ASEAN Culture Week 2004 Participants

Annex 1 ASEAN Culture Week 2004 Participants

1. Apsaras Arts

Contact person: Kavitha Krishnan Tel: 6285 6448 / 9678 6729

Apsaras Arts was established in 1977 by Mrs Neila Sathyalingam, a Cultural Medallion recipient for Dance. The company aims to promote and maintain the highest standards for Indian Classical Dance forms in their true, traditional techniques.

Apsaras Arts has performed in major local events such as the Singapore Arts Festival and Chingay. They have also participated in overseas events such as the Australian Youth Music Festival (Melbourne) in 1983, Hong Kong Arts Festival in 1989, International Folklore Festival (Belgium) in 1985. In 1988, Apsaras Arts collaborated with Dance Ensemble Singapore and Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd to present Singapore Surprise, a multi-ethnic dance performance in Chennai, India, and at the ASEAN celebration in Paris, France. Both performances were well-received.

Apsaras Arts has also formed a multicultural dance group, Little Angels of Singapore, with Dance Ensemble Singapore and Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Ltd. This group of young dancers has performed to rave reviews at the International Folk Dance Festival in Turkey, France, Spain and New Zealand.

The company was recently invited to perform at the 26th Bali Arts Festival in June 2004. Their repertoire included Bharatha Natyam works and an excerpt from the Indian epic Ramayana. Contemporary elements were incorporated into the work, including a Balinese Dancer performing the role of “Ravana”. The performance was very well- received and Dr I Nyoman Nikanaya, MM, Head of Ministry of Culture Bali, Indonesia, gave special mention to the show: “It was one of the best performances that I have seen and it is pleasantly surprising to see many Balinese witnessing the performance as it is usually not full-house for performances performed by foreign groups in Bali.”

Mrs Neila Sathyalingam Artistic Director & Choreographer

Mrs Neila Sathyalingam started dancing at a tender age of 5 and her first solo performance was for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She obtained a Degree in Dance and a Post Graduate Diploma in Indian Classical Dance in 1974 at the renowned Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts in Chennai.

She came to Singapore in 1975 and in 1977, founded Apsaras Arts to promote and maintain the highest standards of Indian Classical Dance forms in their true, traditional techniques. Mrs Sathyalingam has received numerous accolades for her choreography in Singapore and internationally. She was the first female choreographer in Singapore to stage an Indian dance and musical theatre production, Kannagi, at the Singapore Arts Festival in 1998. Her works have also been showcased at international arts and dance festivals in countries such as India, Australia, Turkey, Spain, New Zealand, France and Indonesia.

An established teacher in classical Indian dance with more than 30 years of teaching experience, many of Mrs Sathyalingam’s students have gone on to pursue dance performance, choreography and teaching as a career in many countries. Some have also set up training institutions under the umbrella of Apsaras Arts in countries such as Australia, the United States and England. Mrs Sathyalingam, who was also instrumental in bringing together Little Angels of Singapore, a group of talented, multi- racial young dancers, also choreographs the People’s Association’s (PA) Indian Dance Group.

Mrs Sathyalingam was presented with the Long Service Award for her dedication and commitment to teaching and choreography. She was awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion for Dance in 1989 for her contributions to the development of classical Indian dance in Singapore. She has also received the “Viswa Kala Bharathi” Award in India, for artists who have made significant contributions in the promotion of Indian fine arts world-wide.

Programme for ASEAN Culture Week 2004

Opening Ceremony (8 August 2004) Duration: 6 minutes Pradarshini Thillana – The dance accentuates the rhythmic leg patterns and intricate movements of Bharatha Natyam.)

Country Night (9 or 10 August 2004) Duration: 25 minutes Mangalanjali – The opening number and a segment of a dance drama, Aarupadai, which depicts the story of Lord Muruga and his 6 abodes.

Closing Ceremony (11 August 2004) Duration: 6 minutes Kailasha Shaila Buvanae – This dance portrays the celestial dancers Lord of Dance, Nataraj and his beautiful consort, Goddess Sakti. The musical notes for the performance was set by Dr Padma Subramaniam of Chennai, India, for the Singapore Arts Festival in 1989.

2 2. Chua Ek Kay

Tel: 9687-1206

Chua Ek Kay has received eminent cultural awards and accolades for his unique vision and contributions to Singapore’s art development. His receipt of the Grand Prize - UOB 10th Painting of the Year Award (1991) marked the first time this premier award was presented to a Chinese ink painter in its nine-year history. Chua was also honoured with the Juror’s Choice in the highly competitive Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards (1998) and the inaugural Fellowship of LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts (2002). As an artist, educator, judge, advisor and mentor, he was won the respect of his contemporaries. Chua’s singular pursuit of his aesthetic interests have enriched the cultural life and landscape of the Republic, securing the ultimate tribute when he was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 1999.

Information on Artwork

I. Visiting An Arts Academy At The Corner Of Queen Street Ink on Ricepaper, 253 x 193 cm, 2004

II. Passing By An Architectural Site Along The Singapore River Ink on Ricepaper, 253 x 193 cm, 2004

3. Quek Kiat Sing

Tel: 9049-6675 E-mail : [email protected]

Ink artist Quek Kiat Sing has developed her Yin-Yang series by referencing the evolution of “perspective” within Western art history. For artists, the point of infinity, or the vanishing point, in a painting appears on the horizon where parallel lines converge. Quek uses the Chinese folding screen or Japan byobu - traditionally used as a space dividers - to play on the idea of divisions and separations. She proposes that simplistic partitions such as the use of “binary opposites” (Eastern vs Western art practices; traditional vs contemporary) is not always useful or desirable. (By Lindy Poh, Independent Curator)

Information on Artwork at infinity Chinese ink and paper, 400 x 140 cm (two sided), 2004

3 Annex 2

6 th Asian Arts Festival Participants

Ricky Sim Tel: 9185 2867 Choreographer & Dancer E-mail: [email protected]

Ricky holds a Master of Fine Arts (Dance) from the Queensland University of Technology (Australia). He has worked with dance/theatre companies such as The Arts Fission Company; Ecnad Project Limited; The Toy Factory Theatre Ensemble; The Action Theatre and the Singapore Dance Theatre. In 1999, he was invited to participate in an Asian collaboration for the Festival Der Geister (Berlin) by international choreographer Katsura Kan & Saltibanques (Japan), and was a soloist in Theatre Nordhausen (Germany). He has also participated in major Singapore and International Arts and Dance Festivals in Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, France and Germany.

Currently, Ricky is a freelance choreographer, dancer and dance educator. To date, he has choreographed 17 works for professional dance/theatre companies and tertiary institutions. He has also been commissioned to create works for independent projects within Singapore and abroad. Ricky was awarded the Shell-NAC Arts Scholarship in 2001. Besides his recent appointment by the National Arts Council Singapore as an assessment panelist for the Arts Education Programme 2004, he is also a standing member of the Conseil International De La Danse – UNESCO.

Dan Kwoh Dancer Dan, who started his dance training when he was 11, has performed extensively in contemporary Chinese dance with Dance Development Theatre. The recipient of several scholarships and outstanding dance awards, he was given a Dance Scholarship at LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts from 2001 to 2003, and became a Singapore Ballet Academy Scholar in 2003 under the tutelage of Ms Ong Long. Dan was also the recipient of the Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship in 2001, awarded by the National Arts Council for his Diploma in Dance. He received the Outstanding Student Scholarship in the 6th Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing, Singapore (CSTD) Summer School (2002).

In 2003, he participated in CSTD’s Theatrical Festival in Perth, clinching 1st Prize in the Open Category for Modern Solo, and performed in the first Asian premiere of Madame Butterfly with the Singapore Dance Theatre. He graduated with a Diploma in Dance from LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts in 2004.

Christina Chan Dancer Now 16, Christina started ballet training in ballet at the age of 5 and was admitted to the Singapore Ballet Academy (SBA) when she was 12. She passed the RAD Classical Ballet Advance 1 Examination with Distinction at the age of 15.

4 She takes part in numerous performances and competitions representing SBA and her school (Tanjong Katong Girls’ School) every year. Last year, she was awarded first prize in Asia Pacific Dance Competition 2003 in the under 16 Modern Solo category and Open Group category. She took part in the Perth Theatrical Festival 2003, winning 2nd Prize in the Modern Solo category.

Neo Hong Chin Dancer A dancer, teacher and choreographer, Hong Chin is trained in Chinese dance. In 1996, she studied Chinese ethnic dance at the Beijing Dance Academy as an exchange student. She was awarded an Arts Bursary (Overseas) by the National Arts Council for her BFA (Dance) at the Queensland University of Technology. During her studies in Australia, she worked with various Australia choreographers, including Harold Collins, John Utans, Csaba Buday, Chrissie Parrott, etc. She is an active dance performer and choreographer, both locally and internationally.

Vivienne Tan Dancer Vivienne started ballet training at the age of 6, studying both the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (Australia) and the Royal Academy of Dance (UK) syllabus. She graduated from LASALLE- SIA College of the Arts with a Diploma in Dance, Presidential Distinction in 2001. She was also recognised as her faculty’s Most Outstanding Student. In July 2003, she graduated with a BA (Hons) Dance Theatre degree from LABAN (London, U.K.) with the support of the National Arts Council’s Arts Bursary (Overseas).

She has worked with companies such as local dance companies Ah Hock and Peng Yu, L.A. Dance Connection, Singapore Dance Theatre and The Arts Fission Company. She has taught and performed in various schools in Singapore.

Cheryl Quek Dancer Cheryl graduated from LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, School of Dance in November 2002. As a student, she performed in the Philippines, Malaysia (KL), Australia (Brisbane). In 2003, she worked with Ballet Magnificat (USA) when they performed in Singapore. She has worked with Ah Hock and Peng Yu, in works such as Sheng Bei (Huayi Festival), Whispering Cities I - IV (Whorls, Chroma, Stigma, Dolls), [L+R], and Big Daddy Says. She is choreographing and performing an outdoor series, Transfigured Nights I-IV, which will be presented by Esplanade. Cheryl also sings and acts. She recently played “Sonia” in the musical Godspell.

Chan Lee Lee Stage Manager Lee Lee is a graduate of the National University of Singapore. Currently a freelance theatre practitioner, she is actively involved in production management and stage

5 management with several local theatre companies. Major productions she has worked on include Prelude to a Kiss with Action Theatre; PRISM, The Morning People, Seventh Drawer, and Titoudao with TOY Factory Theatre Ensemble; Aesop Queried, The Spirits Play, and Geylang People in the Net with The Theatre Practice; sex.violence.blood.gore with The Necessary Stage; One Breath Left with Theatre OX; ECNAD DANCE with ECNAD Project Ltd.

Steven Wang Lighting Designer Steven Wang obtained his Diploma in Drama from LASALLE–SIA College of the Arts in 2001. He has worked with MediaCorp Studios, the Singapore Repertory Theatre and TOY Factory Theatre Ensemble on special effect props. His lighting design credits include music concerts at TCR music station, The Sea Gull at the Drama Centre, Beautiful Sunday at Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, 12 nights at The Netherlands Arts Festival. He is also the set designer for Notre Dame de Paris at the French Culture Centre and Thirteen for the Hokkien Huay Kuan Youth Drama Group.

PROGRAMME All works choreographed by Ricky Sim.

I. 4 x 4 Unlimited (2001) Music: Bjork (Enjoy) Duration: 8 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Christina Chan, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

Figures moving: limbs extending, contracting; sometimes synchronised, sometimes not. The physical body provides different visual dimensions when it is allowed to return to its most natural position. This plotless dance has trained dancers to explore a wider perspective of movement, with each individual dancer exhibiting distinct personalities and dance vocabularies.

II. O, Harinnggg… (1999) Music: Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin Duration: 15 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Christina Chan, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

Inspired by Keith Haring’s art, this piece conveys messages of boldness and fun. This work is strongly influenced by Haring’s manipulation of moods in relation to a series of activities. Either a specific event or even an abstract variation, the images of the dance are purely subjective.

III. Unspoken Text (2002) Music: U2 (Last day on earth) Duration: 6 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

We are assailed by a sense of uncertainty in a new environment. Unspoken Text explores this awakening of the self and body through physical movements.

Annex 1

6 ASEAN Culture Week 2004 Participants

1. Apsaras Arts

Contact person: Kavitha Krishnan Tel: 6285 6448 / 9678 6729

Mrs Neila Sathyalingam Artistic Director & Choreographer

7 An established teacher in classical Indian dance with more than 30 years of teaching experience, many of Mrs Sathyalingam’s students have gone on to pursue dance performance, choreography and teaching as a career in many countries. Some have also set up training institutions under the umbrella of Apsaras Arts in countries such as Australia, the United States and England. Mrs Sathyalingam, who was also instrumental in bringing together Little Angels of Singapore, a group of talented, multi- racial young dancers, also choreographs the People’s Association’s (PA) Indian Dance Group.

Programme for ASEAN Culture Week 2004

Opening Ceremony (8 August 2004) Duration: 6 minutes Pradarshini Thillana – The dance accentuates the rhythmic leg patterns and intricate movements of Bharatha Natyam.)

Country Night (9 or 10 August 2004) Duration: 25 minutes Mangalanjali – The opening number and a segment of a dance drama, Aarupadai, which depicts the story of Lord Muruga and his 6 abodes.

8 2. Chua Ek Kay

Tel: 9687-1206

Information on Artwork

I. Visiting An Arts Academy At The Corner Of Queen Street Ink on Ricepaper, 253 x 193 cm, 2004

II. Passing By An Architectural Site Along The Singapore River Ink on Ricepaper, 253 x 193 cm, 2004

3. Quek Kiat Sing

Tel: 9049-6675 E-mail : [email protected]

Information on Artwork at infinity Chinese ink and paper, 400 x 140 cm (two sided), 2004

9 Annex 2

6 th Asian Arts Festival Participants

Ricky Sim Tel: 9185 2867 Choreographer & Dancer E-mail: [email protected]

10 She takes part in numerous performances and competitions representing SBA and her school (Tanjong Katong Girls’ School) every year. Last year, she was awarded first prize in Asia Pacific Dance Competition 2003 in the under 16 Modern Solo category and Open Group category. She took part in the Perth Theatrical Festival 2003, winning 2nd Prize in the Modern Solo category.

Chan Lee Lee Stage Manager Lee Lee is a graduate of the National University of Singapore. Currently a freelance theatre practitioner, she is actively involved in production management and stage

11 management with several local theatre companies. Major productions she has worked on include Prelude to a Kiss with Action Theatre; PRISM, The Morning People, Seventh Drawer, and Titoudao with TOY Factory Theatre Ensemble; Aesop Queried, The Spirits Play, and Geylang People in the Net with The Theatre Practice; sex.violence.blood.gore with The Necessary Stage; One Breath Left with Theatre OX; ECNAD DANCE with ECNAD Project Ltd.

PROGRAMME All works choreographed by Ricky Sim.

I. 4 x 4 Unlimited (2001) Music: Bjork (Enjoy) Duration: 8 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Christina Chan, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

II. O, Harinnggg… (1999) Music: Yo-Yo Ma & Bobby McFerrin Duration: 15 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Christina Chan, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

III. Unspoken Text (2002) Music: U2 (Last day on earth) Duration: 6 minutes Dancers: Neo Hong Chin, Dan Kwoh, Vivienne Tan, Cheryl Quek

We are assailed by a sense of uncertainty in a new environment. Unspoken Text explores this awakening of the self and body through physical movements.