Join five young choreographers who participated in this year’s International Young Choreographer Project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as they reflect on their experience and its vital necessity in today’s world.
Featuring: Featuring Yuchi Chen (Taiwan), Maybelle Lek (Singapore), Alice Ma (Hong Kong), Tung-chun Hsu (Taiwan) & Mohd Nuriqram (Malaysia).
Moderated by I-Fen Tung.
Organiser: World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific.
Date: Friday 20 September
Time: 13:30 TPE (UTC +8)
Find your local time zone here
Platform: Zoom
Length of session: 90 minutes max
Register for the Zoom session here: https://forms.gle/jWuZym7w43MToaGS8
Participation is free. Only registered participants will receive the link to the Zoom discussion.
About the Session
Dance is indeed a profound physical experience that cannot be fully captured through a screen. The International Young Choreographer Project (IYCP) being able to gather again is incredibly exciting. The opportunity for dancers to interact face-to-face, share ideas, and experience the atmosphere of the event is invaluable. The isolation and restrictions during the pandemic have made us cherish such opportunities even more. This gathering inspired countless new ideas and innovative dance works!
IYCP comes to its 25th year, it’s a remarkable milestone. Its longevity demonstrates its significant impact and solid presence in the dance world. Over 25 years, it has witnessed the growth of countless dancers and the evolution of dance, potentially driving many innovative choreographies and performances. Such an event not only provides a platform for young choreographers to showcase their talents but also fosters global dance community exchange and collaboration. Each era finds its inspirational dialogue through such activities, and for young choreographers, this experience undoubtedly lays a solid foundation for the future development of dance.
We invite five young choreographers from IYCP this year to share their insights and experiences firsthand. Perhaps, after nearly two months since July, there is a more profound and extended reflection on everything that has occurred.
About the International Young Choreographer Project
Since 1999, Asian Young Choreographer Project (named as International Young Choreographer Project/IYCP after 2009) has attracted more than 60 young choreographers from around the world. More than 300 dancers have been gathered in Taiwan, and around 70 dances have been created. Originally based in Taipei, for the better development of modern dance in southern Taiwan, the project has moved to Kaohsiung since 2005.
Established by Man-Fei Lo and later managed by Ra-Jung Liang, IYCP is currently led by Yunyu Wang and Su-Ling Chou, with the support from private as well as government organizations such as National Culture and Arts Foundation, Chin-Lin Foundation for Arts and Culture, Bureau of Cultural Affairs of Kaohsiung City Government, Tsoying Senior High School, and Tso’s Dance Association.
This year, five choreographers from Australia (WDA Asia Pacific), Malaysia (WDA Asia Pacific), Hong Kong (WDA Asia Pacific), Singapore (WDA Asia Pacific) and Bangladesh (WDA Asia Pacific), and three from Taiwan were selected. Tso’s Dance Association will continue to promote IYCP in bringing the dance in Taiwan to the international stage.
About the Panel
Moderator
I-Fen Tung (Networks Co-Chair of Creation and Presentation, WDAAP)
Tung I-Fen is a choreographer, performer, educator and curator. Tung works in various contexts, including dance, theater, film, contemporary music and technical art, among others, while laying her artistic practices in the agency and intersections of humanity, society and nature.
Tung has been an artist-in-residence at Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, Colorado College and George Washington University in the USA. From 2020, Tung started to curate the program and host several projects such as Dance Park platform for freelance dancers, Unboxing: Live Art Arena for freelance artists, performing art program for Nuit Blanche. Since 2006, her works have been presented in London and Paris, as well as in Spain, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India. Tung also participated in several interdisciplinary productions, such as Dear John which won the performing award of 12th Taishin Arts Award. She is currently a full-time lecturer at the University of Taipei.
Speakers
YuChi Chen
Yuchi Chen, born in Changhua City, Studied at National Taipei University of the Arts. He is currently a freelance artist. From 2019 to 2024, he was performing with MIR dance company under direction of Giuseppe Spota in Gelsenkirchen Theater in Germany, He has worked with choreographers such as Marcos Morau, Felix Landerer, Anat Oz and Fernando Melo and many others. His choreographic work, “The Piece on your Seat,” was selected for the dance film screening at the 2022 SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Festival.
*photo credit: 瑪加多里歐斯·伊莎貝爾 Machado Rios Isabel
Maybelle Lek
Maybelle Lek (b. 1996) is a Singaporean dance artist based in Spain, specializing in performance, choreography, and education. After earning her Master’s Degree from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance (UK), Maybelle performed with T.H.E. Second Company and Nagi Contemporary Dance Corps, where she has made significant influences in the Singapore dance scene. Maybelle’s work embraces the transformative power of imagination, creative risk-taking, and the continuous exploration of physical and emotional modalities. Her choreographic practice is dedicated to crafting inclusive, safe spaces that encourage both personal and collective expression. Recognizing dance as a profound medium for connection, empowerment, and transformation, Maybelle’s works—such as [02:10], Still/Moving, and When Five Encounter — have graced stages across the UK, Europe, and Asia. Her choreography is celebrated for its accessibility and emotional depth, resonating with diverse audiences. Her latest work, The Slowness of Being, was featured at the 2024 International Youth Choreographer’s Project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. www.maybellelek.org
Alice Ma
Graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honors) degree, majoring in Contemporary Dance and Choreography. Actively performs on stage and explores various mediums to showcase dance, collaborating with artists from different disciplines as well as art institutions and groups. Her recent works include City Contemporary Dance Company’s “I Don’t Mean It” (2021), Hong Kong Arts Festival’s “Ding Ding Ding Ding” (2021), and E-Side Dance Company’s “Leg” (2023).
Ma has received the “Tom Brown Emerging Choreographer” at the Hong Kong Dance Awards in 2020. She was also honored with the “The Award for Young Artist” by the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards the following year. Additionally, she has been nominated twice for the “Outstanding Choreography” award at the Hong Kong Dance Awards, for “Over-master” (2020) and “Night Run” (2023).
She has frequently participated in the “Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Platform” of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, with two of her works, “Wu” (2018) and “Over-master” (2019), “Wu” was presented at the Seoul New Dance for Asia International Dance Festival in Korea and received a 5-star review at the Edinburgh International Festival 2023. “Over-master” was invited to perform in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Macau. She is also a part-time instructor at the City Contemporary Dance Company’s Dance Centre and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She founded AMPM Movement Theatre in 2023. www.alice-ma.com
Tung-chun Hsu
Tung-chun Hsu, a Kaohsiung native, is currently studying for a master’s degree in the Department of Dance at Taipei National University of the Arts. He majors in Cross-Disciplinary Corporeal Theories and Practice. He is a choreographer, dancer, and dance critic. He started professional dance training in high school, focusing on contemporary dance and exploring the interplay of text, body, and practice beyond traditional constraints.
Mohd Nuriqram
Mohd Nuriqram is a graduate with a Bachelor degree in Dance from the ASWARA. He majored in choreography (2020). He has represented Malaysia under the Faculty of Dance at the ASEAN-CHINA Joint Cultural Performance held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and at Dance Festivals in Indonesia. He has created several choreographic works showcased in Gelombang Baru, Dancebox, Short and Sweet, Dancing Alone, Kontra, and Dancing Duo. He was awarded the Best Newcomer Award at the Short+Sweet Festival 2018 for his piece entitled “BODOH (Stupid)”. He has won various solo talent competitions, including 1st place in MSU Got Talent, 2nd place in All Talent Kuala Lumpur, and 4th place in Artistreet Dance.
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.