Two excerpts that showcase the beauty of contemporary dance against the waterfront and Singapore skyline.

T.H.E Dance Company’s Dance at Dusk series has long been a key component of their cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival, making contemporary dance feel accessible for first timers, complete with Grace Lee-Khoo and sign interpreter Shawn ensuring greater inclusivity, while also showing off the technical and creative elements honed to a fine point, well appreciated by seasoned audiences. In this year’s edition, nature is at the forefront, with excerpts from two works – Klievert Jon Mendoza’s Hawla, which explores the relationship between the beast and human nature, while Kuik Swee Boon’s Water Bloom unravels man’s complex yet delicate relationship with nature.

Dance at Dusk began with an excerpt from Klievert Jon Mendoza’s HAWLA, a prelude to the full-length performance set to premiere in 2025. Against the setting sun and backdrop of the Marina Bay skyline, dancers Chen Chi, Cherie Genevieve Wong, Grace Lim, James Wong, Joanna Oh, Kimberly Long, Kwek Yixuan, Ng Pei Yao, Shaun Lim, Stefanie Teo, Sylvia Ng, and Thanaporn Varoonchotikul (Beam) came onstage, gazing into the distance and towards different directions.

The dancers seem to be tortured, displaying a breadth of emotions, linked by their shared pain and understanding, divided by their own thoughts and stands. As they drop one by one onto the floor, they resemble caged animals at a loss, each trying to find a way to stand up again. Hawla, after all, means cage, and is derived in part from aggression in Filipino culture, where these dancers are akin to wild beasts, ensnared by their own personal cages.

Each step is measured, slow and steady, and at various points, there is a quietude felt without the backing music, all while we hear noise from our surroundings, filled with distractions rather than allowing the dancers to focus and reflect. In that sense, this is a piece that contains plenty of textures, as the dancers form different shapes and formations. There is a togetherness and sense of camaraderie as they stomp the ground together, firm in their movements and as one. While they remain “caged”, somehow it seems they’ve managed to push out their emotions – a little less defeated, and looking forward to the next chapter of the story they want to tell, all in due time. 

In the next section, dancers Cherie Genevieve Wong, Eunice Wee, Irwin Tan, Jack Ng and Zeng Yu performed an excerpt from Kuik Swee Boon’s Water Bloom. Initially, three ladies come onstage, their hair are styled into a bun as they perform beautifully choreographed ballet-like movements. In a way, this is meant to explore the intimacy and intricacies of the relationship between man and nature, personifying both the elegance and strength in a fine fleeting balance, evoking lyricism and musicality when achieved.

The first male dancer, dressed in black, now appears at the back of the stage, falls to the ground. Yet it is not accidental but deliberate, almost shifting our eyes to him, showcasing control and precision in their movements synonymous with choreographer Kuik’s vision and artistry. Moving to the sound of Darren Ng’s gentle, flowing soundtrack, there is so much beauty in the execution of their moves, particularly in the way they position their hands to support themselves, precise and calculated, yet seemingly effortless, even when viewed up close.

As he walks along the back of the stage, it feels almost as if he’s going on an arduous journey with him eventually sliding off the stage. It’s impressive how the choreography has been adapted to suit the outdoor stage, as we notice the cool breeze from the river blowing through, and the shimmer of the river, helping us appreciate our surroundings that much more.

The remaining two male dancers seem to exchange power and control, yet still dancing with a certain vulnerability to them, gentle, as if they were lifting feathers and not each other. As the three dancers continue to move, the remaining two male dancers appear forlorn, before they come together, so close we can hear their breathing. They take a step, and we contemplate how life itself seems to come together in a fragile balance, and as they dance, we imagine hope on the horizon.

Photo Credit: Crispian Chan

Dance at Dusk played from 28th to 30th June 2024 at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade. More information available here

cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2024 – On the Cusp ran from 6th to 30th June 2024 across various venues. More information available here