Contemporary dance, for us, is often a love-hate relationship. There are times where movements are so abstract, they frustrate with their opaque qualities, yet there are times dances are performed with such determination that we simply remain mesmerized by the pure emotions they evoke in us. Belonging to the latter category is Neo Dance HK’s latest triple bill work, Neo Dance HK X Singapore, which played … Continue reading Review: Neo Dance HK X Singapore
It’s honestly rare to see disabled people in the arts scene. Every so often, along comes an incredible performer like theatre performer Ramesh Meyyappan, or a work that attempts to show that the disabled are capable too, such as Musical Theatre Limited’s My Love Is Blind, but to have an entire festival full of disabled arts? Unheard of! But if you think that there aren’t enough talented … Continue reading Preview: True Colours Festival 2018
Beyond new contemporary works, the Esplanade’s annual Kalaa Utsavam also regularly features traditional arts in its lineup, and 2017 is no different. This year, we had the rare privilege of watching master koodiyattam practitioner Kapila Venu perform the ancient, UNESCO-recgonized art form. A little background information for the unfamiliar: koodiyattam is a 2,000 year old theatrical tradition originating from Kerala, India. Often performed in temples, … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Koodiyattam – Nangiarkoothu by Kapila Venu (Review)
Indian culture and mythology spans centuries, giving birth to hundreds of tales about various gods and goddesses, royals and monsters. So it stands to reason that the 2017 Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts would open with an adaptation of one of the most famous tales of all – the Ramayana. Focusing on the life and adventures of the monkey god Hanuman (played by Hari … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana by Apsaras Arts
Khwaab-Sa opens with a spotlight on lithe, petite dancer Ronita Mookerji as the iconic spirit Puck. In the background, a musician clad in a unicorn mask assaults our ears with loud electronic music, as Mookerji writhes and vibrates. Grinning madly, she laughs silently before impishly back-flipping across the stage, a moon projection making her lunacy obvious. This is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as you’ve never seen … Continue reading Kalaa Utsavam 2017: Khwaab-Sa – Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by The Company Theatre (Review)
Theatre companies aren’t the only arts groups around to have youth wings; one of our favourite local experimental dance groups RAW Moves has one too. Called A Little RAW, the group of youth dancers aged 11 to 19 (including two with special needs) will be presenting their year end performance this November at Goodman Arts Centre’s all new performance space – the Artground. In the … Continue reading Preview: What the tree sees…by RAW Moves
Rounding off the year in cultural festivals is the Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of the Arts. Since its humble beginnings in 2002, the festival has grown to a sprawling 10 day event showcasing an exciting mix of classical and contemporary arts performances from local and international Indian artists. Starting on 17th November, the festival opens with an explosive tale told through bharatanatyam and Javanese dance … Continue reading Preview: Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts 2017 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Benjamin Millepied’s L.A. Dance Project presented at Esplanade’s da:ns Festival was a riveting performance of perfection, and left audiences in awe throughout the 80 minute show. The show opened with a sequence of three duets from the documentary A Dancer’s world: Martha Graham. Performed on a bare stage, the no-frills presentation of the dance brought the audience’s attention to the detail and shape of the dancers’ bodies, emphasizing the sharp lines … Continue reading da:ns Festival 2017: Benjamin Millepied’s L.A. Dance Project (Review)
Nestled in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, just west of Shanghai, is the historic water town of Wuzhen. A remnant of the Qing Dynasty and famed as the birthplace of the celebrated left-wing novelist Mao Dun, Wuzhen has been in the last decade revitalised through tourism and interestingly, as the home of China’s pre-eminent international theatre festival. In its fifth edition this year, … Continue reading Preview: Wuzhen Theatre Festival 2017
The Esplanade’s 12th da:ns Festival makes a return this month with a whole new programme of some of the very best dance performances from both the international dance scene, and here in Singapore. A grand total of seven ticketed productions will be available to catch this time round, including two festival commissions by Choy Ka Fai and Eisa Jocson. In addition, audiences can also take part in over … Continue reading Preview: da:ns Festival 2017 by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
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