“I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what is too deep to find for words.” – Ruth St. Denis (1877–1968), American modern dance pioneer
da:ns is proud to present dancemakers who have the exceptional ability to use the power of the physical body to find what resides deep in our souls, often taking us to undiscovered places in our hearts and minds. From across generations, these artists have created works of art that speak directly to us on what it means to be human.
In 1982, Mats Ek took the revered Romantic ballet Giselle and retold it for a contemporary world. In a radical and audacious move, Ek changed both the form and text, and brought in complex psychological themes and ideas. More recently, Hofesh Shechter has taken the UK by storm with his inventive works that exude both rugged energy and poignancy. They show a thrilling, chaotic, fragmented world, and often contemplate issues such as individual freedom and conflict.
Meanwhile, flamenco star Eva Yerbabuena and Singapore’s own daniel k dig deep within themselves in search of the meaning of love. In Lluvía, a tribute to love’s purity and solitude and the endlessness of life, Yerbabuena bares her soul in a tour-de-force performance. In Hokkaido (Or Somewhere Like That), daniel k takes us on a hypnotic journey of recollection, exploring the elusiveness of memory and the lightness of love.
Ballet is often a quest for the metaphysical notion of Beauty, and ballet choreographers and dancers constantly push their limits to express one of the highest ideals in humankind. The International Ballet Gala features scintillating performances by a line-up that includes the celebrated prima ballerina Julie Kent and the charismatic Daniil Simkin from the American Ballet Theater.
Asian philosophies inspired Edwaard Liang and Xing Liang for their works presented in a double bill. Liang enters an otherworldly realm between heaven and earth with the Buddhist concept of ‘bardo’, whileXing navigates the freedom and openness of creativity, drawing from the Tao Te Ching.
In another powerful double bill, South African Gregory Maqoma enacts the drama and power play in human relationships while Belgian Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui explores the intricacies of boundedness – to desires, to each other, to history.
Dance is also a social activity for participation and an integral part of life for many communities. da:ns invites you to express yourself and experience the joys of dance in Footwork dance workshops, What’s Your Move mass dance sessions and Rasas – Traditional Dances from Asia.
Come join us in this celebration of the spirit of movement and the power of dance. Come fall in love with dance at da:ns 2010!
