Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras gives the Spanish dance form a sleek, contemporary shine: all the passion and sinewy flair without the polka dots and ruffles. Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève offers a manic retelling of the 19th-century comic ballet Coppélia: all the kitsch and comedy without the classical manners. This month, both these companies will make their Singapore debut at da:ns festival 2008, the Esplanade’s third edition of the annual all-dance event. Their full-evening productions make up half of the core programme, which also includes a double bill by Nederlands Dans Theater I and a Russian ballet gala led by Bolshoi stars Marianna Ryzhkina and Dmitry Belogolovtsev.

Quality, variety and relevance to local audiences are vital in shaping the festival’s roster, says programming officer Faith Tan. Another concern, she adds, is ‘the development of local and regional artists’ via opportunities to make and stage new works, as seen in an original commission and a world premiere among the line-up of edgier acts. One such local artist is Albert Tiong, whose chess-themed Checkmate was created for the festival. Seen:Silent, which pairs classical Cambodian dancer Hun Pen with January Low, a Malaysian-Chinese performer trained in the eastern Indian art of odissi, will debut at da:ns, too.


Sara Baras

Another highlight is Singapore Dance Theatre’s ReDoubled, a twopart contemporary showcase by former member Kuik Swee Boon and resident choreographer Jeffrey Tan as part of the group’s 20th-anniversary celebration. This time, the Esplanade’s refurbished outdoor theatre will host free showings of traditional Cambodian and Balinese dance based on the ancient Hindu epic, the Ramayana. There will also be workshops exploring creative movement between parents and their children, masterclasses with Ballet Flamenco and Ballet du Grand Théâtre, and mass dances.

‘The festival invites everyone to discover the many facets of dance as both viewer and participant,’ says Tan. ‘Ultimately, we want it to inspire Singaporeans to start dancing and watching dance.’ 

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