Amid challenges, dancers return to the stage

THE pandemic has been devastating to all artists, but among the worst hit are dancers. Writers, sculptors and painters can operate in solitude. But dancers need to be able to move freely in a space, feel how their bodies respond to music, and move in synchrony with other dancers - all of which is hard to do when one is constrained by the walls of one's home.

Even now when dancers are allowed to return to their studios, they must train with restrictive masks on and have limited physical contact among themselves. Safe distancing ambassadors often come a-knocking to ensure these rules are complied with.

In the face of such challenges, the Esplanade's da:ns festival is returning with a slate of works that appears to be nothing short of triumphant. Its curators, choreographers, dancers and artists have taken the constraints thrown at them - and emerged with new works that attempt to make sense of the present and the future.

Faith Tan, Esplanade's head of dance and international development, says: "In some countries, dancers have actually given up altogether because they can't continue anymore. Here in Singapore, we are fortunate to have a government that supports us ... So with this festival, we're questioning the role of art-making, asking the audience to see how the pandemic has impacted dance, and exploring the key developments within dance that point to its future."

The festival has commissioned 10 new local works - the highest ever in its 16-year history - which involves the participation of some 280 dance artists.

Among the highlights is In Good Company, a quintuple-bill of new works by five leading Singapore companies - namely, CHOWK Productions, Frontier Danceland, P7:1SMA, RAW Moves and T.H.E. Dance Company. They will each present a work that expresses the identity and aesthetics of the company as they move into the future.

Ms Tan says: "Because of the pandemic and its devastating impact of dance, we thought this would be a chance for the five companies to pause, reflect and take stock of how far they've come. For some of them, the works will represent a kind of mid-career summation."

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The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

[scald=247577:article_inline_image] The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

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The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

The dance film Body-Buildings brings together dance, architecture and cinema, with six choreographers creating works for six architectural spaces in six locations in Portugal. PHOTO: MOONWAY FILMS

Elsewhere, works involving international artists who cannot travel to Singapore will require some slick technical solutions. The organisers are determined to show the works live by beaming the artists' performances across the globe as they happen. This is hard for those whose cities (such as Bangkok and Manila) may still be under lockdown or tight restrictions.

Ms Tan says: "One of the shows titled 14 features 20 dancers from five countries. One of the artist managers in Bangkok called us to say that they have to pull out because the lockdown is making it impossible for them to go on.

"But we begged them to somehow find technical solutions around the problem. So their show can go on and everyone can still be fully paid. The manager was almost in tears at how determined we were... This is a difficult time for everyone; we have to find ways to work together."

The festival also includes a meaningful piece involving migrant workers relating their pandemic experiences through song and dance, as well as a strong cinema component featuring acclaimed films about dance, such as Body-Building and Being Jerome Bel.

Top festival picks

MANILA ZOO By Eisa Jocson 8 to 10 Oct

A must-see at the festival, Manila Zoo by Filipino choreographer Eisa Jocson is redefining how we experience dance in a live setting. Although the dancers cannot fly to Singapore because of travel restrictions, they will be performing live via video conferencing, where they've ingeniously turned the four-sided borders of the screen into a clever performance device.

The audience in Singapore, however, will still have to go to the Esplanade to experience it together.

IN GOOD COMPANY By CHOWK Productions, Frontier Danceland, P7:1SMA, RAW Moves and T.H.E. Dance Company 8 & 9 Oct for two works, 15 & 16 Oct for three other works

Five leading Singapore dance companies, each with a distinct aesthetic, will each debut a new work that represents their identity and direction in the near future.

P7:1SMA and T.H.E. Dance Company will present their works in the first weekend, while CHOWK Productions, Frontier Danceland and RAW Moves will present theirs in the second weekend.

14 Conceptualised by Chen Wu-Kang and Sun Ruey Horng Livestream on 18 Sep; thereafter available as a recording till 31 Oct

This ambitious five-hour online dance marathon will feature 20 dancers in five countries, each performing a solo for 14 minutes. (The number 14 represents the number of days one has to be quarantined in some countries if one were to travel.)

Although you'll be watching the show in the comfort of your home, the audience members will include five dance experts who will express their views of the works as they're watching it with you - a quirky proposition to make you feel less alone.

Of course, you can watch the show all by yourself, or listen to their opinions as and when you wish to.

FORCES OF DANCE By Singapore Dance Theatre 8 to 10 Oct

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SDT, which gave a tremendous performance in The Rhythm Of Us recently at the Esplanade, will be returning to the venue - this time at its outdoor theatre. Against the bright lights of the CBD skyline, the company will perform a triple-bill of neo-classical and contemporary works.

AND SO WE DANCE By migrant workers, Dapheny Chen and Serena Ho 16 & 17 Oct

One community particularly hard-hit by the pandemic is migrant workers, many of whom were forced to remain in their dormitories for months on end. This extraordinary work devised by Dapheny Chen and Serena Ho will put a group of migrant workers on stage where they'll weave their stories of the pandemic into meaningful song and dance.

FULL OUT! SCRACH VS MARCS By ScRach MarcS 14 to 17 Oct

Award-winning local husband-and-wife dance duo Rachel and Marcus go head-to-head in a battle of the sexes. Each will have their own team of dancers as they compete in various street dance formats, including classic, experimental, new school and freestyle. The audience decides which team is better.

• For tickets and information, visit www.esplanade.com/dansfestival