RAW Moves and Murasaki Penguin’s Subtle Downtempo No: An Interview with the Team

RAW Moves is back this July with a brand new production. Playing as part of their 2019-20 season of Systems, get ready for Subtle Downtempo No, a brand new production created together with Australian/Japanese dance company Murasaki Penguin as they explore the experience of being an outlier from society’s systems. Choreographed by Anna Kuroda and sound and visual artist David Kirkpatrick from Murasaki Penguin, Subtle Downtempo No uses an interdisciplinary combination to … Continue reading RAW Moves and Murasaki Penguin’s Subtle Downtempo No: An Interview with the Team

M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival 2019: DiverCity (Review)

  Three works that prove Singapore’s dance scene is ever bold and ever dynamic. Playing as part of the 2019 M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival, DiverCity acts as one of the festival’s many platforms to showcase the most exciting new choreographies and emerging talent. This year’s edition of the annual platform presents not one but three works from up and coming local independent dance artists, giving … Continue reading M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival 2019: DiverCity (Review)

Review: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

An epic, joyous production elevating the art of drumming to new heights.  There are some productions that can only be described as nothing more than pure joy to watch. Fatih – The Prince and the Drum, happens to be one such production, as it cleverly uses a mix of Malay percussion, song, martial arts and staging to make a familiar tale of a fallen prince seeking … Continue reading Review: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

Review: The Seen and Unseen (Sekala Niskala) by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Clear direction and precise choreography make this highly spiritual work a success. Transitioning from one medium to another can be a daunting task, with the biggest question being “what does the new form add that the old one did not?” But for Indonesian director Kamila Andini, the answer to that is clear, with the stage adaptation of her 2017 film The Seen and Unseen. Born out … Continue reading Review: The Seen and Unseen (Sekala Niskala) by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: Subtle Downtempo No by Murasaki Penguin and RAW Moves

Ever found a shirt that wouldn’t fit properly? Or made to feel like an outlier because you didn’t fit into the system?  Coming to you this July as part of their 2019-20 season of Systems, local contemporary dance company RAW Moves and Australian/Japanese dance company Murasaki Penguin come together to present Subtle Downtempo No, a performance where, through dance, sound, light and the flow of time the … Continue reading Preview: Subtle Downtempo No by Murasaki Penguin and RAW Moves

Preview: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

As the annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts returns this weekend, expect the Esplanade to come awash in a flurry of activity as the space is enlivened by a carefully curated variety of performing arts from the Malay Archipelago, from famous regional singers and bands, to children’s theatre, to dance and theatre. Headlining the festival is the first large-scale commission of a … Continue reading Preview: Fatih – The Prince and the Drum by NADI Singapura (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: The Seen & Unseen by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

This weekend, the Esplanade’s annual Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of the Arts returns to present a finely curated selection of performing arts from the Malay Archipelago, ranging from well-known regional singers, children’s plays, and of course, theatre and dance. Of these, they will be premiering Indonesian artist Kamila Andini’s The Seen and Unseen, a theatrical/dance performance inspired by her film of the same name, as performed … Continue reading Preview: The Seen & Unseen by Kamila Andini (Pesta Raya 2019)

Preview: Dancers’ Locker 2019 by Frontier Danceland

Originally conceived as a platform for company artists to explore their own choreography, Frontier Danceland Dancers’ Locker has now become a mainstay of their annual performance calendar. Showcasing emerging choreographers as they develop their ideas, take risks and create dance works that are fresh and innovative, this year’s edition features choreographers Keigo Nozaki (Japan) and Ma Yueru (Singapore) as they present brand new works. But beyond simply presenting … Continue reading Preview: Dancers’ Locker 2019 by Frontier Danceland

An Interview with Paris Opera Ballet Étoiles Léonore Baulac and Germain Louvet

Last weekend, the world famous, 300-year strong Paris Opera Ballet arrived at the Esplanade to perform some of the greatest contemporary hits in their repertoire. Performing William Forsythe’s Blake Works I, Jerome Robbins’ In the Night, and Crystal Pite’s The Season’s Canon, audiences were hyped, to say the least, about the rare opportunity to catch not one but three incredible performances in one sitting. Following an afternoon rehearsal on their … Continue reading An Interview with Paris Opera Ballet Étoiles Léonore Baulac and Germain Louvet

Review: INALA – A Zulu Ballet, produced by Sisters Grimm

Uniting the traditional and contemporary to create a timeless work exuding joy and good vibes.  Rarely has ballet been an art form associated with South Africa, much less combined with Zulu music performed by a gospel choir. For the INALA: A Zulu Ballet then, its rare and innovative premise is likely to have been the fuel to its ever growing success since its debut at the 2014 … Continue reading Review: INALA – A Zulu Ballet, produced by Sisters Grimm