Author: Jeff Hsieh

SWEAT Hong Kong International Dance Festival | Virtual

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized

Organized by the School of Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, held between 17 and 25 June 2022, SWEAT is specially curated for the international dance community to meet, innovate, research, share and dance. This year, leading dance academies, artists, scholars and other practitioners will “arrive” in Hong Kong to reconnect and explore new frontiers of dance and beyond.

Come meet creative residents at ArtsCross Hong Kong 2022 to explore dance & technology “in the clouds”; celebrate the re-connection of dance academies and talented students at the first Digital International Festival for Dance Academies (IFDA) with screenings and interactive student forums and selected commissioned dance films. Presented by the World Dance Alliance and co-presented with the Hong Kong Dance Alliance (HKDA), the World Dance Alliance (WDA) Global Summit aims to promote dance and wellness in response to the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the wellbeing of dance practitioners worldwide, with the theme Dance Offer/On New Energy. The sensational four-day virtual conference features a series of riveting and inspiring paper presentations, Pecha Kucha presentations, dance film screenings and more.

Watch the Festival Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCoJfm7nE2Y

Learn more: https://sweat-festival.hkapa.edu

Members of WDA can enjoy exclusive discounts, get your pass now at https://sweat-festival.hkapa.edu/ereg/newreg.php?eventid=100194209&

For more information, contact info@sweat-festival.com

2022 International Young Choreographer Project has been cancelled.

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized

2022 International Young Choreographer Project has been cancelled.

Because of the spreading of COVID-19 in Taiwan, we are sorry to announce that the 2022 International Young Choreographer Project has to be cancelled. Hopefully, the project can be held in 2023.

If you still need furthur information, please contact the Project Office at Tso’s Dance Association
Chief of Secretary/Ms. Su-ling Chou
55, Hai-gong Rd., Tsoying, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
Email: dance30@tyhs.kh.edu.tw

WDA Statement of Support

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized

Dear Friends, Practitioners, Scholars, Advocates, and Supporters of Dance World Wide,

This is a message of hope and aspiration.

As the world reels under the Covid-19 pandemic, we are all confronted with having to adapt to new-normal amidst great challenges to our dance community. Natural disasters such as the Amphan cyclone in South Asia, the bushfires in Brazil and Australia, the global Covid-19 pandemic continue to pose great uncertainties, destroying precious lives and livelihood, causing our robust economies to form into trickles, affecting the arts industry to reach an unprecedented low point.

Nonetheless, our resilience in responding to such calamities has been exceptional, as we engage our dance communities to adapt to the ever-changing landscapes. Our myriad backgrounds and culturally diverse communities have been our greatest reservoir of talent pools for our creative endeavors, time tested and fastidiously honored.

As an independent, non-profit, non-political organization that promotes the recognition, development and mutual understanding of all forms of dance, WDA stands as a united community against all forms of racial inequality, ethnic hegemony and cultural superiority. Dance is Life and lives lived in inequality matter.

Professor Mohd Anis Md Nor, PhD

Secretary General

World Dance Alliance

Father: Vision of the Floating World

Jeff Hsieh International Dance Day

One of a series of film clips in celebration of International Dance Day 2020:

Both of Akram Khan’s parents were born and raised in Bangladesh. He grew up hearing stories of the Bangladesh Liberation War from his family, including his uncle who was a freedom fighter. His mother was studying at prestigious Dhaka University when she went to hear ‘Bongobondhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Ramna Race Course on 7 March 1971, calling out to his people to liberate Bangladesh. It was so crowded, she had to step on a rickshaw to try and catch a glimpse of him! Even today she can remember how his words moved her.

For this work, Akram draws on his childhood stories and his families’ sense of national pride to present to Bangladesh the essence of Bongobondhu’s spirit. Using Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s powerful speech as inspiration, Akram invited composer Vincenzo Lamagna to create the score in this new piece. Akram created an 8-min piece titled Father: Vision of the Floating World that featured as part of the 100-year anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Sheik Mujibur Rahman, on Tuesday 17 March 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The work was performed by three Akram Khan Company dancers who spent four weeks in a rehearsal residency in the heart of the country teaching the movement to 25 dancers from Dhaka.

 

Artistic Director and Choreographer Akram Khan
Creative Associate Mavin Khoo

Composer Vincenzo Lamagna, devised in collaboration with vocalist Sohini Alam
Lighting Designer Ric Mountjoy
Costume Designer Marie Cantenys
Collaborator to Costume Designer Margaux Lalanne

Rehearsal Director Yen-Ching Lin
Lead Dance Artist Lani Yamanaka
Dance Artist Elpida Skourou
Dance Artist Raziman Sarbini
Dancers Abu Nayeem, Alka Das Pranti, Amit Chowdhury, Ana Akter, Anandita Khan, Ariful islam, Farzana Yeasmin, Fifa Chakma, Aviroop Hridoy Sharma, Imran Ishtiaque, Maria Farih Upama, MD Hanif, Mehraj Haque Tushar, Mohana Meem, Zuairiyah Mouli, Parsa Evana, Prantik Deb, Samina Prema, Shammy Akhter, SI Evan, SI Shafiq, Sohan Arefin, Sudeshna Swayamprabha Tathoi and Sweety Das, Umma Habiba.

Head of Legacy & Project Manager Christine Maupetit
Project Consultant Eeshita Azad

DHAKA team

Costume Correspondent Faiza Ahmed
Blues Communications – Event Company
Farhadul Islam – CEO Blues Communications
Protik Chowdhury – Project Manager/Technical point of contact
Antu Tomnoy – Artist liaison coordinator

Video by Applebox Films

World Dance Day 2020 Video by Lok Chhanda

Jeff Hsieh International Dance Day

One of a series of film clips in celebration of International Dance Day 2020:

This World Dance Day, Lok Chhanda in Delhi, India, has made this video compilation dedicated to the frontline workers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
We are extremely grateful to all the gurus, choreographers & dancers for their support and encouragement.

Concept – Maitreyee Pahari
With the blessings & guidance of Pt. Birju Maharaj
Music – Vanraj Bhatia (opening sholka)
Video Editing – Pradeep Kumar
Audio Editing – Ankur Kapoor
Music Label – Living Media India Limited

2020 WDAAP/TDRS Conference and AGM

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized, WDAAP AGM Event

2020 WDA Flyer

26-27 December 2020, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

“Navigating Location, Negotiating Identity”

2020 WDA FlyerThe conference is confirmed to be held in Taiwanfrom December 26 to 27 this year. Since no travel is allowed during the pandemic time, the conference ishonoring all selected presenters from abroad utilizing the video presentations as well as with the local presenters on site in Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan. There will be around 200 participants from Taiwan, while 19 paper presenters will be placed side by side with the local scholars in the same panel. In addition, eight selected dances will be displayed in the Showcase Film Program with the pre-recorded film video from India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States. Continue reading →

2019 International Young Choreographer Project Announcement

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized

2019 International Young Choreographer Project Announcement

Eight choreographers have been selected for the 2019 International Young Choreographer Project. Congratulations to the following artists:

1. Emma Fishwick (Australia, WDA Asia Pacific)
2. Lau Beh Chin (Malaysia, WDA Asia Pacific)
3. Visaka Saeui (Thailand, WDA Asia Pacific)
4. J’Sun Howard (USA, WDA Americas)
5. Nikita Korotkiov (Slovak, WDA Europe)
6. Chun-Yu Lin (Taiwan)
7. Yung-Chen Yeh (Taiwan)
8. Pei-Shan Hsieh (Taiwan)

The total activity will be from June 30th to July 21st. Dancers audition is on June 30th, and the rehearsal will start immediately after, ending with the performances are on July 20th and July 21st. The venue of the rehearsal and the performance are in the studios and the Experimental Theater at the Tsoying High School, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

For more information, please contact 2019 IYCP Project Office: dance30@email.tyhs.edu.tw or dance@email.tyhs.edu.tw

Download the announcement of mandarin version

2019 International Young Choreographer Project

Jeff Hsieh IYCP

Choreographic Opportunity in Taiwan

Working with eight choreographers in July 2019 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Three to four choreographers recommended by WDA–Asian Pacific, one choreographer recommended by WDA-America, and one from Europe will be selected to attend the Young Choreographer Project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. An additional three to four 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, in southern Taiwan. The tentative dates for the 2019 event are from July 1st to July 19th, with two performances taking place on the main stage of the theatre in the campus of Tsoying High School from July 20th to 21st.

Choreographers will be selected from lists of names recommended by WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) country delegates. The deadline for the recommendation from each country delegate is January 30 with all documents required sent to Taiwan. Once selected, housing, local transportation, dancers, studios, publicity, production and office assistance will be offered. An honorarium will also be provided: US$ 800 for choreographers from Asian Pacific area and US$ 1200 for choreographers from America and Europe. Participants are responsible for airfare and local transportation between the airport and the stie.

The selected choreographers will set their dance on dancers who will be selected in Taiwan. It is recommended that only young choreographers who feel they can meet the challenges of producing a work under unfamiliar circumstances (and with unfamiliar dancers) should apply. The panel in each country and in Taiwan will also be making their selections based on the choreographer’s potential to become a significant contributor to the field in the future.

Each WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) office will facilitate the selection process in its own country. The selection panel will be WDA network chair(s). Expressions of interest should address the following points:

  1. What you would gain from a professional experience such as this
  2. Why you would like to work in Asia
  3. A brief concept of your work
  4. A 200-word autobiography and a resume/CV

If you are short listed, you will be required to submit WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) a link to an online video (YouTube or Vimeo) of a work sample of your recent choreography, either with a single dance piece or several excerpts (less than 20 minutes). You may also be invited to send up to three photos of your work, which is not compulsory, but will give WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) selection board more ideas about your choreography.

Expressions of interest should EMAILED to the WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) office of each country by January 10th.

Choreographers list who are recommended by the WDA (Asian Pacific, America and Europe) will be sent to Taiwan Office by January 30th. The result of the final selection will be announced by February 24th, 2019 on the WDA-AP website at http://www.wda-ap.org and also through a letter from the office in Taiwan.  Download Registration Form

中文版報名表 ｜ 中文版公告

For information about the International Young Choreography Project, please visit http://www.wda-ap.org or contact the Project Office at Tsoying High School (email:dance30@email.tyhs.edu.tw).
Mailing address:
Director/Ms. Su-ling Chou
Dance Division of Tsoying High School
55, Hai-gong Rd., Tsoying, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan

Call for short films for Trans(m)it: Movement in Film.

Jeff Hsieh Uncategorized

Want a shot at having your short films to be shown at a film festival on October 25th in London? Apply now! Our deadline for submissions is AUGUST 25th.

Project Trans(m)it is now accepting submissions for “Trans(m)it: Movement in Film.” Film submissions under 15 minutes are welcome, specifically works exploring the human body and/or movement in short films. All film styles – documentary, short story, animation, etc – will be considered, with an open mind of what “movement” espouses.

Link to submit: https://filmfreeway.com/festival/transmit