Daring and innovative, a sumptuous feast of contemporary dance. Not-to-be-missed.

The Asia Pacific Dance Platform, initiated and curated by the Festival, aims to promote the creativity and dynamism of contemporary dance in the Asia Pacific region. Featuring signature pieces from six choreographers/dancers, this platform also includes a series of workshops with university and high school students and discussions with presenters, dance professionals and dance critics, creating a dance synergy that will promote the awareness and appreciation of contemporary dance in Hong Kong.

Education – Choreographers present contemporary dance workshops and talks aimed to initiate university and high school students into the world of body and movement, its history and aesthetics. An interactive experience which also includes a performance workshop in theatre. For more information please refer to Festival Plus Programme Guide from December 2008.

Dialogues – Participating choreographers/dancers will share their own creative journeys, debate their views on dance aesthetics and its social context.

Performance – Six 30-minute works from six choreographers/dancers, a rare opportunity for all to immerse in an intense and inspiring dance marathon.
 

Richard Longbottom, Shinji Kubo, Ricky Wong, Kimgoon

Be Still, My Soul by Raewyn Hill (New Zealand)
- for 6 dancers

Loosely based on the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, Be Still, My Soul explores the place of love and loss in the human experience. It is part of a new full-length work developed during Raewyn Hill’s residency at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Confronting Silence by Yukio Suzuki (Japan)
- for 4 dancers

Yukio Suzuki won the Choreographer of the Next Generation in Toyota Choreography Awards 2008. His latest work is steeped in the essence of Japanese Butoh, involving a high level of intensity in the interaction of the dancers’ bodies.

Story of B by Namjin Kim (Korea)
- solo

After a decade of as dancing with the French national dance company C.C.N.R.B. and with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s world renowned Les Ballets C de la B, Kim returns to Seoul to start his own creative journey, mixing personal emotions with his unique east-west dance idioms. His award-wining work Story of B illustrates the sadness provoked by social alienation in a rich society.

B.O.B. Rough Cut by Dick Wong (Hong Kong)
- for 3 dancers

One dancer creates a move, the next describes it verbally, and the third tries to recreate the move according to the words of the second performer. Dick Wong’s conceptual dance piece explores the body’s potential as a tool of expression and questions the way we read the movement of others against that which we imagine.

Memory by Living Dance Studio/Wen Hui (Beijing)
- for 2 dancers

A mosquito net ten times the usual size; an old sewing machine from the 1960s; an old Red Guard’s expression of his sentiments toward Chairman Mao, as well as all the slogans and writings that filled the air in those times. All of these constitute an instance of remembering, and are connected to renowned Beijing choreographer/dancer Wen Hui’s strong childhood memories through the 60s and 70s.

Tikus-Tikus by Jecko Siompo (Indonesia)
- for 2 dancers

Jecko Siompo is a native of Papua and received dance training in both traditional and contemporary dance. His inventive mix of folklore, ballet and street dance such as hip hop makes him one of most interesting dancer in Indonesia. Tikus-Tikus is a dance expressing his love for his native land, showcasing rhythmical steps from Papua folk and tribal dance with gestures and movements from everyday life.

Feb 27
3.00pm-6.00pm 6.00pm-7.30pm	Performance Dialogues (Conducted in English)
Feb 28
6.00pm-9.00pm 9.00pm-11.00pm	Performance Dialogues (Conducted in English)

Dick Wong: All-Dimensional Dance Experience
02 Feb 2009

Tertiary institutions involved in this activity include The University of Hong Kong, The University of Science & Technology and City University of Hong Kong.

By invitation only

An interactive all-dimensional dance experience: the focus will be on appreciation of dance. Choreographer Dick Wong will share his views about dance as a tool of creativity and discuss the history of dance using interactive movement games.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.

Raewyn Hill Workshop: Developing Movement Material from Visual Images
14 Feb 2009

10:00am - 12:00noon

No. of participants: 30
Free admission
In English
For senior secondary and tertiary students with basic dance training.

This workshop involves participants by first replicating gestures found in a number of art works, and then, using small groups, guiding the participants to form dance material. A demonstration/performance of each small group’s work will conclude the workshop.

Download Application Form.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.

Yukio Suzuki Butoh Workshop
28 Feb 2009

10:00 am - 12:00 noon

No. of participants: 20
Fee: $50
In English
Previous dance experience is not necessary.

This Butoh dance movement workshop led by Yukio Suzuki will provide practices to hone internal sensibilities and physical expression. This workshop is open to all and no background in dance is necessary.

Download Application Form.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.

Dick Wong: All-Dimensional Dance Experience B.O.B.
The Rough Cut (Cantonese version)
28 Feb 2009

11:00am - 1:00pm

Tertiary institutions involved in this activity include The University of Hong Kong, The University of Science & Technology and City University of Hong Kong.

By invitation only

An interactive all-dimensional dance experience: the focus will be on appreciation of dance. Choreographer Dick Wong will share his views about dance as a tool of creativity and discuss the history of dance using interactive movement games.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.

Jecko Siompo Dance Workshop
28 Feb 2009

2:00 - 4:00pm

No. of participants: 20
Fee: $50
In English
Previous dance experience is not necessary.

This workshop is offered to all who want to learn more about this tribal dance originating in Papua. Jecko Siompo will guide participants through the rhythmic steps of Papua folk and organic Kangguru movements and help explore its connections to contemporary hip hop.

Download Application Form.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.

Living Dance Studio/Wen Hui - Video Screening
28 Feb 2009

2:00 - 3:30pm

No. of participants: 80
In Putonghua/English

Choreographer Wen Hui will share the inspirations behind her creations and show excerpts from Living Dance Studio productions including Report on Giving Birth, Dance with Migrant Workers, Time/Space, Report on 37.8°C and the award-winning production Report on Body.

Free admission tickets are available from Saturday, 20 December 2008 at the Festival Information Counter at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to check the opening hours of Festival Information Counter.

Sponsored by Lee Hysan Foundation.

With support of Hong Kong Fringe Club.