Latest news with #T.H.EDanceCompany
Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Dance review: Sloth Canon's playful energy ends on a whimper
gcsloth21 - Sloth Canon is part of The Human Expression Dance Company's cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2025. Credit and copyright: Crispian Chan Sloth Canon T.H.E Dance Company (Singapore) and Company 605 (Canada) Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
05-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
From food to culture: South Korea hosts activities to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties with Singapore
SEOUL: As Singapore and South Korea mark 50 years of diplomatic ties this year, the two countries are looking to upgrade their free trade agreement and widen cooperation in areas such as education, defence and cybersecurity. To celebrate the occasion, a slew of activities – from food to the arts – are also being lined up to bring a slice of Singapore to Seoul. Last month, for instance, South Koreans were treated to a performance by Singapore contemporary dance group T.H.E Dance Company at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The event was put together to deepen cultural understanding between both sides, which established diplomatic ties in August 1975. UPGRADING RELATIONS Singapore's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Eric Teo said the two countries have treaded a similar path without any natural resources, relying only on their people to attain success. 'We not only rank among each other's top 10 trading and investment partners, we also collaborate closely in new and emerging areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence and startups, energy, sustainability and many other areas,' he added. 'We are looking forward to upgrading our relations to a strategic partnership this year, during the 50th anniversary." South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also praised the close bilateral ties, saying he plans to travel to Singapore this year. In February, his Singaporean counterpart, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, visited Seoul and met with Mr Woo. Both sides exchanged views about the common challenges on global developments and ways to boost inter-parliamentary ties. "High-level exchanges are extremely important. In that sense, following the speaker's visit to Korea, my visit to Singapore and the participation of our leaders in APEC, I believe we can achieve not only progress in a single area, but development across many fields,' said Mr Woo, referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to be hosted in South Korea this year. Former South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said he believes the relations between Singapore and South Korea will be further strengthened. "Singapore is a gateway for the Korean government as well as the Korean business circle to Southeast Asian countries,' he added. 'ASEAN is very important for Korea. So I think it's inevitable that Korea and Singapore have to cooperate with each other to strengthen our participation in Southeast Asian countries." LOVE FOR FOOD Also last month, the Singapore Embassy in Seoul hosted a food carnival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. Ambassadors and current and former lawmakers attended the event to sample 50 Singaporean dishes including chilli crab, laksa and kaya toast. Ambassador Teo said Singaporeans and Koreans share a love for food, 'with cuisine woven into the fabric of our daily life'. More Singaporeans have also set up food and beverage businesses in South Korea. Singaporean Joel Lim started his restaurant in the South Korean capital about five years ago, naming it One Degree North, after Singapore's geographic coordinates. Business was tough in the early days, when Mr Lim first moved there in 2019 after marrying a South Korean. One Degree North started out as a delivery-only Asian roast joint during the COVID-19 pandemic. These days, the eatery fills up fast at peak hours with patrons hungry for a taste of Singapore's hawker food like chicken rice. The restaurant owner told CNA he takes pride in having introduced Singaporean cuisine to South Koreans. 'Especially during COVID when we started, I felt like we kind of bridged the gap and allowed Koreans to have a little mini-vacation (by) coming here to try the food,' he added.
Korea Herald
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Singapore's leading dance company blurs borders, boundaries with ‘Infinitely Closer' in Seoul
Singapore, South Korea celebrate 50 years of ties through contemporary dance As Singapore and South Korea mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the Singapore Embassy in Seoul, in collaboration with Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Arts Council has turned to the arts to underscore the two countries' enduring ties. On April 24, Singapore's leading contemporary dance company, T.H.E Dance Company, will bring its groundbreaking production 'Infinitely Closer' to Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, offering an immersive experience that blurs the lines between performer and audience. Unlike traditional performances, "Infinitely Closer" places the audience on stage. Within this immersive setting, movement, light, multimedia and sound merge into an ever-shifting landscape where athletic, intricate choreography interacts with ephemeral holographic projections and immersive three-dimensional soundscapes. 'At its core, 'Infinitely Closer' is an exploration of freedom -- what it means to be truly unbound, and whether such a state exists at all,' said director and choreographer Kuik Swee Boon, the founding artistic director of T.H.E Dance Company. 'In a world where our choices are shaped by invisible structures -- societal, digital, even algorithmic -- we find ourselves constantly negotiating between the illusion of agency and the forces that guide us. We invite audiences to step into this in-between space, to experience a moment of stillness within the currents of contemporary life.' The work also features a cast of international creatives, including South Korean costume designer Choi In-sook, Malaysian sound artist Kent Lee, lighting designer Adrian Tan from Singapore and projection artists SEESAW, based in Macao and Hong Kong. Kuik has played a pivotal role in the company's longstanding ties with Korea, having talent-spotted and invited Kim Jae-duk to be the company's first resident choreographer in 2010. Kim is a contemporary dancer who heads the Seoul-based Modern Table Dance Company. 'T.H.E Dance Company has had the privilege of cultivating deep artistic relationships with the ROK over the past decade, through collaborations, residencies and festivals,' said Kuik. 'It is an honor to mark this diplomatic milestone with a performance that underscores how the arts create space for dialogue, resonance and shared humanity beyond borders.' Officials echo the sentiment. '(This performance) speaks volumes of the people-to-people links that we have, which we will continue to nurture and strengthen through cultural cooperation with our partners in Korea,' said National Arts Council Chief Executive Officer Low Eng Teong. Singapore Ambassador to Korea Eric Teo expressed his hope that the performance would 'deepen cultural understanding between our two countries and our peoples.'
