The December 2024 edition of Asia-Pacific Channels, the biannual magazine of World Dance Alliance Asia-Pacific, is here.
As usual, this edition features reports from our executive committee, our networks and our organisational chapters. Here are some highlights:
Reports from the new Executive Committee of WDAAP, as voted in at the Annual General Meeting in September 2024, hosted by World Dance Alliance Singapore.
Reports and beautiful images from the Singapore International Dance Conference Festival organised by WDA Singapore in conjunction with the WDAAP AGM last year.
In memoriam for Fred Frumberg, stalwart WDAAP member and founder of Amrita Performing Arts, Cambodia, who passed away in December 2024.
Announcement of call for proposals for SWEAT: Hong Kong International Dance Workshop Festival 2025 from 18 to 22 June 2025, which will include the WDAAP Annual General Meeting.
… as well as inspiring images of dance from across the region.
Cover image, and above: Wushiren Theatre (Singapore) performing “I Am Finally in Love with The World”, choreographed by Ranice Tay, at the 2024 Singapore International Dance Conference and Festival, at LASALLE College of the Arts. Photo: Gnanesh Bhaskar Tilagavathy
Back issues of Channels can be downloaded from here. The archive of Channels dating back to 1996 is available from the Ausdance website. For larger printable versions of this magazine, please contact the editor, Bilqis Hijjas, at bhijjas@gmail.com.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is excited to announce the launch of the website of SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Workshop Festival 2025.
The Call for Proposals for SWEAT and other details of the festival are now available to read on the website:
The 2025 Annual General Meeting of World Dance Alliance Asia-Pacific will be held in conjunction with SWEAT 2025.
SWEATbuilds on the success of its inaugural edition in 2022. Launched by the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first festival provided a vital digital platform for artists to connect, share best practices, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Over two weeks, SWEATbrought together 640 arts practitioners from 23 countries through research labs, workshops, masterclasses, dance video screenings, and open discussions, establishing itself as a hub for innovation and artistic exchange.
In 2025, SWEAT will focus on the theme ‘Cultural Sequences: Asia Pacific Choreographic Discovery’ to celebrate vibrant dance expressions that transcend geographic boundaries. The festival will feature four key events:
Workshop Series
Dance Conference
DanceTECH Research Showcase
Choreographic Projects Open Studio Presentations
These events will enable participants to tailor their experiences and enhance their practices and research ideas. In our increasingly interconnected world, understanding cultural expressions through dance is essential for celebrating diversity and fostering meaningful collaborations.
Join us at the HKAPA campus in Hong Kong as we continue to innovate, inspire, and connect within the global dance community!
I want to bring to your immediate attention a concerning issue. If you receive an email supposedly from Anna CY Chan, WDA President, from the emails: boardspresidentbox@gmail.com or executivestream2025@gmail.com or similar, requesting a transfer of funds to a vendor named WDAAP on behalf of the WDAAP Board, please be extremely cautious. This communication is a scam.
To clarify, the WDAAP Executive Board has never engaged any external vendor to execute our projects. As a recognized non-profit society, we pride ourselves on our strong governance and transparent financial practices. Additionally, each WDAAP Chapter manages its own finances independently.
We take our reputation seriously and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in all our projects. If you have any doubts about a request for funds or related communications, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to our official channels for verification at worlddanceallianceasiapacific@gmail.com or directly to me annacychan@hkapa.edu.
Thank you for your vigilance in safeguarding our community.
Anna CY Chan WDAAP President & on behalf of the WDAAP Executive Board.
WDA Asia Pacific members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the organisation on Sunday 1 September at 1pm, either via Zoom or in person at the Bencoolen Hotel, 30 Bencoolen Rd, Singapore.
The meeting will provide reports from the Executive Board and chapter heads (as per those published in the latest edition of Asia Pacific Channels), and there will be an election for a new Executive Board. Voting for these positions will be by the current Executive Board, Chapter Heads, Regional VPs and Network Chairs, all of whom will represent the broader WDAAP membership. If you are a WDA member and intend being present at the AGM via Zoom, please register here and a link will be sent to you, along with the Agenda.
Dance as practise is offered in degree or diploma courses in some undergraduate and graduate institutions in South Asian countries. In comparison, Dance Studies is not a commonly offered subject at all. Today three young faculty from different institutions in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India discuss the scope, possibilities and challenges the subject faces as funds for arts education lessen all over the world, while the interest to continue dance education beyond practice increases within the performing arts ecology in South Asia.
The session is moderated by Urmimala Sarkar Munsi and promises to present a frank discussion between the three young people who navigate the terrain as faculty/ practitioners/ researchers of performing arts.
Participation is free. Only registered participants will receive the link to the Zoom discussion.
Moderator: Prof. Urmimala Sarkar Munsi Facilitated by: Bilqis Hijjas. Organiser: World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific.
Date: Thursday 27 June Time: 12:00 IST Find your time zone here Platform: Zoom Length of session: 90 minutes max
About the Speakers
Chamanee Darshika is a theatre practitioner, critic, and academic working at the intersections of Acting and Performance Studies. In 2023, she completed her postgraduate studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU (India). She is currently reading for her MPhil degree on “Gendering Nurti and Sinhala Nationalism: The Emergence of Female Actors in the Early Modern Sinhala Theatre” at the University of the Visual and Performing Arts (Sri Lanka). She has also followed Kandyan dance, one of the local dance practices. She is a permanent faculty member in the Faculty of Dance and Drama at UVPA, and teaches Acting and Performance Studies-related courses. She is also a visiting lecturer at the Uva Wellassa University (Sri Lanka) and was a temporary assistant lecturer at the University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka) in Drama and Theatre.
In her practice-based research, Chamanee explores the ways in which the actor’s body can be unlearned, and ways to reconnect with Indigenous practices and rituals in South Asian Cultures. Her research examines the relationship between personal and historical power relations to contextualize the historical construction of the gendered body and its performative elements. She was the curator of Movement Rhizome Atelier, and one of the panelists at the International Conference on Dance Studies, at the University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka).
Zuairiyah Mouli has been pursuing dance for the last 18 years. In 2019, as an ICCR Scholar, she has completed her Masters in Performing Arts (Bharatnatyam) with Distinction from Bangalore University and completed her Diploma with Distinction from West Bengal Dance Group Federation’s Diploma, winning the gold medal. She has performed at prestigious dance venues in India, Bangladesh, Russia, France, USA and has been bestowed with Girnar Ratna and NatyaKalamani titles in 2019 from India. Her choreographed short productions “Endless Journey” and “Ardhanarishwara” were selected for the World Dance Alliance Global Summit 2017 and 2019. She has had the privilege to work in productions under internationally acclaimed choreographers Akram Khan (UK), Donald Byrd (USA), Kathleen Weitz (USA), and Urmimala Sarker (India). Currently, she is working as an Assistant Director (Program Production, Dance) at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. She has also worked as a part time lecturer in the Department of Dance, University of Dhaka and Tagore University of Creative Arts.
Currently an Assistant Professor of Performance at the Department of Arts, Media and Performance, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi-NCR, Amritha Shruthi is a trained dancer-performer closely mentored by dancer Geeta Chandran, and is an empanelled ICCR solo artist and a graded artist by the Doordarshan. Amritha submitted her PhD thesis at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU, wherein she maps the historical effectiveness of performance festivals in India – with specific reference to dance in an attempt to locate alternate approaches to analyse dance history and performance-making. Amritha has extensively worked in K-12 schools across India as an Art Integrated Learning consultant, and closely trains teachers to develop new methodologies to teach and engage with art and concepts in the classroom.
Moderator
Urmimala Sarkar Munsi is the current President of World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific. She is a Professor and Dean of at the School of Arts and Aesthetics in Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. She is a social anthropologist / performance studies scholar and a trained dancer- choreographer, with research in socio-political assertions of identity through cultural practices.
Asia-Pacific Dance Dialogues explore current issues and viewpoints in dance around the region and the world, with invited dancers, choreographers, scholars and other dance practitioners. This monthly online series is hosted by World Dance Alliance chapters from the Asia-Pacific region, and reflects on topics in education and training, research and documentation, creation and presentation, and support and development.
Join us with your questions, share your unique perspectives, and strengthen your professional networks, as together we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for dance in our world.
In 2024, these sessions are free and open to all; registration is required.
Five choreographers recommended by WDA-Asian Pacific will be selected to attend the Young Choreographer Project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. An additional three Taiwanese choreographers will also be selected to join the event. The funding is supported by National Culture and Arts Foundation, Bureau Culture Affairs of Kaohsiung City Government, and the Chin-Lin Foundation for Culture and Arts in Taiwan. The project is located in the city of Kaohsiung, south of Taiwan. The tentative dates for the 2024 event are from July 1st to July 19th, with two performances taking place in the main stage of the theatre in the campus of Tsoying High School from July 20th to 21st. Eight choreographers have been selected for the 2024 International Young Choreographer Project. Congratulations to the following artists: 1. Callum Mooney (Australia, WDA Asia Pacific) 2. Maybelle Lek Shue-Qi (Singapore, WDA Asia Pacific) 3. Ma Sze Nga Alice (Hong Kong, WDA Asia Pacific) 4. Anandita Khan (Bangladesh, WDA Asia Pacific) 5. Mohd Nuriqram Bin Azhar (Malaysia, WDA Asia Pacific) 6. Hsiang-Yu CHAN (Taiwan) 7. Tung-Chun HSU (Taiwan) 8. Yu-Chi CHEN (Taiwan)
The Dancers’ Audition will be held at Tsoying Senior High School on June 30th, and eight choreographers will select dancers for their works. And the rehearsal schedule and the selected list will be announced on that day. During the event, you must take care of your own accommodation, transportation, meals, etc. This event does not pay any fees to the selected dancers, so please think carefully before signing up.
Please fill in the registration form and email to dance30@tyhs.kh.edu.tw , and the email subject should be: 2024 IYCP dancers audition- (your name)
Deadline: June 21st (Friday)
For more information, please contact 2024 IYCP Office: Mrs. Suling Chou: dance@tyhs.kh.edu.tw Project Assistant-Fang-Hua Lee: dance30@tyhs.kh.edu.tw
If you are an educator, scholar, or dancer concerned with the development of Asian dance cultures, this is the topic you are looking for. How have Asian dance cultures undergone transformations in dance higher education? The Asia-Pacific region is rich in dance culture history and resources. What are the implications of these historical legacies for contemporary dance culture and education? As the first state-owned dance school and the only higher education institution focusing specifically on dance in China, Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) will bring their years of experience in performance, academic research, talent training, and international cooperation on Asia-Pacific dance culture.
Zoom Session Time: 13:00-14:30 (1pm to 2:30pm) CST, Thursday 16 May 2024
Register now to join the discussion, and bring
us your questions about dance culture in Asia-Pacific, international dance
collaboration, and talent cultivation for dance higher education in China!
Participation is free. Only registered participants
will receive the link to the Zoom discussion.
Moderated by Lin Wang (Lynn) and organized by
Beijing Dance Academy.
Date: Thursday 16 May Time: 13:00 CST Find your time zone here Platform: Zoom Length of session: 90 minutes max
About the Speakers
Dr.
Xu Rui
is the President and Professor of Beijing Dance Academy, Doctoral Supervisor of
China Academy of Art. He is the Vice Chairman of China Musical Theater
Association, Vice Chairman of Beijing Dancers Association and Beijing Literary
Critics Association. He was selected by the National Ministry of Education for
the “New Century Outstanding Talents” program, and was awarded a full
scholarship by the Asian Cultural Council of America (ACC).
Across the field of
research and arts creation, he is the author of The Aesthetic And Self-Consciousness of Contemporary
Chinese Folk
Dance
Creation,
which is awarded the first prize of the Ninth China Federation of Literature
and Art Criticism. He has created more than ten famous dance dramas and
musicals, which have won the Wenhua Grand Prize, the highest honor for theatre
arts creation in China. He is the founder of the “ArtsCross”, the contemporary
dance creation and research program, which has a significant impact for the international
dance community.
Dr. Zhibo Zhao
is a highly trained dancer-choreographer and practice-based researcher who was
awarded National First-Rank Dance Artist by the Chinese government. She
received her professional training in Chinese Classical Dance at the age of 10
at the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) and later
obtained her BA and MFA degrees at BDA. As a leading dancer with the BDA Dance
Company, she performed Chinese dances in over 40 countries. Among these, she
has been an associate artist of the ArtsCross project, an international
intercultural dance research project, since 2009.
Zhibo moved to London in
2018 to pursue her PhD at Middlesex University, focusing on dance improvisation
in relation to Chinese dance and dancers, and was awarded her doctorate in her
viva with the proud distinction of having no corrections. In the UK dance
sector, she has worked tirelessly to deliver talks and workshops on Chinese
dance and created short and full-length works with her unique cultural
perspective. Not only that, but together with her partner, their short-dance
video account has created the miracle of having over 10 million followers on
social media worldwide.
Qin Yanxi,
Director of International Office of Beijing Dance Academy, member of
International Education Committee of Chinese Society for Educational
Development Strategy, council member of China Education Association for
International Exchange, Secretary-General of the China-CEEC Dance Culture
Union. She studied in the University of Reading and the University of
Westminster in UK as a visiting scholar. She has been engaged in educational
management and international cooperation and exchange in universities for many
years and has rich working experience in higher education administration,
international exchange and international student management.
Moderator
Lin WANG (Lynn) is PhD candidate at the University of Leeds, UK; Taipei Scholar of ArtsCross, an international dance research residency programme; Visiting Scholar at the School of Dance, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; she received her BA and MFA degrees from the Beijing Dance Academy; she published her academic translation in 2019, Body Space Expression:The Development of Rudolf Laban’s Movement and Dance Concepts; and the most recent result of her research is Tutorial for Analysing Dance Movements.
Asia-Pacific Dance Dialogues explore current issues and viewpoints in dance around the region and the world, with invited dancers, choreographers, scholars and other dance practitioners. This monthly online series is hosted by World Dance Alliance chapters from the Asia-Pacific region, and reflects on topics in education and training, research and documentation, creation and presentation, and support and development.
Join
us with your questions, share your unique perspectives, and strengthen your
professional networks, as together we gain a deeper understanding and
appreciation for dance in our world.
In 2024, these sessions are free and open to all; registration is required.
Singapore International Dance Festival invites you to the vibrant and bustling city of Singapore. Organized by World Dance Alliance Singapore, the festival invites all to culminate in the port town to showcase, share and learn from one another. The festival envisions to be an interchange of exchanging ideas, knowledge, viewpoints, artistry and virtuosity through the language of dance. SIDF will be combined with the yearly event of WDA – AP, which includes Key-note speeches, Academic seminars, Workshops, Performances and Lecture demonstrations, by participants from all over the Asia Pacific, concluding with the Annual General Meeting of WDA-AP.
Title : Singapore International Dance Festival Date : 2nd-4th September 2024 Time : 0900-1800hrs Venue : Singapore, City Ballet Academy
Fee : SGD 100 / Students SGD 70 FULL PROGRAM please visit the official website to get further information: https://www.wdasg.com/
Eight choreographers have been selected for the 2024 International Young Choreographer Project. Congratulations to the following artists:
1. Callum Mooney (Australia, WDA Asia Pacific) 2. Maybelle Lek Shue-Qi (Singapore, WDA Asia Pacific) 3. Ma Sze Nga Alice (Hong Kong, WDA Asia Pacific) 4. Anandita Khan (Bangladesh, WDA Asia Pacific) 5. Mohd Nuriqram Bin Azhar (Malaysia, WDA Asia Pacific) 6. Hsiang-Yu CHAN (Taiwan) 7. Tung-Chun HSU (Taiwan) 8. Yu-Chi CHEN (Taiwan)
The total activity will be from June 30 to July 21. Dancers audition is on June 30, and the rehearsal will start immediately after, ending with the performances are on July 20 and July 21. The venue of the rehearsal and the performance are in the studios and the Experimental Theater at the Tsoying High School, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
