Singapore’s Human Expression Dance Company (T.H.E), is gearing up for the sixth edition of its annual M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival next month, with guests from around Asia set to gather for three weeks of shows, technique classes and workshops.Running 21 November through 13 December, the festival will present seven performance platforms at four venues: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Goodman Arts Centre, National Museum of Singapore, and the LASALLE College of the Arts’ Singapore Airlines Theatre.Eight local groups are soon to be announced to join the DiverCity section as part of Singapore’s year-long anniversary celebrations. But already creating a buzz, the Asian Festivals Exchange section will include residences sent from three of Asia’s top contemporary dance festivals – Seoul Dance Collection (Korea), Yokohama Dance Collection (Japan) and d’MOTION International Dance Festival (Malaysia).Australia’s leading dance company Chunky Move have also confirmed to participate at this year’s event. Returning guests and Festival Directors include Yoshiko Swain (Japan), Yu Ho-sik (South Korea), and Natalia Medina (Spain). Other guests include Olivier Dubois, artistic director of Choreographic Centre Roubaix and Compagnie Olivier Dubois in France; Neil Ieremia, Artistic Director of Black Grace Dance Company in New Zealand; Iratxe Ansa, former dancer with Nederlands Dans Theatre and Spain’s Compania Nacional de Danza; and respected Japanese dance critic Takao Norikoshi.“As lead curator of the Festival’s programmes, I am attracted to artists who possess the same qualities that drive our Festival: youthful, dynamic, independent and fearless. We keep our eyes, ears and hearts open to distinct and unique voices in the global arts scene, and to those open to artistic interaction with the Asian arts community,” said Festival Director Kuik Swee Boon.The success of the exchanges has already included highlights such as Zuzanna Kasprzyk (M1 Open Stage 2014) invited by N.D.A Festival Director Yu Hosik to perform in South Korea, Soo Dong Jung (M1 Open Stage) selected by Natalia Medina, Director of MASDANZA International Contemporary Dance Festival to perform in Spain, Miwa Okuno (AFX 2014) talent-spotted by Yoshiko Swain, Fukuoka Dance Fringe Festival Director and Inma Marin’s (M1 Open Stage 2014) commission for T.H.E Second Company’s liTHE 2015.
Here is the full line-up:International Artists Showcase, featuring Chunky Move & Anouk van Dijk (Australia/Netherlands), Iratxe Ansa (Spain) & Kim Dong-kyu & R.se Dance Company (South Korea).DiverCity, spotlight on definitive works by local dance groups, co-presented by the National Arts Council & T.H.E in conjunction with M1 CONTACT 2015.T.H.E Dance Company Triple Bill, featuring new creations by Jecko Siompo (Indonesia), Iratxe Ansa (Spain), and restaging by Kuik Swee Boon (Singapore/Malaysia).
Asian Festivals Exchange, featuring T.H.E Second Company, Seoul Dance Collection, Yokohama Dance Collection and DPAC Dance Company (Malaysia).Southeast Asia Highlights, featuring Daniel K and selected regional submissions.M1 Open Stage 2015, featuring soloist Kim Seo Yun and duet Kim Kwang Min &
Hong Kyung Hua from N.D.A Festival (South Korea), Ong Yong Lock (Malaysia)
representing Fukuka Dance Fringe Festival, and selected global submissions.Continuum Dance Exchange, featuring local and overseas dance conservatories.
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