cont.act Dance festival returns as a fully live event
After three years of digital showcases, cont.act takes to the live stage again – albeit with fewer offerings
Helmi Yusof
THE years of the pandemic dealt a severe blow to the arts, but the challenges of 2023 are shaping up to be even tougher. With the government withdrawing all financial support related to Covid and inflation taking hold, arts organisations are now grappling with diminished ticket sales as audiences tighten their belts amid fears of a global economic downturn.
Amid this difficult backdrop, T.H.E. Dance Company is preparing to launch its cont.act Contemporary Dance Festival in June, albeit with only half of the platforms and offerings compared to its 2019 edition. Kuik Swee Boon, founder and creative director of T.H.E., says: “We managed to survive during the pandemic by cutting costs and attempting to reach an audience online. Now that the pandemic is officially over, we persist in promoting contemporary dance while confronting other challenges.”
The upcoming cont.act 2023 festival marks the first fully live edition since 2019. In the interim years, several online and hybrid productions were created, reaching audiences as far as Europe and the Middle East. However, revenue from digital offerings remains disappointingly low, as online audiences are reluctant to pay a significant amount for virtual shows. Consequently, T.H.E. has temporarily halted digital productions.
For the 13th edition of the festival, four live platforms will be presented, including the highly anticipated centerpiece PheNoumenon. Conceived in 2019, this piece has undergone consistent development over the years, leading Kuik to believe it is more than ready to grace the stage next month.
Kuik explains: “The work explores human pride and ego, and their tendency to sow chaos and destruction in the world. Interestingly, there’s a scene in it that we named The Virus. It delves into how inflated egos can turn humankind into a virus infecting the world. However, it’s worth noting that we conceived this scene long before the pandemic, and it has now taken on additional and unintended meanings.”
PheNoumenon has a runtime of one hour and 15 minutes and features a new cast of six talented dancers.
Another highlight of the festival is the Open Stage platform, which showcases short pieces by some of the most thrilling dancers from around the world. This year, T.H.E. received an astounding 260 submissions from both local and international artists, but only seven were selected for the showcase.
Among them is Wong Tan-ki from Hong Kong, who utilises his remarkably flexible body to depict the internal and external pressures that wrestle for control in a person’s life. Also featured is Annabelle Divr from Israel, whose powerful vocal and physical expressions articulate the intricate dreams and desires of women.
A third artist to keep an eye on during Open Stage is Singapore’s Ashley Ho, who recently completed her dance studies at the ArtEZ University in the Netherlands. Kuik describes her as a rising star with innovative approaches to expressing the themes she tackles.
Lastly, the beloved Dance At Dusk platform will return, captivating audiences with free outdoor performances at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. The event will showcase excerpts from T.H.E.’s growing repertoire of original works.
The cont.act Contemporary Dance Festival will take place from Jun 9 to Jun 27. For tickets and further information, visit the-contact.org.
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