Arts and Culture

The 1st Asia-Europe Dance Forum, entitled ‘Cultures Shaping Bodies: Bodies Moving Cultures,’ was held from 9th-11th January 2002 in Singapore and co-organised with the Goethe Institut Singapore. It was also supported by Alliance Francaise, Singapore and British Council, Singapore.

78 participants from 21 ASEM countries – dancers, choreographers, festival organisers, dance critics – took part in this event. The forum consisted of a series of related panels of discussions, workshops and performances. Four keynote speeches were delivered by speakers from Asia and Europe, as the basis for discussion between dance professionals. The topics were as follows:

i. Dance & Globalisation: Crossing Cultures
ii. Dance & Cultural Identity: Tradition & Modernity
iii. Contemporary Dance in Asia: Body & Trend
iv. Contemporary Dance in Europe: History & Body

The four sessions offered the participants the opportunity to work together and to gain a better understanding about their choreographic and technical ideas. Four choreographers were in charge of guiding the workshops:

i. Miki Sato (Japan)
ii. Tim Feldmann (Denmark)
iii. Astrid Endruweit (Germany)
iv. Davit D (Indonesia)

Finally, three evening performances featured solo works by young European and Asian dancers. These various contemporary dance performances contributed to promote further discussions and exchange during the seminars and workshops.

To conclude the programme, a roundtable was held in ASEF. The participants’ comments and suggestions highlighted the needs of dance professionals to promote a better cooperation between Asia and Europe.