DANCE…
Tan How Choon
DOB: 4th September 1970
Associate
Artistic Director
Ecnad Project Ltd
Singapore
General Information
The aesthetic and sport
melded in gymnastics (1983-1989) provided How Choon with an early physical and
mental foundation for his artistic career. Dance classes (1990-1995) in the US
and Singapore with luminaries such as Colleen Darby, Anna Sokolow, Mary
Anthony, Angela Liong and Boon Teo marked him out as a prodigious student.
After moving on from the Nanyang Academy
of Fine Arts (NAFA), he became a full-time dancer with People’s Association
Dance Company.
The excellent reception to ZerO’Clock
(1996), his first choreographic collaboration with LIM Chin Huat, led them to
found Dance Dimension Project, now Ecnad. This partnership has resulted in 30
multidisciplinary productions over nine years. In 1999, the National Arts
Council awarded him the Professional Artist Grant.
How Choon conceptualised
the use of cartoons, live video feed, iconic images and fluid environments with
dance choreography, as seen in
productions Plastic (1998), Water Story (2001) and Missing in Tall Pillars (Singapore Arts
Festival, 2002). In Ego Flamingo
(2004), he showcased his songs, music, dance and video concept under one
cohesive production.
Artistic Identity
More than just a dancer/choreographer, How Choon is an independent individual exploring and discovering new perspectives for his performing arts ideal that incorporates visuals, sounds, voice and movement. He believes in a pragmatic approach of going back to the Roots or Basics, with scrutiny to details that is true to the human experience. This has initiated his research on non-verbal expression and communication which he uses as the basis for his very own styles of organic dance and contact improvisation.
Visually, he prefers simple designs that assimilate well with his creations. For examples, the concept of all plastic set/prop/costume designs in Plastic (1998); the use/coordination of fountain sequences at Bugis Junction in A Wish TO Utopia (1997) and Water Story (2001); and the use of treated acrylic sheets in a video projection concept that allows live performer to move freely around projected images in Ego Flamingo (2004).
Perception on Movement Arts
Despite the confusing variety of ballet, contemporary dance and ethnic dances, How Choon believes that there are simply two broad categories of dance:
(1) Line-based
(2) Expression-based
That is, movement are either design-based or impulse-based. Movement vocabularies and approach may vary from one project to another depending on the overall artistic vision.
Perception on Training
How Choon believes in all-rounded dance training for both body and mind. He has developed an approach to his own form of Contact Improvisation.
He is also developing a system of Body Conditioning for both dancers and gymnasts. A sophisticated sensitivity on the biological and mechanical processes of the body is necessary for maintenance and/or improvement of such a delicate biomechanical instrument.
Classes
How Choon has taught dance classes from foundation (beginners) to advanced (professional) level with Ecnad Project Ltd.
He has also taught Improvisation and Collaboration classes for full-time dance students at the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts.
Artistic
Projects:
Choreographer
|
Year |
Title |
Venue |
|
2006 |
Outdoor &
Jam Finale @ Fireball 2006 |
The Arts House |
|
2005 |
Bond (2004)
[FireBall] |
The Arts House |
|
2004 |
Ego Flamingo |
The Arts House |
|
2004 |
Motion Emotion |
schools |
|
2004 |
In The Name Of
Dance (Process Director) |
Esplanade
Theatre Studio |
|
2003 |
The Language of
Dance |
Schools |
|
2003 |
Ecnad Dance |
Victoria Theatre |
|
2002 |
Missing In Tall
Pillars (Site Specific) |
Singapore Arts
Festival |
|
2002 |
Missing In Tall
Pillars (Version 2) |
Victoria Theatre |
|
2001 |
Tales From The
Giant Blanket |
MITA Atrium
& Festival of Asia (New Zealand) |
|
2001 |
Phylogenesis I –
Water Story (Site Specific) |
Bugis Junction
Fountain |
|
2000 |
Visceral Vim |
Far East Square,
Lot 1 & schools |
|
2000 |
Phylogenesis II
– Tales From The Giant Blanket |
The Lawn,
Chijmes |
|
1999 |
LOOK-SEE @ the
FISH in the FLOWER |
Jubilee Hall |
|
1998 |
Plastic |
Drama Centre |
|
1998 |
Terrestrial Beings
in Spherical Analogy (Site Specific) |
UOB Plaza Atrium |
|
1998 |
Frame Square |
Drama Centre |
|
1997 |
Ontogenesis – A
Wish TO Utopia (Site Specific) |
Bugis Junction
Fountain |
|
1996 |
B-Cycle |
Guinness Theatre |
Dancer
|
2004 |
Ego Flamingo |
The Arts House |
|
2004 |
Motion Emotion |
schools |
|
2003 |
Crazy Naked
World |
Victoria Theatre |
|
2003 |
The Language of
Dance |
schools |
|
2003 |
Ecnad Dance |
Victoria Theatre |
|
2002 |
Missing In Tall
Pillars |
Singapore Arts
Festival |
|
2001 |
Tales From The
Giant Blanket |
MITA Atrium
& Festival of Asia (New Zealand) |
|
2001 |
Floating Mirror |
Victoria Theatre
& 35th Belgrade International Theatre Festival |
|
2001 |
Fantasy
Creatures & Other Things |
Jubilee Hall |
|
2000 |
U |
Jubilee Hall |
|
2000 |
a-the-bird |
The Pavilion,
Far East Square |
|
2000 |
Phylogenesis II
– Tales From The Giant Blanket |
The Lawn,
Chijmes |
|
1999 |
Across Oceans |
Drama Centre |
|
1999 |
LOOK-SEE @ the
FISH in the FLOWER |
Jubilee Hall |
|
1999 |
Four and A Half
Rebels |
Guinness Theatre |
|
1998 |
Plastic |
Drama Centre |
|
1998 |
Terrestrial
Beings in Watercoloured Mirage |
Millenia Walk |
|
1998 |
SOLO |
Jubilee Hall |
|
1998 |
Terrestrial
Beings in Three Wonders |
Millenia Walk |
|
1998 |
Frame Square |
Drama Centre |
|
1997 |
Sheep |
Guinness Theatre |
|
1997 |
Ontogenesis –
Dawning ON the Source |
Suntec City
Fountain |
|
1997 |
Ontogenesis –
GENESIS at Unknown Terrain |
Merlion Walk,
Sentosa |
|
1997 |
The Old Sea |
Drama Centre |
|
1996 |
Ecnad – dance
from the E point |
Substation
Garden |
|
1996 |
B-Cycle |
Guinness Theatre |
Composer
|
2004 |
Ego Flamingo (Full) |
The Arts House |
|
2004 |
Motion Emotion (Part) |
schools |
|
2004 |
In The Name Of
Dance (Full) |
Esplanade
Theatre Studio |
|
2003 |
The Language of
Dance (Part) |
schools |
|
2003 |
Ecnad Dance (Part) |
Victoria Theatre |
|
2001 |
Tales From The
Giant Blanket (Part) |
MITA Atrium
& Festival of Asia (New Zealand) |
|
2001 |
Phylogenesis I –
Water Story (Full) |
Bugis Junction
Fountain |
|
2001 |
Floating Mirror (Part) |
Victoria Theatre
& 35th Belgrade International Theatre Festival |
|
2000 |
Phylogenesis II
– Tales From The Giant Blanket (Part) |
The Lawn,
Chijmes |
|
2000 |
The New Adventures
of Little Prince (Part) |
Drama Centre |