The Next Wave 2006 was excellent.
Usually i attend performances/concerts just for entertainment value. I hardly would try to look beyond that and consider the artistic value. But this time it’s different. I am writing on the performance as part of my Dance: East and West module. Thus i was kept in thinking mode throughout the 2.5 hours show.
The first item was refreshing. Imagine techno and contemp moves. Cantoonish. But in terms of dance exploration i would say this is an excellent piece.
Second item was lyrical jazz. It was pretty good i would say. Technical wise.
Zaki’s item was the one that got the energy going. Hip hop that is carefully balanced with modern and classical moves. Tasty Tasteful i mean.
Bryan’s choreography is very him. Jazz. From lyrical to club to classical to boardway. Basically all genre of jazz, except latin jazz which i had attended twice.
Don Wong (not sure if i got the name right, passed my programme to Jess so can’t verify) choreography infused with classical chinese dance and martial art came as a surprise. A real visual treat. There was a lady with long dress dancing high up in the air with rice pouring over her. Depiction of Goddess in chinese mythical i presume. What truly surprised me was the sudden lowering of sash from above to the dancers. It caught me speechless.
Watching this item is an organismic experience by itself.
Zaini’s choreography with ex-NUS dancers (i presume, since the last time i watch one similar item with similar costume it was by a group of ex-NUS dancers) is so him.
Probably one of the best dance performance i have watched this year. Don’t worry i won’t be writing stuff i have written here into my report. Of course i have prepared a more in-depth and detailed account of my experience watching it.
It made me want to dance. Jazz / contemp wise.
