M1 Contact 2014: A contemporary dance fest that continues to grow

SINGAPORE — When THE Dance Company decided to kick-start a new contemporary dance festival called Contact in 2010, there were a few raised eyebrows regarding its viability. “Five years ago, people thought contemporary dance was too niche,” said artistic director Kuik Swee Boon.

But the festival continues to grow — this year’s edition is the biggest so far and telco company M1 has even come on board as a title sponsor.

Running from Nov 27 to Dec 13, the newly branded M1 Contact contemporary dance festival will comprise seven productions, a forum, a host of classes and workshops, as well as feature 90 performers from Singapore and overseas.

It kicks off with this edition’s DiverCity showcase, featuring a new collaboration among four female dancers: THE’s Yarra Ileto and former member Jessica Christina, Maya Dance Theatre’s Sheriden Newman and former Arts Fission member Wang Wei Wei. All four are non-Singaporeans who have been based in Singapore for a long time. Kuik was intrigued by the idea and the work that is set to come out of the collaboration, noting that they were the “best dancers I’ve seen from their respective companies”. It’s a change from previous DiverCity showcases, which featured Singapore dance groups. This time around, the focus is on the artistes.

The festival will close with a showcase of four international pedigreed choreographers: Spain-based Israeli Sharon Fridman, Japan’s Shintaro Oue and Miwa Okuno, as well as Taiwan’s Tung I-Fen.

Elsewhere, South-east Asian choreographers will also be showcasing their works, including Malaysia’s Suhaili Micheline, the Philippines’ Mia Cabalfin and Rhosam Prudenciado Jr, as well as Thailand’s Aditep Buanoi, the latter two countries being represented in M1 Contact’s main programme for the first time.

THE won’t be sitting back — the group will be debuting a new work on “organised chaos” from Kuik and resident choreographer Kim Jae Duk, their second after the critically acclaimed Re:OK ... But!. Its Second Company will also be performing works created after members’ respective residencies in Korea, Malaysia and Japan. The works from the two THE companies, along with selected pieces from international artistes, will travel to Kuala Lumpur’s d’MOTION International Dance Festival after M1 Contact.

Other events include a “dance exchange” showcase by talents from LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy Of Fine Arts and School Of The Arts, along with counterparts from the Hong Kong Academy Of Fine Arts and Queensland University Of Technology.

This year’s M1 Open Stage event — the festival’s version of an open mic — will feature an added incentive for Singapore-based participants: The chance to be selected for Spain’s MASDANZA International Contemporary Dance Festival.

M1 Contact 2014 is from Nov 27 to Dec 13. Tickets go on sale from Sept 15 at SISTIC. For details, visit http://www.the-contact.org