From red light to new light

IN THE SHORT history of Esplanade: Theatres on the Bay’s da:ns festival, it has not only co-commissioned new works with other major dance venues and festivals around the world, but also invited artists, local and regional, to be part of its in-residence programme and create new works too. Pichet Klunchun Dance Company’s “Black and White”, for example, was born out of this initiative.
This year, the festival has pushed the envelope further with “Alpha”, hosting Belgium-based German choreographer Arco Re, Filipino dancer Eisai Jocson and her Singaporean male counterpart Daniel Kok – both pole dance champions – in addition to Japanese lighting designer Takayuki “Kinsei” Fujimoto and Belgian sound designer Marc Appart. This match was initiated by Bangkok-based Singaporean dramaturgy Tang Fu Ken.
In last week’s performance of “Alpha”, the audience was probably surprised at the long wait before Jocson actually started working with the pole. Instead she remained downstage and with the shiny metal pole dominating the background, the audience got to know and to understand her, first as a person, then as a dancer, before the red-light atmosphere set us to thinking about the roles and meanings of pole dance in the contemporary world.
After a sudden blackout, Kok appeared on stage/ Jocson, who continued her pole dance unperturbed, wore a minimal costume that helped blur the line between sexual identities, allowing our interrogation of the pole dance to continue. Intriguingly, Jocson and Kok shared the pole for just a short time. Despite the questions raised in the mind of the beholders, “Alpha” rarely gave out simple answers. Its poignancy suggested that contemporary dance has warmly, and deservedly, welcomed pole dance into its vast repertory, the way it did hip-hop years ago.
With the freshly innovative visuals and soundscape, Kinsei and Appart proved that they’re both technical wizards yet without showing off. The two dancers and their physical movements remained the core of the performance, with Kinsei and Appart’s visual and aural touches supporting and adding to the atmosphere and meaning. A memorable example was Kinsei’s placing of LED lamps both on the floor and on the circular rigging above Kok’s stationary body midway up the pole, making it look as if he were in fact swinging around.
While the work could have lost 10 minutes of its 75-minute running time without losing any of the emotional and intellectual effects, “Alpha” is a highly promising new work in contemporary dance that is about to set off on a journey to many dance festivals and venues. And once again, da:ns festival’s “Shift” series has kept its promise to shifting our notions of dance.
Like many works in the wide world of contemporary arts, it’s not for everyone but it is essential viewing for anyone ready to open his or her mind to something new.
The writer wishes to thank the Esplanade’s Gina Koh for all assistance.
 FROM SINGAPORE
TO SWITZERLAND
- The da:ns festival continues until Sunday at Esplanade:Theatres on the Bay with the international premiere of Maria Pages Compagnia’s “I, Carmen” tomorrow and Saturday.
- Waewdao Sirisook and Nor Silp’s “Puja: Lanna Dances of Northern Thailand” will present “Fauwn Leb” and “Fauwn Nok Kingkala” at the Esplanade Concourse. For details, see www.DansFestival.com.
- “Alpha” will be part of Tanz in Bern festival in Switzerland on October 23 and 24. In January, it will be at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts. For more details, www.KobaltWorks.be.