Channels June 2019) 4
Asia-Pacific CHANNELS
Newsletter of the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific No. 1 | June 2019 Executive reports The Executive Board of the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific (WDAAP) is elected by the membership every two years at the Annual General Meeting, which is held in a different country each year and is hosted by the local WDA chapter. The Executive Board consists of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and four regional Vice Presidents, who represent the interests of their regions: East Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific. Members with a specific interest in the affairs of one of these regions should contact the designated Vice President. If members wish to contribute to issues within their own countries, they should contact their Chapter heads. Fitri Anggraini (Indonesia) and Lau Beh Chin (Malaysia) in their work Contents 'Bumbu Goyang', with students of the Dance Department, University Executive reports 1 of Malaya, at Dancing President’s report 2 in Place 2019, Rimbun Secretary’s report 3 Dahan, Malaysia, 26-27 January 2019. East Asia report 4 Photo: Foo Chiwei Pacific report 5 Southeast Asia report 6
Network reports 8 Research & Documentation Network report 9 Education & Training Network report 10
Chapter reports 12 Aotearoa New Zealand report 13 Australia report 15 Bangladesh report 16 Hong Kong report 18 India report 20 Malaysia report 22 Channels, No. 1 June 2019 Papua New Guinea report 24 Newsletter of the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific Philippines report 25 ISSN: 1328–2115 Singapore report 27 Editor: Bilqis Hijjas ([email protected]) Taiwan report 28 Publisher: World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific 2019-2020 WDA events The Ocean Dance Festival 2019 30 Call for Papers for Panpapanpalya Proceedings 30 Hong Kong Global Summit 31
About the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific 32 Taiwanese Young Dancers Cover: Flying to the World at the Nanyang Academy of Fine World Dance Alliance key contacts 33 2019 Kaohsiung Spring Arts Arts Dance Programme Festival (KSAF), produced students in ‘Limbo 101’ by Tso's Dance Association: by Ezekiel Oliveira, part ‘Four Seasons’ of Taiwan, of ‘Crossings’ at Lee choreographed by Ya-ting Foundation Theatre, Chang and Kuo-chun Wang. Singapore, 26-27 April Photo: Chun-yung Lin 2019. Photo: Jeff Low
June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 1 Vice President's report These international contacts explore multifaceted views for audience, facilitate by Stella Lau networking among dance practitioners, and, performances, choreolab and twinning It is my pleasure and privilege to be the most importantly, bring out the high quality of President's report projects has been magical, with people from newly elected Vice President of World contemporary dance within the Asia-Pacific. all over the world responding and registering Dance Alliance Asia-Pacific. One highlight of the array of good news by Urmimala Sarkar with enthusiasm. The dance development in the Asia-Pacific this year is no doubt the establishment of the The Choreolab has as its mentor and region has attracted much attention in recent Asia Network for Dance (AND+), initiated by It is a pleasure to be back with a report for facilitator the well-known choreographer, years. As the primary voice and support the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority the next Channels. In the times of great scholar and dancer Sashar Zarif from for the dance community, the WDA now in Hong Kong. The Network gathers changes in terms of priorities in funding, Canada, a long time member of WDA- needs to play its role even more proactively representatives from overseas counterparts, medical benefits available, and shifting away Americas. Out of a long list of excellently than before. It is key to keep abreast of the empowers contemporary practice in dance, of focus from dance in particular, and arts in qualified aspirants, we have been able to times and respond to challenges by offering and provides a comprehensive platform for general, World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific is invite 20 dancers, who will be participating in choreographers and dancers excellent knowledge exchange. actually faring well. the Choreolab for fifteen days. opportunities to present their works and And to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Of the two events that the Asia Pacific The second event I would like flag is collaborate with other talents. the International Theatre Institute, Dr. Willy region is proudly looking forward to, the the WDA Global Summit 2020 in Hong This year, Hong Kong has encountered Tsao, an influential figure in China’s modern first is Ocean Dance Festival, the WDAAP Kong, organised by Hong Kong Academy two professional dance festivals dance development, has been invited to be Choreolab for emerging dancers, WDAAP of Performing Arts (HKAPA), alongside the dedicated to contemporary dance: Hong the International Dance Day Message Author conference and Annual General Meeting SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Kong Dance Exchange (HDX) and City representing Asia Pacific at the formal in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in November Workshop Festival. This is an event for which Contemporary Dance Festival (CCDF). celebration of IDD 2018 in Havana, Cuba. 2019. the HKAPA has started discussing exciting HDX has empowered emerging talents I look forward to supporting more The WDAAP meeting is a regular yearly plans with the WDA Global Executive. from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South upcoming events and projects to promote event, but is happening for only the second For those who are registered or are Korea by staging their extraordinary dance dance worldwide. Let us share our visions time in South Asia since WDA’s inception. registering to attend the WDAAP AGM productions. CCDF, on the other hand, has and contribute to the development of artistic The venue and the basic infrastructure and event in Cox’s Bazar, a warm welcome presented a lineup of world-class dance works and the growth of the next generation are being provided by the Government of in advance. For those who are missing troupes from Hong Kong and many other of artists and cultural workers. Bangladesh, while Nrityajog, the Bangladesh it for some reason, keep a lookout for contributing Asian cities. Chapter of WDAAP, is at the helm of the December Channels, the website of organising all other affairs. Bangladesh is Ocean Dance Festival www.oceandance organising Ocean Dance Festival for the first festival.com and the Facebook pages of time and WDAAP is proud to be invited to World Dance Alliance and Nrityajog, the organise its annual meeting and conference Bangladesh Chapter of World Dance around the festival. Alliance Asia Pacific. Secretary's report Secretary’s report The response to the call for papers, Secretary-General’s report (as in Asia by Julie Dyson Pacific Channels June 2019) 4. Chapter reports – (for noting, as in the WORLD DANCE ALLIANCE – ASIA June 2019 edition of Asia-Pacific Channels) PACIFIC 5. Network reports (for noting, as in the June Notice of 2019 Annual General 2019 edition of Asia-Pacific Channels) Meeting 6. Overview of WDAAP networks (Urmimala Mermaid Resort, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh Sarkar Munsi): Sunday 24 November 2019 1.30 – 3 pm Research & Documentation Education & Training AGENDA Creation & Presentation Chair: Prof. Urmimala Sarkar Munsi, Support & Development President, WDAAP 7. Next AGM: Hong Kong, 15-21 June 2020 1. Welcome, apologies (exact date tbc). 2. Minutes of previous AGM (Adelaide, 11 Presentation on behalf of HKAPA & HKDA: Dancers from July December 2018: to be circulated) Stella Lau Bangladesh, including Md. Hanif (far right), in 3. Executive Board reports (For noting, as in a scene from Helena the June 2019 edition of Asia-Pacific Waldmann's 2014 film Channels): Network meetings Made in Bangladesh. 3.00-3.45 pm Research & Documentation Read the story of Md. President’s report 3.45-4.00 pm Tea Hanif's meteoric rise in dance in the Bangladesh VPs’ reports 4.00-4.45 pm Creation & Presentation report in this edition. Treasurer’s report 4.45-5.30 pm Education & Training
2 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 3 Inano Dance Company’s Mamai’ata (The Programme and is New Dawn) called upon its audience to making moves on and reflect on their own personal experiences, off the dance floor. focusing on human traits and characteristics Xavier’s work Pou was that we all possess. Choreographed and choreographed for directed by Te Hau Winitana, (Cook Island/ and performed by his Māori) Mamai’ata revealed our frailties and project-based Pacific strengths, and contemplated a new way to a dance company, good life with the break of a new dawn. MANU Collective. Award-winning choreographer Tupua Pou was presented Pacific Tigafua is a highly accomplished dancer and as a double-bill storyteller. After an illustrious career dancing alongside Vivian Aotearoa New Zealand for some of Aotearoa’s creative elite, Tupua Aue’s (AUE Dance has masterfully created his own dance style. Company) Anga in Australia Pacific report Inspired by the works of renowned American the 2018 Pacific Papua New Guinea writer Shel Silverstein, Shel We was an Dance Festival. by Vice President Sheryl Lowe invitation to witness an enchanting, playfully Xavier represented New Zealand has long been viewed as an intriguing, and visually stunning dance show. both New Zealand incubator for Pacific talent contributing The fourth rendition of the Pacific and the Pacific at significantly to the achievements of our Dance Festival held from 5-23 June 2019, a recent UNESCO national sports teams. In recent times young embraced contemporary Pacific dance in Forum for Creativity Pasifika artists finding their voices through Auckland New Zealand, the most populous and Heritage in arts and dance have also been shining the Polynesian city in the world, providing a vital China, and is also light on their communities, revitalising the platform for Pasifika artists. Acclaimed and part of the Asia New rich storytelling traditions of the Pacific. accomplished Pacific dance artists took Zealand Foundation 1 These artists have been nurtured through to the floor and brought a moving feast of Leadership network. creative platforms that encourage positive entertaining and thought-provoking theatre, These artists transformation enabling them to express workshops, screenings, choreographic labs are also delving into mainstream dance and conventions to challenge perceived themselves through the arts. and more. festivals, with a new wave of young, Pasifika concepts of traditional and contemporary. The Kia Mau Festival ran from 1-15 June Contributing and recurring festival artist choreographers featuring in Tempo Dance Internationally acclaimed dancer and 2019 in Wellington featuring theatre and Ufitia Sagapolutele (New Zealand/Sāmoa), Festival, New Zealand’s pan-genre dance choreographer in street dance Parris Goebel dance by Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous says of the festival: “The festival is definitely festival which takes place 2-12 October is also featured. Her work, Girl, is an intimate artists from across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa a space for me to grow as an emerging 2019. Genres of street dance, Indigenous show that looks into the journey females and the globe. As a festival, Kia Mau is a artist. We are born as performers and it's dance, contemporary dance and Siva take to discover their inner power. Parris contemporary platform which fosters creative amazing to have this platform for us to Sāmoa all feature in the headline shows created ‘Polyswagg’, a unique style of dance and cultural exchange with an Indigenous showcase what we're about.” announced by new artistic director Cat Ruka that combines elements of traditional New worldview. 2019 marked the fifth year of the Fellow presenting artist Xavier Breed is (Ngāpuhi, Waitaha). The programme reflects Zealand dance inspired by her Samoan festival and included two stunning works by a recent postgraduate student from the Cat’s strong and innate passion for seeing heritage with aggressive, contemporary emerging Pasifika artists. University of Auckland Dance Studies rangatahi (youth) succeed, and affirms her ‘popping’. Polyswagg has been embraced for reputation as one of the most sought after its empowerment of female dancers in hip mentors for Māori and Pasifika artists. hop and has been used extensively in music Spearheading the programme are two video choreography by top recording artists. works from Pasifika artists. Sau E Siva The emergence of a new generation of Creatives presents Fa'asinomaga Identity, an Pacific artists, their diverse works and ways epic tour-de-force of Siva Sāmoa with over of making their statement in dance, bodes 50 performers who fuse new choreography well for the Pacific story to flourish in the arts with the "Best of Le Best" from previous world. sold-out shows. Sau E Siva Creatives is a recently-formed Pacific Dance theatre company founded by graduates Troy Tu’ua, Italia Hunt, Idalene Ati, Bob Savea and Leki Jackson-Bourke from the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts. The foundation of their work stems from the cultural heritage art form of contemporary and traditional Siva Sāmoa. They are a passionate collective of Pasifika artists weaving multiple 1. MANU Collective. TRIP by Ufitia Photo: Pati Solomona Sagapolutele. Photo: disciplines, diverse audiences and authentic 2 Tyrell Mataara Stokes storytelling enhanced by theatrical elements 2. Sau E Siva Creatives.
4 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 5 with Thai dancer Vidura Amranand, the work was also part of Step Together, a project 1. Nguyen Thanh Chung supporting collaboration between Malaysian (Vietnam) and Sherli and other Southeast Asian choreographers, Novalinda (Indonesia) in their work 'When at which was funded this year by CENDANA, RD', at Dancing in Place Malaysia’s Cultural Economy Development 2019 at Rimbun Dahan, Agency, as part of their Emerging Artist Malaysia. Photo: Nazir Incubation Funding Programme. Azhari 2. Morning Star Dark A total of four works were created in Valley, choreographed the Step Together project, which brought by Darlane Litaay, South East Asia the participants together for a week of performed at the collaboration before the results were Indonesian Dance Malaysia performed at Dancing in Place. The Festival 2018 (Darlane was also a SEA Philippines results were an interesting way to assess 1 Choreolab participant.) Indonesia South East Asia report choreographic trends among contemporary Photo: Feri Latief producers in the region. Singapore by Vice President Bilqis Hijjas One of the evident trends is an interest in were incorporated into Fitri and Beh Chin’s ways to harness what resources they have to Thailand Two women sat on the sofa, each staring duration. Indonesian choreographer Sherli ‘Bumbu Goyang’ as a corps who tossed keep going. Sibu International Dance Festival into the depths of a saucepan. Audience Novalinda made a duet with Vietnamese and shredded newspapers while the two enters its eighth year in 2019, while Fang members perched agog beside them, as the dancer Nguyen Thanh Chung which featured choreographers moved through slow weight- Mae Khong International Dance Festival is women suddenly tipped the saucepans over an extended period of immobility, broken sharing. nine years old. Melaka Art + Performance their thrusting groins. On the other side of by the carefully timed sounding of the azan Five other Malaysian dance works rounded Festival celebrates its first decade this the sitting room, a male dancer wearing a from the Muslim surau across the road. out the program for Dancing in Place, year, as well as the tenth edition of the M1 sarong cavorted on the dining room table, Hii Ing Fung from Malaysia worked with contributed by choreographers Tan Bee Contact Festival in Singapore, which is run his head perilously close to the ceiling fan. Chan Sze Wei from Singapore to create Hung, Norsafini Jafar, Kenny Shim, Chan Kar by T.H.E. Dance Company. The grandmother Then he upended himself upon the table, the appropriately titled ‘Tree Time’, an Kah and Khairi Mokthar. It was also a chance of them all is the biennial Indonesian Dance legs akimbo, presumably to let a little breeze engagement with elements in the garden for these choreographers and dancers to Festival, which is 27 years old, having play around his privates. which went on for 3 hours, as the other meet and mingle with their Southeast Asian started in 1992. Congratulations to them all! This bizarre but humorous vision of gender Dancing in Place works played out around colleagues over the performance weekend. Dancing in Place celebrated its 10th politics in the household, seasoned with a them. This is the second time that Dancing anniversary this year too. Even before strong dash of psychological intrigue, was Fitri Anggraini from Indonesia and Lau in Place at Rimbun Dahan has included Step Together, it has always had a few titled ‘A Strange Meeting’, performed in a Beh Chin from Malaysia decided to recruit collaborations by Southeast Asian Southeast Asian participants, although most hundred-year-old house at Rimbun Dahan as non-professional dancers to enhance their choreographers, all of whom are alumni of of them have had to pay their own way. The part of Dancing in Place in January this year. work. Luckily, a troupe of students from the the annual Southeast Asian Choreolab at willingness of Southeast Asian dancers and A collaboration between Malaysian dancers University of Malaya’s Dance Department Rimbun Dahan. This project forms a natural choreographers to invest their own funds Fauzi Amirudin and Nurulakmal Abdul Wahid were on hand. After a quick briefing, they stepping stone after the Choreolab, allowing in order to meet their peers in the region the Choreolab participants to reunite with continues to impress me. Their eagerness is collaborators of their own choosing, and the reason I will find a way to keep my small to spend some serious time making dance platform going. together. But the sustainability of this project is tenuous. This year we were lucky to get CENDANA funding, but the previous year was unfunded, and we have no sponsors on the horizon for next year. Unlike the Southeast Asian Choreolab, which lends itself to reliable support from international cultural organisations associated with the selected choreolab facilitator, it is difficult to see how the Step Together project can ever reach a comfortable financial footing. Malaysian dancers Fauzi As always, it is difficult to bring Southeast Amirudin and Nurulakmal Abdul Wahid (seated at Asians together to meet other Southeast the table) in their work 'A Asians, when all of us are operating in Strange Meeting', created straitened circumstances. with Vidura Amranand On that note, I would like to recognise (Thailand), at Dancing and celebrate the many independent in Place 2019 at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia. Photo: dance events in Southeast Asia which have 2 Nazir Azhari persisted over the years, finding creative
6 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 7 Network reports The World Dance Alliance works through four Networks, based on specific areas of interest and embracing the mandate of the organisation. Each network has a chairperson and co-chair who coordinate activities to advance the issues raised by these special interest groups. Network Chairs initiate and drive the work of special interest groups within the WDAAP and provide two reports annually on their activities for Asia– Research & Perspectives on Dance Education, Young Pacific Channels. Documentation People and Change, presents formal and Network report informal settings of education where dance About the takes place in different countries, including networks by A. P. Rajaram & Stephanie cross-cultural projects and examples of Burridge, co-chairs projects in which dance is collaborating with other art forms or other subject areas. Its The Education and Training Network Research on dance has become a vibrant focus is how collaborative initiatives across provides a forum for professional multidisciplinary area of academic focus in borders of different kinds can foster change exchange to improve dance curriculum the Asia-Pacific region and is attracting new in young people’s experiences and their content and delivery, and opportunities generations of scholars. The focuses of the understanding of each other and the world. for sharing information and resources. research are varied, encompassing studies The volume encompasses a network of The Research and Documentation based on historiography, philosophy, analysis interwoven themes revolving around the key Network supports and initiates projects and cultural studies. The new research concept of ‘borders’; for instance, cultural/ that engage contemporary insights extends to understanding and analysing of national borders; subject borders (dance into dance as a vibrant part of diverse contemporary dance forms, the dance-like coexisting with other art forms or subject scholarly and artistic conversations. The movements and the ideas around varied areas); borders of educational sectors network regularly publishes journals, forms of embodiments. The new emerging (formal/non-formal education); borders of books and conference proceedings dance scholars are setting the preliminary professions (academics, artists, community and encourages members to participate foundation of questioning the changes that practitioners) and socio-economic borders. in writing, editing and reviewing for are forced on the academic discourse due to Key themes suggest how cultural diversity, these publications. It also encourages the advanced interventions of new media. experiential teaching and learning involving publications in differing formats and This is observed in the two international social, cross-cultural and personal languages whilst maintaining English conferences that are about to happen dimensions enhance student learning. as the lingua franca for communication. in the Asia Pacific region, the first one This conceptually aligns with the current Individual projects proposed by is the International Council of Traditional UNESCO protocols that accent empathy, members addressing the heritage and Music (ICTM), at Chulalongkorn University, creativity, cooperation, collaboration future of dance, to include ideas for Bangkok, happening in July 2019; the alongside skills and knowledge-based implementation, are encouraged and second is the Ocean Dance Festival (ODF) learning in an endeavour to create civic supported through this network. The happening at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in mindedness and a more harmonious world. Support and Development Network conjunction with the World Dance Alliance The rationale of including multiple focuses on dance-based activities Asia Pacific Annual General Meeting. The countries to gain many points of view and in terms of management, promotion, research papers at the ICTM conference perspectives from practitioners in the field distribution, advocacy, policy and are ranging from analysis of performances, is the essence of this third book and others funding, through members who practice dance forms, and costumes from all over in the series ‘Perspectives on Dance, in these areas. It equally encompasses the world covering the orient to occident. Young People and Change’. International members who are concerned with the Centred around the theme of ‘Bridging the perspectives come from Australia, Brazil, social and physical well being of dance Gap’, the research papers at ODF cover Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong such as health professionals, somatic dance pedagogy, corporeal experiences of Kong, India, Iraq, Norway, New Zealand, practitioners, community facilitators Indian classical dance, finding the missing Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, and legal advisors. In all these aspects linkages to dance from the past and locating Syria, Uganda, UK and USA. The book communication networks—professional the present nature of dance forms. will be launched in Norway in April 2020 and social—are an important driver for The WDAAP Research & Documentation at the ‘Future(s) of Dance Education(s): dance sustainability. Network proudly announces a book Opportunities and Challenges’ conference in The Creation and Presentation Network focusing on dance, contributed by our Trondheim. provides opportunities for choreographic The mature dancers of WDA and daCi members, along with other The next volume of the Journal of Emerging development, presentation, networking Dance Dynamics from artists and scholars. This is the third book Dance Scholarship (JEDS) is being co- and cultural exchange. It includes Singapore, in their in the series ‘Perspectives on Dance, edited by two guest editors: Anja Ali- choreographers, dancers, designers, performance at Singapore Young People and Change’ published by Haapala and Sarah Knox. We look forward Chinese Cultural Centre composers, filmmakers and other on 29 December 2018. Routledge UK and co-edited by Stephanie to make this new arrangement a norm and collaborators. Burridge and Charlotte Svendler Neilsen. will be inviting two new guest editors for the This new volume, Dancing Across Borders: coming year as well.
8 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 9 Education & Training for Arts Education (WAAE) initiatives and theme encompassing all aspects of this context of new technologies and changing Network report providing a voice for dance in significant term including physical, emotional and the global priorities, including communication, events such as the WAAE Creativity inclusion of a DanceScience Lab initiative. digital technologies, screen dance, by Ralph Buck & Jeff Meiners, Summits in Taiwan 2008, England Ideas were drawn from recent Asia Dance neuroscience and safe dance practice, and co-chairs 2009, Finland 2012, Germany 2013, Network experience as an effective model a decrease in national funding for dance and conferences in Australia 2014, New for collaboration. service organisations etc. Zealand 2017, as well as the Asia-Pacific Perhaps the focus of WDA is, in reality, Future steps and directions for the Alliance for Arts Education (AP AAE) Online Discussion tertiary education and training which Asia-Pacific Education & Training Summit 2010. Part of this work has also The above matters led to a broader can include the activities of the Research Network and for the WDA been to bring to fruition collaborations discussion about the context of the next & Documentation Network as well as Co-Chairs of the WDA-AP Education & between WDA and daCi 2012 Taiwan WDA summit, following the success of the Creation & Presentation network. Is Training Network, Ralph Buck and Jeff and the 2018 Australia joint congresses, the joint WDA Global E & T Network the purpose therefore mainly to ensure Meiners, met in Hong Kong on Monday 28 as well as associated proceedings and event Panpapanpalya 2018, the second that a Summit occurs every two years to May 2019 with Anna Chan in her new role book publications driven by the Research such collaboration with daCi, as well as provide opportunities to network and share as Dean of Dance at Hong Kong Academy & Documentation Network. Such outputs the upcoming WDAAP AGM and Ocean practices and research endeavours with of Performing Arts and WDA East Asia Vice enable us to build our global knowledge Dance Festival in Bangladesh, convened by regular publication outputs to disseminate President Stella Lau, to discuss two key networks to develop and strengthen Vice-President South Asia & Chair WDA- practice and generate new theory? matters. synergies between practice and theory, and Bangladesh, Lubna Marium. Acknowledging between WDA networks. It was also noted the changing context of tertiary education Concluding Questions for Us All Succession Plan for Co-Chairing of that daCi and the WDA Global Education & along with WDA’s work in education, training From our discussion in Hong Kong we the WDA-AP Education & Training Training network continue to work together and research, a timely key question that have outlined in this report some of the Network with many individuals taking key roles might be addressed as part of the 2020 current developments undertaken by the First, after many years holding these and working collaboratively across both Global Summit is ‘What is the purpose of WDAAP and Global Education & Training positions, we believe it is time for new organisations and with WAAE. WDA in 2020?’ Network. With a focus on ‘bursting the people to take up these voluntary roles. We agreed that these international Ralph had recently met with WDA Asia bubble’ as suggested by Stella and Anna, Plans are now underway for a succession networking principles should be maintained Pacific President Urmimala Sarkar, and we suggest it may be timely to take a plan for co-chairing of the WDA-AP as selection criteria for new E&T network also Cristina Golletti, President of WDA- critical perspective during the 2020 Global Education & Training Network. chairpersons. Americas. Ralph noted several ideas and Congress by including a provocation that Ralph reminded everyone that as noted concerns that arose from these separate may elicit responses to the question ‘What at the 2019 WDA-AP meeting in Adelaide, WDA Global Congress Hong Kong meetings. Some issues included the is the purpose of WDA in 2020?’ This Sarah Knox (NZ) will take on his role once 2020 need to improve the WDA website, and might be done in a ‘long table’ participatory she returns from maternity leave (anticipated Our second matter for discussion was a need to review the membership and discussion to be videoed, ensuring that to be June 2020). Ralph is currently support for the next WDA Global Summit. payment model. Our meeting in Hong Kong many voices are heard to refresh WDA continuing as WDA Global Ed & Training Anna reported on proposed dates of 15–21 noted that changes within the Australian vision and role and to determine future network and WAAE chair. June for the WDA Global Congress to be Dance Council (Ausdance), the Taipei directions for WDA. Jeff flagged his intention to give notice held in Hong Kong in a partnership between National University of the Arts, and the This report therefore poses some collegial and resign from his co-chair role at the HKAPA, HK Dance Alliance and SWEAT wider geopolitical climate presents new questions as we seek your insights into the upcoming November Bangladesh meeting. along with the International Festival for challenges for World Dance Alliance. future of WDA: Jeff is now Chair Elect with dance and the Dance Academies (IFDA) scheduled for 18- We went on to discuss the WDA network We are wondering what you want from Child international (daCi), working with 20 June. It was noted that such IFDA events structure. Anna noted that in light of new the WDAAP Education & Training Network Chair Susan Koff from the USA and will had occurred alongside the 2010 New York, organisations such as the Asia Network for and indeed the WDA? take on the Chair role at the next daCi 2012 Taiwan and 2014 France congresses, Dance (AND+), along with the growth of How might we better understand the conference in Toronto 2021. Anna agreed but not since. dance houses and choreographic centres WDA Global constitution and also the to seek someone to nominate for this role Anna spoke of her aspiration to across countries, that the WDA Creation constitutions of each of the Americas, as soon as possible. reinvigorate the Hong Kong summit with a & Presentation network and the Support Europe and Asia-Pacific Chapters? We noted that over the past 12 years, the focus on ‘bursting the bubble’ by revisiting & Development network may no longer How do these constitutions compare? WDA-AP Education and Training Network the contributions of tertiary academies be key action areas for WDA. Again, we What are the financial arrangements and has led participation by members to ensure within the context of training for high thought that this needed some detailed responsibilities of each region, and how that dance education is represented and level performance. With SWEAT, the consideration in forthcoming WDAAP and are membership, resourcing and website situated strategically and internationally, focus would be on artistic exchange and WDA Global meetings. It may be therefore maintenance arrangements managed, and working with UNESCO and World Alliance making processes, with ‘Wellness’ as a beneficial to revisit Carl Wolz’s vision in the by whom?
10 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 11 Chapters Aotearoa New Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Zealand South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, report Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. by Sheryl Lowe Countries with representatives but no formalised Chapters: East Timor and Papua New Guinea.
Keep the Peace, choreographed by Anna Groves, performed at Oriental Bay, Wellington.
New Zealand dance teacher Brie Jessen- Messenger of Peace, Dr Jane Goodall. In their boundaries. They are important points Vaughn, in a Dance Aotearoa New Zealand Palmerston North a national campaign called Chapter reports in regional and global communication and (DANZ) blog post, writes: “The arts bring Dancer I Am was launched in response to networking. These Chapters propose and us together, to transcend the mundane and youth mental health and wellbeing issues. Countries or defined geographical areas implement projects that address not only transform lived experience into archetype. The campaign is set up to encourage young within a regional centre may become the general goals of WDA and WDA Asia The arts are able to capture what we people to use dance as a way to empower Chapter members, providing information Pacific, but also the specific needs of the haven’t got words for…” This was written in and express themselves, as well as open up and coordinating the dance activities within local dance community. response to the terrible attacks which befell a dialogue about mental health issues. the Muslim community in Christchurch early In the same vein of change, the dance this year. New Zealand has been in a state of scene in New Zealand as in other parts of mourning and many people have been using the world, has been expanding for some the arts as a way to understand and move time beyond traditional practices and forward. embracing the realm of the experimental. Dance has been an excellent conduit To highlight this shift, New Zealand had to inspire social change and many New its first ever experimental dance festival. Zealand dance artists have been tackling Experimental Dance Week Aotearoa was hard-hitting social issues in their projects. curated by Berlin-based New Zealand artist At the beginning of the year, recent dance Alexa Wilson, and launched in Auckland in graduate Caitlin Davey was recipient of a February. The festival was a gathering of three-week dance residency sponsored some of New Zealand’s finest experimental by DANZ and Saint Kentigern College in dance artists; presenting provocative Auckland. Caitlin used the time to develop works, delivering workshops and panelled her work About Others, a contemporary discussions. The festival also marked the piece that invites the audience to walk in the launch of Te Ao Live: Experimental Dance shoes of those who have had different life Aotearoa NZ in the Early 21st Century, experiences to us – particularly in light of the a publication with the writings of 30 A Kulau male dance at a global refugee crisis. experimental dance artists at the top of Balabalaguan mortuary Another example of dance for social their game. The publication is a snapshot ceremony by the Kabalama clan in Matupit change was Anna Groves’ choreographic and archival documentation of experimental village, East New Britain project Keep the Peace, a ‘flash mob’ style dance being created in Aotearoa. Province, Papua New work dedicated to those who have said There has been a real drive for Guinea, in September yes to peace in the past and those who collaboration and partnership across the arts 2018, choreographed continue to advocate for it. The project took and other sectors and we have seen some by To Pidik Mong & To Welwel Tovuat. Photo: place around Wellington city’s Oriental Bay really positive outcomes. This year DANZ Naomi Faik-Simet. and received express support from Prime was supported by Sport New Zealand, Minister Jacinda Ardern and United Nations the national leader of our sporting system,
12 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 13 to extend the New Zealand Dance Week choreographer Moss Patterson shared his programme, resulting in high visibility and indigenous voice through The Royal New participation for dance. Collaboration across Zealand Ballet, creating an evocative work, companies and art forms is also building Hine, which interweaved traditional Māori steam and it’s exciting to see the kind of practices with contemporary elements. All work and opportunities coming out of it. of these things highlight the power of cross- One of our leading contemporary dance cultural and cross-genre collaboration. companies, Footnote New Zealand Dance, To end this chapter we will take another collaborated with the Guangdong Modern quote from Brie Jessen-Vaughn which Dance Company (China) to present a speaks volumes about dance and its stunning triple bill around the country. We possibilities: “…to dance is to share, to have watched the growth of cross-discipline communicate. And to communicate is to work in the form of virtual reality dance with have a voice, and to raise your voice is to filmmaker Ed Davis using the art form as a have power. And with that power we can basis to explore new technologies. Māori bring about change.”
This report begins with the very sad news At the heart of this year’s NDF is the Australia that the board of Ausdance National has acknowledgement that dance is a political report decided to wind up the organisation. ‘The force, a provocation for change, a much- impact of shrinking government funding for needed disruptor. The forum paid particular by Julie Dyson the organisation has resulted in dwindling attention to artists, thinkers, teachers reserves and severely limited resources. and leaders who explore this potential. Despite significant fundraising efforts and Questions included issues about what it organisational restructuring, Australia’s means to belong and what happens when national advocate for the dance sector could your connection to place or community is not secure sustainable financial support.’ disrupted? How does dance become a force Ausdance National has contributed for radical action? How does the dance significantly to the health of the dance sector drive and respond to change? profession for 42 years through its advocacy, The full NDF program is available here. research and groundbreaking partnerships. It’s ironic that at a time when the sector In recent years, several high profile needs a voice to the federal parliament more women in dance have been recognised with then ever, that voice has now been silenced. awards in the Order of Australia, including You can read the full statement from the international ballerina Lucette Aldous, last board online here. year awarded the rare Companion of the There is concern by many in the dance Order of Australia (AC). Several other artists community about the future of the Ausdance and administrators have been recognised in National website, recognised internationally recent years, including Shirley McKechnie 'Mass Solitude' choreographed by as one of the most resource-rich dance and Susan Street (Officers), and Nanette Sarah Foster-Sproull, repositories available to educators and Hassall, Cheryl Stock and Julie Dyson performed by Footnote researchers. A group of life members is (Members). New Zealand Dance working on strategies to preserve and In June the artistic director of the and Guangdong Modern Dance Company, in maintain the site, and to grow its reputation Queensland Ballet (and Mao’s Last Dancer) Hemispheres, February/ as a leading publisher of dance articles, Li Cunxin, and choreographer/director Meryl March 2019. papers and publications. Tankard, were both made Officers of the Photo: Li Jianyang The dramatic announcement of the Order, along with Tankard’s associate artist, closure of Ausdance National came as the photographer and visual artist, Régis Lansac organisation, in collaboration with Tracks (Medal). All recipients are entitled to use the Dance Company in the Northern Territory, appropriate letters after their names ahead was about to present the fifth National of any other awards they may have received, Dance Forum (NDF), held in Darwin on 9-10 and to wear their medals or pins whenever August 2019. they appear in public. It’s wonderful to see our dance artists nominated and recognised.
14 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 15 Bangladesh 1 bridge the gap between social, cultural and Arts Department of report economic situations within society i.e. in the US Embassy the cultural sphere, within society, between identified him, due by Lubna generations, and between tradition and to the generous Marium innovation. The keynote speeches will be efforts of a couple delivered by Bangladeshi-British dancer of sincere officials Akram Khan; Indian dancer Leela Samson; there. They put Dr Urmimala Sarkar, President of WDAAP; him through a year and Bangladeshi dancer Lubna Marium, Vice of Computer and President, WDAAP. English lessons, There is already confirmed participation of which later helped dancers from Taiwan, Korea, Canada, USA, him to apply for Australia and the countries of South Asia. a scholarship. A unique section of the ODF will be In 2014, Hanif Twinning Projects between Australia and participated in 'Made Bangladesh, USA and Bangladesh, and in Bangladesh', the Md. Hanif with Joy Nrityajog All Set to Host the Ocean by the increasing influence of first the Indian India and Bangladesh. Another component Bangladesh-German production directed by Alpuerto Ritter, at Dance Festival of Bangladesh classical dances and then the global trends is a 15-day choreolab, preceding the ODF, Helena Waldmann. As an aside, in spite of all Orsaline 28, Italy, during of contemporary dance practices, especially from 5 to 15 November 2019, for 25 mid- my efforts to make Hanif save his substantial the Summer Intensive 2019. “If in the Ananda, or bliss, one dances for the classical jazz. career dancers mentored by Canadian-Irani earning from this project for himself, he sake of salvation, let it be performed with the In 2009 Bangladesh joined World dancer Sashar Zarif, based on his practice spent it all to ensure that his father no longer songs of Vajra in the company of yogis.” Dance Alliance Asia Pacific, and a large of the dance of Mugham, a Central Asian had to do manual labor to look after their – Hevajratantram (6.10), contingent of around 19 dancers joined the genre of art. Lastly, the ODF also plans to family of six. eighth century AD, Bengal. WDAAP Conference at Delhi in November showcase folk dances of South Asia. A beautiful documentary film, 'Above of that year. Since then, there have been Dance has always been a vibrant cultural This City', by Australian film-maker Georgia Bangladesh has a long history of dance innumerable interactions between WDA practice of Bangladesh. ODF will facilitate Foulkes-Taylor, movingly captures the starting all the way from Buddhist ritual and Nrityajog, a conglomeration of forty skill transfer, networking, collaboration and dreams and aspirations of two young dances of the 8th Century AD, described organizations which forms the Bangladesh innovation. dancers from Bangladesh, including Hanif. in the Tantric text Hevajratantram, and Chapter of WDAAP. Each year dancers from In between, Kathleen Weitz, an American which, amazingly, are still performed in the countries such as India, Nepal, Canada, Arising From Grit, Toil And dancer, took Hanif under her wings. Finally, Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, due to a history and Taiwan have conducted workshops in Determination: A Dancer’s Story Hanif received an ICCR Scholarship from of cultural relocation. Since then dance Bangladesh courtesy of WDA. Bangladesh Taking up dance as a career is never easy, the Government of India and has recently, has been part and parcel of the land with too has participated in WDA events in Nepal, whichever part of the world one is in! But in successfully, completed his BA in Kathak a vibrant and continuing practice of dance Taiwan, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country, with from Rabindra Bharati University. While in within folk theatre, both mundane and New York, France and more. scant resources and funding for dance, it is Kolkata both Mitul Sengupta of Rhythmosaic ritual. However, it was left to two artistic Finally, after several attempts, Nrityajog doubly difficult. However, as we know, if your and Ashimbandhu Bhattacharya supported stalwarts of the last century, Bengal’s is set to host the WDAAP Annual event heart yearns to move in sync with music and Hanif's dance. A month ago, Hanif was Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and in Cox’s Bazar, the spectacularly beautiful rhythm, dancers can be pretty resourceful awarded a second scholarship by ICCR 1. Down Memory Lane: internationally renowned dancer Uday beach city on the Bay of Bengal, from and determined. One such story is that of for his Masters Degree. Excitingly, Akram Nrityajog at the WDAAP Shankar, to bring dance to the prosceniums 22 to 24 November this year. Nrityajog is young Bangladeshi dancer Md. Hanif. Khan, the stellar British-Bangladeshi dancer, Delhi Conference in of Bengal. When Bengal was divided, by the combining this event with the inauguration Md. Hanif started working with our dance accepted Hanif for his Summer Intensive 2009. British, into the East and the West, with the of a yearly dance festival called the Ocean company, Shadhona, a decade ago. A 2019 scheduled for August 2019 in Italy. 2. Nrityajog at a WDA- Americas event in July former becoming the independent nation Dance Festival of Bangladesh, combining young, shy boy, living in one of the many Every time I see Hanif grow from strength 2010. Bangladesh, in 1971, there was a distancing exciting tourism with dance. While the shanty settlements of Dhaka, he loved to strength, my faith in life is renewed. of the rural and WDAAP Conference will showcase dances to dance. Hanif was reticent and pretty urban practices, from all over the Asia Pacific, the Ocean much uncommunicative, but he was totally with almost no Dance Festival hopes to give a platform to transformed whenever he started dancing. connection between dancers from Bangladesh and South Asia. Through the years we've watched him the two. Folk The Ministries of Cultural Affairs and Tourism doggedly finish school with a 4.5 GPA, all dances, based on of Bangladesh are co-organizers. this while helping his two young sisters to oral narratives with The first ODF will be combined with the go through school, supporting his family a distinct ritual yearly event of the WDAAP which includes financially and earning his own living nature, still remain keynote speeches, academic seminars, expenses by giving 'private tuition' to hugely popular in workshops, performance and lecture students and earning money dancing with their own domains, demonstrations, on a single theme, by Shadhona. We've watched him continue while the urban participants from all over the Asia Pacific, to dance, in spite of all odds. Hanif mostly dances were further concluding with the Annual General walked to and from home to our studio, 2 dissociated from the Meeting. This year the theme is ‘Bridging a good few kilometres, to save up, and indigenous practices the Gap’, referring to the ability of dance to rarely spent money on himself. Finally, the
16 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 17 Hong Kong 1 report by Cathy Lau
21st Hong Kong Dance Awards 'Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer': Shen Jie as Albrecht in Giselle, presented by Hong Kong Ballet. Photo: Conrad 2 3 Dy-Liacco, courtesy of Hong Kong Ballet
There are lots of exciting happenings in Hong Kong dancers. It was a wonderful Hong Kong in the first half of 2019. One celebration to acknowledge outstanding of the highlights was the recent launch of achievements and promote the diversity of Freespace, a performing arts venue in West the Hong Kong dance industry. Kowloon Cultural District. As the new centre The Lifetime Achievement Award was for contemporary performance, Freespace bestowed to the late Dr Tom Brown (1948- presents and supports thought-provoking, 2018), in recognition of his immeasurable boundary-pushing, multi-genre productions contribution to the development of and collaborations. dance in Hong Kong. Tom’s life was one Freespace has both indoor and outdoor truly dedicated to dance. He nurtured performing venues, blackbox theatre generations of local dance artists during The Box, Livehouse live music bar, The his 30-year teaching at the Hong Kong Room and The Studio. The opening Academy for Performing Arts. 1. 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards: Gala season includes a stellar line-up of dance Among the 13 distinguished awardees, Performance. Photo: : programmes, including: From a True ALICE (in wonderland) by Hong Kong 4 Worldwide Dancer Project Story – Christian Rizzo, Autobiography by Ballet received three awards: Outstanding 2. 21st Hong Kong Company Wayne McGregor, ON VIEW: Performance by a Female Dancer, Dance Awards 'Lifetime Achievement Award' Panorama, and two residencies with City Outstanding Ensemble Performance and awarded posthumously Contemporary Dance Company and Hong Outstanding Costume Design Award. to Dr Tom Brown (1948- Kong Ballet. Tai Kwun, the largest restoration project 2018). In addition, Karen Cheung took over ever undertaken in Hong Kong, received 3. 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards 'Outstanding as the Head of Dance (Performing Arts) both Outstanding Service to Dance and Performance by a of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Outstanding Small Venue Production Female Dancer': Chen April. Cheung has worked in the dance Awards. Zhiyao as Alice in sector for many years, with rich experiences In the coming months, HKDA will ALICE (in wonderland)., presented by Hong and key roles in Guangdong Dance organise a workshop series on Writing Kong Ballet. Photo Festival, Guangdong Modern Dance Dance Movements, produce the ‘New credit: Conrad Dy-Liacco, Company, Beijing Dance Festival and City Force in Motion’ Series in September courtesy of Hong Kong Contemporary Dance Company. 2019 as a performance platform to support Ballet. 4. 21st Hong Kong Dance The 21st Hong Kong Dance Awards young talented choreographers, and attend Awards: group photo were held in Kwai Tsing Theatre on 18 April, the Ocean Dance Festival and WDAAP of Awardees. Photo: with a feast of dance by some of the best General Meeting in November. Worldwide Dancer Project
18 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 19 India report from both traditional and contemporary backgrounds. Apart from him, choreographer by Meghna and multi-disciplinary performance artist Bhardwaj Sashar Zarif, of Azerbaijani origin, has been invited as the mentor for the 15-day Choreolab that is to take place prior to the beginning of the festival. One very important aspect of the festival is the Dance Outreach programme that the festival has dedicated to generating support for the Rohingya immigrants from Myanmar, which also brings light to the political significance of Bangladesh as a location for the festival. What it clearly suggests is the interventionist attitude with which the organisers have been working, especially their inclination to imagine dance as a space for social change and humanitarianism than as an apolitical realm of unthinking bodies. Overall, the initiative appears significant A view of Mermaid from the point of view of how it brings one Resort, the main venue of Ocean Dance Festival and to imagine a more interactive South Asia the WDAAP AGM 2019. and how it operates as beckoning call for broadening definitions of centres and This report is not as much focussed on the facilitated by young members from both peripheries. events and activities happening within the organisations, rather than the older the geographical limits of India, but on an generation who have usually had to be at important exchange that is soon to happen the helms of such organisations before. Of between WDA India and WDA Bangladesh. course, it bears important reflections for how This makes this report exciting from the those who have been the decision-makers point of view of how it effectively dissolves thus far are encouraging an expansion the idea of nationality-based reports, and of all the selection criteria involved while therefore starts to encourage important attempting to make it more democratic, moments of cross-border interactive open, and inclusive. A comprehensive activities within a more coherent realm of website dedicated to the festival has also the World Dance Alliance community. At been designed, with a hope that the festival the moment, WDA India is gearing up for must continue to grow in its future editions. the Ocean Dance Festival, WDAAP Annual The festival comprises scholarly General Meeting and conference to be held gatherings that include individual paper in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, this November. presentations and panel discussions, So far, a large number of extremely alongside dance performances, under a interesting participants – research scholars, broad theme ‘Bridging the Gap’. While dancers, students, choreographers, and curating the performances, the organisers administrators, from India as well as from have been thoughtful in encouraging more Different spaces for studio performances other parts of the world – have registered younger artists to bring their short-works in at Mermaid Resort, the for the event. Students and faculty from progress, rather than aiming for large-scale main venue of the Ocean two major universities of India – Presidency productions, so that the new space they are Dance Festival, at Cox's University in Kolkata, and Jawaharlal trying to generate can stay experimental, Bazar, Bangladesh, in Nov 2019. University in Delhi, who together form the intimate, and comfortable for each one to WDA India Chapter – have been co-involved participate in informal conversations that in overseeing the organisation of the event, are far more effective in encouraging new while being in constant negotiation with ideas and friendly associations than the more Nrityajog and the Ocean Dance Festival formal ones. Conference Committee in Bangladesh. In terms of the festival’s leadership scale, This team has welcomed most of the the organisers have been successful applications it has received in order to in inviting the renowned international ensure that this opportunity is available to choreographer of Bangladeshi origin, Akram as many participants as possible. The work Khan, to be the keynote speaker and to has been extremely smooth, and has been address the dance enthusiasts and writers
20 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 21 Malaysia Other committee projects are also bearing from France, introduced their brand report fruit, including Langkah, which was launched of experimental hip hop, following a by former committee member David Lim. performance in Kuala Lumpur in April by Bilqis Hijjas Current committee member Leng Poh Gee 2019. This was also a partnership project, has successfully attained a grant from the organised by MyDance committee member National Department of Arts and Culture Dalila Samad with Alliance Française de to produce two more editions of this Kuala Lumpur. publication, which presents writing about We look forward to many more projects contemporary dance process and practice in like these, bringing different facets of the Malaysia, in a bilingual format. Malaysian and the global dance community Our other projects continue, including together. our Small Grants program. It is always a pleasure to be able to partner with other A workshop on dances organisations to maximise the assistance Works from the Dancebox of Azerbaijan and that our Small Grants can provide. Recently, Festival at Kuala Uzbekistan by Sashar Lumpur Performing Arts Zarif, organised by Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur offered Centre, 11-14 April 2019, Nusantara Performing a scholarship for one Malaysian dancer to produced by MyDance Arts Centre in partnership participate in the Camping dance training Alliance in partnership with MyDance Alliance, event in Paris; our Small Grant was able to with The Actors Studio: at Five Arts Centre, Kuala 1. Fatin Nadhirah binti Lumpur, in June 2019. help Silver Yee to attend. We also gave a Rahmat and Muhd Nur Photo: Bilqis Hijjas Small Grant to Nadhirah Rahmat, to attend a 1 Azammudin Tumiran in workshop in Hofesh Schechter repertoire in Aris Kadir's 'Nasi Putih', In an under-resourced and largely self- Centre, and featured 28 short works by Perth, generously supported by Paul Selwyn restaged by Norsafini Jafar, in Program A: funded community like ours, dance about 200 dancers, ranging from classical Norton and STRUT Dance, the National Classic Restages. Photo: practitioners operate within their own ballet to contemporised Minangkabau plate Choreographic Centre of Western Australia. Huneid Tyeb little circles of mutual support. These dance, and from a cutting-edge criticism Canadian dancer and dance-scholar 2. 'Ruakhua Tlaak personal networks are often based on ties of modern consumerism accompanied by Sashar Zarif came through Malaysia on (Bamboo Dance), performed by the Chin of language, ethnicity or religion. While rocking live music, to a contemplative solo his way to the IETM meeting in Bangkok Student Organization this strategy allows our dance cultures to dance in the classical Chinese tradition by a recently, and thanks to the World Dance of Cheras Center, survive, even to thrive, it also creates silos. dancer who uses a wheelchair. Our program Alliance network, Prof Mohd Anis Md Nor organized by ANJEZ Art Young Chinese dancers fighting for a place began with looking back on some of the and his team at Nusantara Performing Arts Project, in Program C: Dance in the Community. at prestigious national Chinese dance most significant companies and individuals Research Centre (NusPARC) were able to Photo: James Quah competitions are only ever seen by an ethnic involved in the development of contemporary organise a special workshop by Sashar to 3. 'Anak Angkat', Chinese audience. Indian classical dance dance in Malaysia, encompassed the dances introduce his unique vision of Central Asian choreographed by practitioners seldom realise how much embedded in various ethnic communities, dance to the Malaysian dance community. Mohd Nuriqram, performed by Syamil they share with classical ballet dancers. and concluded with a glimpse of works by MyDance Alliance was happy to partner in bin Norzalahuddin, Contemporary dancers in Sabah, at one emerging choreographers. presenting this workshop, sharing a type of in Program D: New end of the country, may have neither met nor We were also pleased to share the dance which is little seen even in Malaysia's Dances/New Faces. heard of their counterparts in Johor, at the fruits of two of our committee projects diverse dance world, but which resonates This work premiered other end. during the Dancebox Festival. Committee here thanks to shared Islamic spiritual roots. in the 'Dancing Alone' project at NOW Theatre Creating unity within this diversity is a real member Lau Beh Chin has been giving Another international dance workshop, in March 2019. Photo: challenge; it is here that MyDance Alliance free dance classes to young people from by the dancers of Art Move Concept Huneid Tyeb plays an important role in the local dance the Chin refugee community, with the ecosystem. By organising events which cut help of MyDance members and interns. 2 3 across community boundaries, especially The students performed a traditional Chin highlighting contemporary dance in its varied bamboo dance in the festival's Dance in the manifestations, we hope to bring people Community segment. together on the same stage. Using the Committee vice president JS Wong and MyDance Festivals of the past as a blueprint, committee member Mohd Faillul Adam this year we presented the Dancebox collaborated on a project entitled Dancing Festival, a combined celebration of 30 years Alone, mentoring the creation of short of The Actors Studio (the local theatre solo dance works. After a choreographic organisation which co-presents Dancebox) workshop and several rounds of presentation as well as 18 years of Dancebox itself, which accompanied by critique earlier this year, was first presented in 2001 in a tiny theatre nine choreographers presented their crafted space, literally underground, at Dataran solos at a free showing at NOW Theatre in Merdeka. March. Three of these works made their way The Dancebox Festival ran from 11 to to the New Dances/New Faces segment of 14 April at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts the Dancebox Festival.
22 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 23 Papua New Philippines Guinea report report by Nicole by Naomi Faik- Primero Simet
Participants of the International Dance Day celebration event Saya Sayaw, at Mano Amiga 1 Philippines, April 2019
Papua New Guinea’s recent political Another international event held in Dance Alliance Philippines and the the alternative space provided by Areté, changes saw the election of a new Prime Auckland in May this year included the Contemporary Dance Network Manila allowing unconventional and intimate Minister, Honourable James Marape. The staging of Papua New Guinea’s Tourism organized a three-day event in celebration of experience with the audience. The platform new leadership comes at a time when the Trade Event organised by the PNG Tourism International Dance Day, in partnership with featured performances both from established country is experiencing economic recovery Promotion Authority, which involved the Myra Beltran Dance Forum, Guang Ming dance companies and emerging young 1. A Patete female dance stabilising growth in both public and private participation of tour operators. The Tour Dance Project, and Mano Amiga Philippines. artists. Airdance performed a collaborative at a Balabalaguan sectors. While these developmental activities operators marketed the country’s tourism The celebration was held from 27 to 29 April choreography by Carlos Deriada Jr. and mortuary ceremony by take place at the national level, dance products and connected with potential 2019. Rhosam Prudenciado Jr. Mia Cabalfin the Kabalama clan in communities continue to thrive in schools agents and individuals in Auckland. A key The celebration opened with “Un-stagram”, reunited with senior members of Airdance Matupit village, East New Britain Province, and learning institutions, at international feature of this event was a performance by the third iteration of MB Dance Forum’s in a new quartet piece. Blanche Saagundo Papua New Guinea, events and cultural festivals, and in village Ms Papua New Guinea/Pacific, Leoshina indepenDance series. It connotes being choreographed a strong and dynamic in September 2018. ceremonies. This report shares some Kariha, who promoted Papua New Guinea’s offline and an attempt to reclaim dancing number for Chameleon Dance Theater. Choreographed by Ia positive developments of Papua New Guinea diverse cultures through dance. She is a bodies from virtual and technological Company of Ateneo Dancers featured a solo Burbur Tovue. Photo: Naomi Faik-Simet. dance in the country and abroad. talented and passionate young woman attachments. It was a chance to express piece from Maja Concio. Another soloist was 2. Leoshina Kariha in her In April, Papua New Guinea’s all male hip leader who was a great ambassador for actual physical experience apart from the experimental Sasa Cabalquinto. Buboy Ms PNG/Pacific dance hop dance troupe, the Wan Squad Crew, Papua New Guinea dance, tourism and social media apps. As in Karina Mansour’s Raquitico’s duet represented Daloy Dance performance at the PNG qualified to represent New Zealand and the culture at the event in Auckland. International Dance Day message, in this day Company. TEAM Dance Studio danced two Trade Event in Auckland, South Pacific at the Hip Hop International On the home front, Papua New Guinea and age where connection and connectivity beautiful pieces created by Eli Jacinto. New Zealand, in May 2019. Photo: Florence Competition in Arizona, United States, in dance is very much connected to ceremonial have taken on new meanings, dance “Can Do Can Dance” was the final event Bunari. August this year. This came after the Hip life. In September 2018, the Kabalama clan helps us re-establish that lost connection. in celebration of International Dance Day. Hop International from Matupit village in East New Britain Featured choreographers were Myra Beltran, The UP Dance Company offered master 2 South Pacific province staged a balabalaguan mortuary Ma. Elena Laniog-Alvarez, Al Bernard classes in ballet, contemporary dance and Islands qualifier feast. An important part of the feast was Garcia, Raul “Buboy” Raquitico Jr., Sarah improvisation. The workshops welcomed held in Auckland, the performance of Tolai indigenous dance Maria Samaniego, Dingdong Selga, Michael exchanges among teachers and dancers New Zealand, repertoires. These dances involved great Barry Que, Ghealyn Rose Undang and from varied backgrounds. The space was where Papua participation from the local Matupit people Mary Evangeline Recto. Most of the works warm and inviting, allowing new movement New Guinea’s first and drew cultural appreciation from the were short and intimate, each followed by a explorations and friendly discourse. A small international dance wider Tolai and non-Tolai community. narrative on the creative/creation process. informal showcase brought the program to crew had finished In each of these events, dance in The audience was eventually invited to an end. in first place. This Papua New Guinea is strengthened by discuss the performances. Perhaps the Philippines is living in a time achievement inspired its continued practice both in local and The second part of the celebration, Saya of disquiet, discomfort and disconnect. other aspiring dance international contexts. It is encouraging to Sayaw, was hosted by the Mano Amiga However, dance is a healer. In her IDD artists in the country see the interest generated by the young to Philippines as part of their Art for Education message, Karina Mansour invited people to to value and develop uphold dance traditions and art forms that fundraiser. Dance Alliance Philippines invited go beyond borders, crises, and limitations. individual dance reflect the country’s complex cultural and members of the network to showcase She added, “I invite everybody to dance to interest and skills. social identity in a new political era. pieces highlighting the spirit of positivity their heartbeat, to their inner truth because it that “every child can”. Saya Sayaw explored is from these internal movements, that lead
24 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 25 to internal revolutions, where real change to encourage their involvement. However Singapore happens.” The International Dance Day many, it is important to keep promoting these report celebration is one of those times wherein art practitioners through such events, and artists come together to regroup and to show them appreciation to strengthen by Peter Gn recalibrate. Different organizations make our ties. What better way to celebrate the effort to provide platforms for dance dance, than with a healthy and encouraging companies, choreographers and dancers community of Filipino artists?
1
Among the activities of the members of at the inaugural Want to Dance Festival in Performers during World Dance Alliance Singapore, Dr Siri Taipei, Taiwan,26-27 April 2019. The Want International Dance Day celebration event Saya Rama performed a specially-commissioned to Dance Festival is a dance exchange Sayaw, at Mano Amiga contemporary piece for the inauguration of platform for independent choreographers Philippines, April 2019 a rare exhibition of an Indian painter held using several alternative styled theatre at Singapore Management University’s spaces. 2019 saw the very first Want to (SMU) de Suanto Gallery on 23 January Dance Festival, and helming it is the director 2019. The exhibition was entitled ‘Hemen of the Shinehouse Theatre, Po-Yuan Chung, Mazumdar: The Last Romantic’. Dr Siri’s and former Taipei Art Festival Director Yi-
Kanaka Sabha dance Ensemble Mumbai Wei Keng as co-curators. PERFECT is a 1. Dance Dynamics in performed a bharatanatyam production new explorative work in progress that deals their performance at ‘Ayyappa Charitram’ for the All Bombay Nair with the theme of body image and explores Singapore Chinese Associationa on 2 March 2019 and for the societal expectations for people to develop Cultural Centre on 29 December 2018. annual Natyanjali festival at Cheddanagar a ‘perfect body’. PERFECT will be further 2. Dr Siri Rama dancing Temple Auditorium on 20 February 2019. developed into a full-length production with at de Suanto Gallery for Kanaka Sabha (Singapore) ensemble IPTANZ (Germany), and will be presented in the exhibition 'Hemen performed kuchipudi and bharatanatyam Germany in September 2019 and thereafter Mazumdar: The Last for the Vasantotsavam at the Vadapathira in Singapore in December 2019. Romantic' on 23 January 2019. Kaliamman Temple on 23 May 2019. Dance Dynamics held its third cultural 3. Nanyang Academy ‘Crossings’ produced by Nanyang dance showcase on 29 Dec 2018 at of Fine Arts Dance Academy of Fine Arts Dance Programme the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Programme students has become a must-see annual event for Highlights of the programme included in 'Crossings' at Lee Foundation Theatre, anyone interested in Singapore’s emerging classical Chinese dance 伊人如画 and 鸿雁 26-27 April 2019. Photo: talent and burgeoning dance scene. This and ballet 小雨. Jeff Low year's ‘Crossings’ presented on 26 and 27 April 2019 at Lee Foundation Theatre was 2 3 an exciting evening of contemporary dance works featuring both local and international choreographers. Charlotte Boye-Christensen (Denmark) and Christina Chan (Singapore) ‘invited and invigorated reflection’, while Ezekiel Oliveira (Portugal) created a work that ‘verged on spectacle and precision’, and Jeffrey Tan's (Singapore) ‘Swirling (Dark Fantasies)’, was an exploration of dystopian classicism. This diverse repertoire was testament of the edge and versatility of NAFA's conservatory-style trained dancers. Maya Dance Theatre presented PERFECT
26 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 27 Taiwan 1 professional dance careers. join together at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in July Taiwanese Young After one year’s absence, the International this year. They will work with local dancers Dancers Flying to report the World at the 2019 Young Choreography Project (IYCP) is back from 1 to 19 July and the final performances Kaohsiung Spring by Su-Ling Chou in 2019. This year, we have received more will be on 20 and 2 July. With a limited Arts Festival (KSAF), talented young applicants from the WDA budget, WDAAP Taiwan has been working produced by Tso's regions than ever, and the competition was hard to support and organize the event. It will Dance Association: especially high. Eight choreographers (one be a great joy to see these talented young ‘The Legend of Atlantis’, choreographed by from WDA Americas, three from WDAAP dance artists developing their good works Francesco D’Astici. Photo: and four from Taiwan) were selected and will through this international platform. Chung-yun Lin
Spring is the time when the members of Wolf and Carnival of Animals, 2016’s WDAAP-Taiwan present their achievements Something about Growing Up, 2017’s The after half a year’s work on dance research Mysterious Journey, and 2018’s Pulcinella, and performances. In the meantime, the the project in 2019 entitled Taiwanese graduates from universities and high schools Young Dancers Flying to the World is the also have their presentations after three fifth production in KSAF. Dancers from WDA-AP Taiwan Members or four years’ training. Those young dance elementary, junior high, and senior high Activities, January - June 2019 artists challenge themselves to present schools worked together for eight months Performances: Floating Flowers, 29-30 March at Staatstheater Mainz, dance concerts in various styles with aiming toward presenting their best for Germany, 5 April at Centro Culturale Altinate San individual characteristics that are different the final production. Accompanied by Kaohsiung City Ballet Gaetano, Padua, Italy, 14-15 April at Suzanne Dellal from the former generations. Kaohsiung Youth Symphony Orchestra, 2019 Dance Shoe, 12 January at Jhihshan Hall of Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel It is with great honor that Tso’s Dance this production was presented with two Kaohsiung City Arts Center, 26 January at Native Theater B.OOM by B.dance, 28-29 June at Well Spring Theater, of International Hall of Tainan Municipal Cultural Center, Taipei, Taiwan Association, one of major organizational beautiful string compositions, Serenade for Taiwan members of WDAAP- Taiwan, was invited String Orchestra composed by Tchaikovsky Hung Dance again by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and Four Seasons of Taiwan by Masaaki Tso’s Dance Association Boundless, 11-13 January at Experimental Theater, Taipei, Kaohsiung City Government, to produce Hayakawa. The guest choreographer, 2019 KSAF Atlantis & Four Seasons of Taiwan, 27-28 Taiwan April at Kaohsiung City Dadong Arts Center Birdy, Macau City Fringe Festivel, 18-20 January at a full-evening production in the 2019 Francesco D’Astici, was invited to work for DIOCESE DE MACAU, Macau Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival (KSAF). KSAF for the third time. Under the title The Horse Raining in the Room, 21-23 March at Huashan Umay Following the 2015 production Peter and Legend of Atlantis, the artist used stories Free Step, 15 June at Horse Studio, Taipei, Taiwan Theater, Taipei, Taiwan from Greek myth to describe the music of Behalf, by Pichet Klunchun & Chen Wu-kang, 22-23 On the Road. Tanzplattform Bern, 20-22 June at March at National University of Singapore, Singapore, 24- Vidmarhalle, Liebefeld, Bern, Switzerland 2 Serenade for String Orchestra. He focused 25 April at Les spectacles vivants du Centre Pompidou, on preparing young dancers in a variety of France, 3-4 May at Kaaitheater, Brussel, Belgium Workshops: dance styles. The other piece, Four Seasons Culture On the Move, 1 May at Huashan 1949 Creative of Taiwan, was choreographed by two local Park, Taipei, Taiwan Horse Taiwanese Young dance artists, Ya-ting Chang and Kuo- A Duet With You, 27 Apirl, 4-5 May at G9 Park, Chiayi, Sun-Shier Dance Theatre Dancers Flying to chun Wang. Both choreographers aimed Taiwan the World at the 2019 CoDance Festival 2019, 11-24 March at Huashan Umay Kaohsiung Spring at portraying the beautiful scenery of four Theater, Taipei, Taiwan TTC Dance Arts Festival (KSAF), seasons in Taiwan using fruits, butterflies, TTC Dance Summer Dance Workshop, 1 June at produced by Tso's Dance and flowers to fill the stage. All the young TTC Dance Wenshan Theater, Taipei, Taiwan Association. dancers worked together on weekends A Blooming Tree, Want To Dance Festival, 26 April at Monga-Longshan Cultural & Creative B2, Taipei, Taiwan B. Dance 1. ‘Four Seasons’ of for eight months and made great progress Taiwan, choreographed B.OOM Workshop, 22-23 June at Bei-An Junior High by Ya-ting Chang and throughout this beautiful production. Aiming Century Contemporary Dance Company School, Taipei, Taiwan Kuo-chun Wang. Photo: at cultivating these artistic seeds in this city, The Present, 14-16 June at Huashan Umay Theater, Taipei, Chun-yung Lin Kaohsiung City Government makes every Taiwan Exhibition: 2. ‘The Legend of Atlantis’, effort to promote arts education from K to 12 choreographed by B. Dance Horse Francesco D’Astici. and help those dance talents to challenge MILLENNIALS, 4-6 January at Experimental Theater, Rama’s House: Pichet Klunchun X Wu-Kang Chen, 1-30 Photo: Su-Ling Chou themselves in building up their future Taipei, Taiwan June at Wistaria Tea House, Taipei, Taiwan
28 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 29 2019 WDA Events 2020 WDA Events
The Ocean Dance Festival 2019
22-25 November 2019 Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Including twinning projects, a choreolab, seminars, workshops and performances, in the beautiful beach resort town of Cox's Bazar. Special discounts available for South Asian dance students, WDA members, performers and presenters.
For more information, check out the event website: www.oceandancefestival.com
Call for Papers for Panpapanpalya Joint Proceedings
We are pleased to finally announce the Call for Proceedings of Panpapanpalya 2018: the 2nd joint dance congress of daCi and the WDA Education and Training Network. This is a tight turnaround due to administrative delays and we look forward to receiving full paper submissions from those who presented papers at Panpapanpalya, by 30th September 2019. Please click here to access Guidelines for submitting full paper submissions.
30 Asia – Pacific Channels | June 2019 June 2019 | Asia – Pacific Channels 31 About the World World Dance Alliance key contacts Dance Alliance WDA Presidents Asia – Pacific Network Chairs Hong Kong Papua New Guinea Asia Pacific Stella Lau representative WDA Asia Pacific President Education & Training Hong Kong Dance Alliance Naomi Faik-Simet Urmimala Sarkar Munsi Ralph Buck (New Zealand) 7/F, 26-28 Tai Yau Street Institute of Papua New Guinea School of Arts & Aesthetics [email protected] San Po Kong Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University Jeff Meiners (Australia) Kowloon, Hong Kong. Box 1432, Boroko 111, NCD, New Delhi 110067, India [email protected] T +852 22676663 Papua New Guinea [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Research & Documentation WDA Americas President Stephanie Burridge (Singapore) India Philippines Cristina Goletti [email protected] Dr Kapila Vatsyayan Basilio Esteban Villaruz Our Mission Membership Dept of Theatre & Dance A. P. Rajaram (India) Indira Gandhi National College of Music WDA serves as a primary voice for dance and dancers Open to any organisation or individual interested in Fox Fine Arts Center - D371 [email protected] Centre for the Arts University of the Philippines throughout the world, and encourages the exchange of furthering the objectives of the society. University of Texas at El Paso Anja Ali-Haapala (Australia) New Delhi 110 001 India Diliman, Quezon City 1101 ideas and the awareness of dance in all its forms. El Paso, Texas, 79968-0549, USA [email protected] F +91 1 1338 1139 Philippines World Dance Alliance operates via its regional centres Membership benefits [email protected] Rosemary Bennett (Australia) [email protected] T +63 2 428 7772 [email protected] [email protected] with an overarching Global Executive Committee, and Biannual newsletter Channels Secretary General Indonesia a Secretary General, bringing the regions together Annual regional assemblies Mohd. Anis Md. Nor Creation & Presentation Michael Raditya Singapore in matters of policy and global projects. The current Triennial global assemblies [email protected] Joelle Jacinto (Philippines) Secretary Dr Siri Rama regional centres are [email protected] WDA Indonesia [email protected] Participation in the WDA Asia Pacific Networks Asia – Pacific Executive [email protected] Peter Gn WDA Americas Discounts to certain member events Asia – Pacific Chapters [email protected] Korea WDA Asia Pacific Privileged access to WDA Americas services and President Kim Geung-Soo Taiwan WDA Europe (being re-formed) Urmimala Sarkar Munsi (India) Aotearoa New Zealand activities Chung Ang University Su-ling Chou [email protected] Sheryl Lowe WDA also has partnerships with other international Networking opportunities 72-1 Nae-Ri, Daeduk-Myun, Dance Division, Tsoying High School Dance Aotearoa New Zealand organisations such as WAAE (World Alliance for Immediate Past President Anseong City, Gyeong-Gi Do #55 Hai-Kung Road (DANZ) Arts Education), International Dance Committee of Yunyu Wang (Taiwan) Republic of Korea Tsoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 81326 PO Box 9885 [email protected] [email protected] T/F +886 7 585 3083 International Theater Institute ITI /UNESCO (ITI), Types of membership and annual Wellington New Zealand [email protected] UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and subscription fees (subject to change) Vice President T +64-4-8019885 Malaysia Cultural Organization), and daCi (dance and the Child Chapter / Organisational US$ 200 Stella Lau (Hong Kong) F +64-4-8019883 Bilqis Hijjas Thailand international). Associate Organisational (to be advised) [email protected] [email protected] MyDance Alliance Prof. Sanchai Uaesilapa www.danz.org.nz P.O. Box 12409, 50776 Dean of the Faculty of Music and Secretary Associate Individual US$ 20 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Performing Arts Julie Dyson (Australia) Australia Our Goals T +6017 310 3769 Burapha University [email protected] Julie Dyson To promote the recognition, development and [email protected] Chonburi, Thailand Ausdance National mutual understanding of all forms of dance. To join Treasurer www.mydancealliance.org [email protected] [email protected] Jefferson Chieh-hua Hsieh (Taiwan) To facilitate communication and exchange Contact your Chapter Head (contact list on back of this www.ausdance.org.au Nepal [email protected] among dance individuals, institutions and issue) for details on how to join the local chapter. Rajendra Shrestha Bangladesh organisations interested in dance. Vice President South East Asia Nritya Sahakarya Nepal Lubna Marium Bilqis Hijjas (Malaysia) (Nepal Dance Alliance). To provide a forum for discussion Visit our websites General Secretary, Shadhona [email protected] Home No. 98 Kopundol, of matters relating to dance. www.worlddancealliance.org A Center for Advancement of Lalitpur-10, Nepal Vice President East Asia Southasian Dance & Music To encourage and support the research, education, www.wda-ap.org T +97 98 4133 7147 Jun Hong Jo (South Korea) House 69, Road 5, DOHS (old), criticism, creation and performance of dance. www.facebook.com/WorldDanceAlliance/ [email protected] To liaise, co-ordinate and participate in activities [email protected] Dhaka 1213 T +88029889426 with other dance organisations in the world. Vice President Pacific M +8801713040814 Sheryl Lowe (New Zealand) [email protected] Our Founder [email protected] East Timor representative Vice President South Asia Carl Wolz Colleen Coy Lubna Marium (Bangladesh) Dili Wellness [email protected] Our Background T +670-7824-1931 This independent, non-profit, non-political organisation [email protected] began as the Asia-Pacific Dance Alliance in Hong Kong in 1988. In 1990, the global body, World Dance Alliance (WDA), was founded at the Hong Kong International Dance Conference. In 1993, the name of the Asia- Pacific Center was changed to WDA Asia Pacific to reflect its relationship to the global body. WDA Asia Pacific is one of the regional centres that make up WDA. The other is WDA Americas
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