This year’s programme is an interactive engagement between dance and architecture. It allows the audience to activate their own journey through the unique spaces of the Houses with movements and time. In this, the programme’s second chapter, we are delighted to present an experience through two parallel universes – featuring elegant ballet at The Upper House, Hong Kong, and bold hip hop at The Temple House, Chengdu.
In today’s new normal of extended separations from our closest ones, the question of how to be together while apart is one that we increasingly face. Inspired by this idea, our creators imagined a tale of two friends in two cities, sharing one dance encounter through two difference spaces.
Here at The Upper House, Yuh Egami choreographed a piece for ballerina Hennes Yuen, both of the Hong Kong Ballet, responding to the welcoming open arcs and rhythmic upward flow designed by architect André Fu.
In contrast, bold hip hop at The Temple House plays off the House’s dramatic juxtaposition of Qing dynasty courtyards with contemporary forms by Make Architects. With choreography by Andrea Carrucciu, dance artist Wan Siming celebrates her home region’s past and present through its traditions of brocade weaving and rice cultivation, and its vibrant hip hop culture of today.
The dance artists’ journeys are independent yet intersecting across time and space. It calls to mind that we are influenced not only by the physical spaces that we reside in, but also by the journeys of others around us.
Dance artist Hennes Yuen at The Upper House. Photography by Stephanie Teng.
Dance artist Wan Siming at The Temple House. Photography by Gilles Sabrié.
"An encounter across two very different dance disciplines further epitomises the spirit of the Encounters Across Cultures programme. It shows how we can be in harmony while being very different, all the time pushing creative boundaries." Patsy Lo, Curator and Producer
Originally from Hong Kong, Patsy is a curator and a movement director. After more than 20 years working in marketing, she left a high-powered global exceutive job at age 48, to become a full time dance student in Paris, France. She had never danced before.
Since then, Patsy founded sml Dance to share dance as a vehicle for discovery, courage and joy; an opportunity to connect with the intelligence within our bodies.
Her personal artistic project, REBIRTH, began its development with a residency at Orsolina28 in Sept. 2020. Extensions of the project have been featured in Numéro China and Nowness Asia on numerous occasions.
Originally from Hong Kong, Patsy is a curator and a movement director. After more than 20 years working in marketing, she left a high-powered global exceutive job at age 48, to become a full time dance student in Paris, France. She had never danced before.
Since then, Patsy founded sml Dance to share dance as a vehicle for discovery, courage and joy; an opportunity to connect with the intelligence within our bodies.
Her personal artistic project, REBIRTH, began its development with a residency at Orsolina28 in Sept. 2020. Extensions of the project have been featured in Numéro China and Nowness Asia on numerous occasions.
acno is a Paris-based creative studio formed by childhood friends, Mourad Bouayad and Paul Lamy. They seek to combine movement and visual arts to design a honest speech. Their first piece, ‘For The Hungry Boy’, brings Pop into contemporary dance theatre aesthetics.
acno is a Paris-based creative studio formed by childhood friends, Mourad Bouayad and Paul Lamy. They seek to combine movement and visual arts to design a honest speech. Their first piece, ‘For The Hungry Boy’, brings Pop into contemporary dance theatre aesthetics.
Formerly a member of respected Shanghai Jin Xing Dance - founded by the legendary dance artist Jin Xing - between 2016-2019, Xinmeng left to perform independently and in 2020 founded his own dance company NoSpace.
Formerly a member of respected Shanghai Jin Xing Dance - founded by the legendary dance artist Jin Xing - between 2016-2019, Xinmeng left to perform independently and in 2020 founded his own dance company NoSpace.
Described by Le Monde as a "dance genius on high-wire", Ying followed up his international touring career with founding YING Dance Theatre in 2018. He has choreographed performances DIVINE, THE SUN, O and M, and created crossover collaborations with renowned artists and institutions such as designer Ma Ke, Meng Theatre Studio, SPURS Gallery, OUDE WAAG and director Wen Shipei.
Described by Le Monde as a "dance genius on high-wire", Ying followed up his international touring career with founding YING Dance Theatre in 2018. He has choreographed performances DIVINE, THE SUN, O and M, and created crossover collaborations with renowned artists and institutions such as designer Ma Ke, Meng Theatre Studio, SPURS Gallery, OUDE WAAG and director Wen Shipei.
The Collective is an integrated production team of artists, technologists and makers for all media, working at the intersection of visual art and technology. Their approach puts human experience at the centre of technological development. Their work has been exhibited in festivals from Porlwi light festival in Sri Lanka to Appolonia Art Exchange in France.
The Collective is an integrated production team of artists, technologists and makers for all media, working at the intersection of visual art and technology. Their approach puts human experience at the centre of technological development. Their work has been exhibited in festivals from Porlwi light festival in Sri Lanka to Appolonia Art Exchange in France.
SPECIAL THANKS TO Sharon Chiu, Sky Meng, Gilles Sabrié, SEAN SUEN