal working lives of choreographers that are negotiating the ever-changing terrain of contemporary dance-making in Asia.
From India, Surjit Nongmeikapam breaks out of conservative Manipuri cultures and questions exoticism when creating dance for the consumption of European audiences. From Indonesia, Rianto specialises in the traditional dance Lengger and explores the personal and societal tensions of gender in dance-making today. From Japan, Yuya Tsukahara, leader of Contact Gonzo, subjects Choy to a brutal contact improvisation duet and interview, where answers are returned in the form of Gonzo’s signature raw physical power. From China, Xiao Ke and Zi Han reflect on the social and political context of their environment, and experiment with the symbolic tendencies of the Chinese dance-maker.
Part performance, part interview, and set against documentary films created with each of the artists, Choy’s enquiry investigates the choreographic minds of the present and speculates the possibilities of their futures.
Join us for a dialogue with the artists after the 8pm performances.
This production will take place in two parts. Tickets are required for both parts.
Tickets available from: http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/softm1015