Where would dance be without its roots? We invite you to Rasas, a presentation of folk and traditional dances from Asia, co-produced with Ah Hock and Peng Yu, performed by dedicated practitioners well known in their countries. Such dances have been an integral part of every society's cultural practices, whether performed to celebrate harvests, to pay tribute to gods in religious ceremonies, or to tell a community's stories and remember its history. Many of today's contemporary dancemakers draw from these beautiful, spirited and colourful dances, and inform their creations with their own heritage.

Contemporary ballet takes on an Asian flavour in a performance by Tari Youth Theatre. A series of works inspired by different ethnic Asian dances and reflective of issues relevant to the Asian identity. Among them is the award-winning A Touch of Asia, which draws inspiration from traditional Balinese dance and the figure of the Southeast Asian woman. The variety of dances presented in Rasas, from countries such as Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, India and the Philippines, shows the wonderful cultural diversity of Asia. But take a closer look and you might just find that in this diversity, there is a great deal in common after all.