Bringing their da:ns focus 2023 programme to a close, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is ending the year on a bang with a weekend of street dance with FL/OW – The FULL OUT Weekend.

Taking place for three days in December, FL/OW promises exciting performances, workshops, battles and parties, highlighting the vibrant street dance scene in Singapore, always active and only growing each year. Esplanade’s launch of FL/OW as a biennial platform complements the existing vibrant scene by bringing focus to what street dance can be beyond the conventional.

To inspire more creative approaches to street dance choreography, get ready for longer-form street dance theatre works from around the world. This culminates in a massive street dance spectacular with the 4th edition of FULL OUT!, featuring House of Love, ILL-Abilities, The Royal Family and ScRach MarcS. Coming from all corners of the globe, three-time World Hip Hop Dance Champions, The Royal Family (New Zealand), Korean Kiki house pioneers, House of Love (South Korea), and international breaking sensation, ILL-Abilities, go full out alongside homegrown Singapore crew, Local Remix, led by ScRach MarcS. Brace yourself for this adrenaline-pumping showcase of iconic signature moves along with a refreshing take on street dance through thrilling crew collaborations.

Another highlight of FL/OW is Dance Mixtape—a mixed bill featuring a collection of street dance theatre works. Exploring the concept of adaptability, The Ruggeds (The Netherlands) pushes the boundaries of breaking with Waterbrothers; Spoken Movement (United Kingdom) incorporates languages such as krump and hip hop for theatrical ends at the award-winning work Family Honour; and Stirring Ground (Singapore) is specially commissioned by Esplanade to create a new work, investigating notions of resilience and inter-dependence. Also known as hip hop theatre, street dance theatre is a genre that emerged in the 1990s, blending street dance with theatrical elements and structures. These works embrace a diversity of contemporary creative approaches, often with a focus on exploring a particular idea, content or form.

Get ready to turn up the heat as homegrown street dance choreographers make their debut at a fresh edition of 5.6.7.8 – a collaboration between Esplanade and O School. Twelve emerging Singapore choreographers and crews will either create a new work or reimagine a recent choreography, which will be performed at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Expect three exciting evenings with different line-ups from the talents of our local street dance community. Under the direction of O School’s SIX.5 Dance Company, the choreographers and crews in action for this edition include: Alton x Terrence, Amira, Bobby, Christopher Jesse, Haikal Razali, HRCY, Jeremy Tan, Jordan x Yeqi, NOOOICE! FAM, PROXIMITY, Sherlayne Loo and Syamir x Madhu.

Be sure to take part in the various programmes supporting this main event as well, from a free afterparty on 1st December to mingle and get to know street dancers from around the world, to plenty of classes for beginners wanting to get into street dance, or masterclasses by invited artists for those looking to up their game even more. Artistic director of Spoken Movement, Kwame Asafo-Adjei (United Kingdom), for example, will undertake a week-long creative residency with dance students from LASALLE College of the Arts, while audiences may register for In the Studio, comprising an informal sharing of the work-in-progress created through the creative residency, and casual conversation sessions with the artists.

In dedicating an entire weekend to the art of street dance, the Esplanade hopes that FL/OW provides a platform to commit to collaborations with local partners and work together to strengthen the development of both emerging and seasoned Singapore choreographers, inspiring audiences and artists to high levels of artistry and diverse techniques by presenting world-renowned dance crews. With over 30 different dance programmes, street dance lovers and anyone seeking a fun weekend are sure to enjoy the jam-packed FL/OW – The FULL OUT Weekend, only at the Esplanade.

da:ns focus 2023: FL/OW runs from 1st to 3rd December 2023 at the Esplanade. More information available here