Conceiver, Director & Choreographer
Jacek Luminski (Poland) and Victor Ma(Hong Kong)
Technology evolves, desires expand, do our lives become more comfortable, or more hectic?
Will history, culture and traditions diminish with the evolution of developments?
How to reserve cultural traditions alongside developments?
How could modern men find a balancing point facing the dichotomy of civilizations/developments/technology and history/culture/traditions?
The cultural crash between the contemporary dance elites of Hong Kong and Poland for the first time will explore the intricate relations of cultural traditions and modern technology in today’s world.
RE/evolution is an Exchange / Co-creation Project of Y-Space (HK) and Silesian Dance Theatre (Poland). The work will have its world premiere in Hong Kong in May, and will tour to Poland in June and July, in participation of the 17th Annual International Contemporary Dance Conference & Performance Festival.
Additional Workshops (Conducted in English) 01.05.2010 (Sat) / Y-Space Dance Studio
3/F, Flat B, Wah Fung Industrial Centre, Block 1, 33-39 Kwai Fung Crescent, Kwai Chung, N.T., Hong Kong
Polish Contemporary Dance Techniques (2.00 – 3.30pm)
Instructor: Jacek Luminski & Dancer of SDT
Fee: $ 120
To experience polish contemporary dance techniques – an integration of contemporary dance and polish cultural traditions.
Master Choreography Lab (3.30 – 5.00pm)
Instructor: Jacek Luminski (Artistic Director of SDT)
Fee: $ 120
Jacek Luminski will share with you his choreographic experiences, and will guide you to experiment with his choreographic methods.
Talk on the Creation Process of RE/evolution (5.15 – 6.30pm)
Speakers: Jacek Luminski (Artistic Director of Silesian Dance Theatre) Victor Ma (Artistic Director of Y-Space) Free Admission The two creators will share with you the creation process of RE/evolution: from the initiation of ideas to the actualization of the work
Y – SPACE (HONG KONG)
A performing arts group established by Victor Choi Wo Ma and Mandy Ming Yin Yim in March 1995 in Hong Kong. The company aims to explore the various possibilities of the performing arts through dance performances and trying out new languages and directions in their company’s works. Its works incorporate other creative media and are often staged in alternative space. Improvisations, dance theatre, site-specific performance, pure dance, and dance video all belong to their productions. Since its establishment in 1995 Y-Space has been invited to perform in many arts festival, toured cities include: US (New York), Germany (Munich& Dresden), Taiwan (Taipei), China (Guangzhou & Beijing), South Korea (Seoul & Taejon City), Africa (Zimbabwe), Norway (Bergen Cultural City of Europe 2000 October Dance Festival), Demark (Copenhagen ), India (Calcutta), Australia (Melbourne) and Poland (Bytom), etc. In the long run, the company strives to develop its own cultural identity and actively take part in international cultural exchange activities. It also tries to cultivate a greater space for creativity and appreciation in the local community.
The four main directions of Y-Space:
Continue to create more high quality artworks
Initiate cultural exchange in different countries and collaborations between artists
To promote dance and performing arts in the local community
To nurture young dancers, choreographers and dance artists
Theatre Y & Y-Space Dance Studio – A New Dance Space
Theatre Y
In 2003 Y-Space established Theatre Y with a view to the nurture and support of creative and talented artists and also to encourage artists to create new and alternative artworks in the fields of dance, movement theatre and performing arts. Theatre Y is also a space for artist to gather, share, explore, express and for collaboration…! The performance space is flexible and has a maximum audience capacity of 60-80 seats. Theatre Y welcomes anyone who is interested in creating new and alternative artworks and who wants to share their works with the public.
Y-Space Dance Studio
A 3,000 square feet space that includes a 1,650 square feet dance studio equipped with a shock absorbent dance floor, theatre lighting, music and video plays back system. It also has changing rooms, toilets, lockers, an art library and dance video archive room as well as a cozy lounge and a self-service pantry. All these are open to the public.
VICTOR CHOI WO MA (Artistic Director)
Ma began his dance training in 1981. In 1983, he received a scholarship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and began his dance career. After a year in the City Contemporary Dance Company, he went to study dance and theatre at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Upon graduation, he joined the Hong Kong Ballet as a full-time dancer. During the years at the HKAPA, Ma had received the Houseman Scholarship in 1988 and the Jacky Chan Scholarship in 1992-93. In addition to acting, dancing and teaching for schools and arts groups, he has also choreographed for musical productions such as “I Have a Date with Spring” of the Spring Time Production Ltd., “A Dream of a Young Girl” and “Autumn City Story” of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, “Forever Yours” of the Chung Ying Theatre Company and “The Lady in Pink” of the Exploration Theatre. Other movement design and choreography works include “The Silly Little Girl & Funny Old Tree”, “ McBeth”, “Orchards”, “I’m a Good Student but....”, “Mid-night Dance”. In 1995 he established Y-Space (a performing arts group) with Mandy Ming Yin Yim. He then directed, choreographed and designed Y-Space productions such as “None of Your Business”, “Not a Double Room Hong Kong / Taiwan / Munich”, “Unconscious I ～Awakening” and “Unconscious II～In Search of the Forgotten Senses”, etc. In 1996, he received the Asian Cultural Council Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship to do research on dance and theatre in the US. In August 1997, he was invited to perform “Not a Double Room” in Munich at the Cultural Festival of Germany. In March 1998, he collaborated with an installation artist from Japan, Xi-ping Wang, and performed at the P.S.I. Contemporary Art Centre in New York. In the same year he also choreographed and performed “Dream City” and performed in New York and Hong Kong. In 1998, he created the “Dance Improvisation Land” series and performed “Oh! That’s it” with Ralph Lemon in Hong Kong. In December 1998, he was invited by the Guangdong International Experimental Theater Modern Arts Festival to perform “Not a Double Room”. In 1999 he directed, conceived, choreographed and performed “Dance “in” possible!?” for the All Independent Dance Series at HK Arts Centre. In November, he coordinated and choreographed a site-specific dance performance, “Dance Collage Carnival’ 99”, as part of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre 10th Anniversary celebration programme. 2000 he was invited to create a site-specific dance for the Harare International Arts Festival. In the same year he was also invited to create another site-specific dance for the October Dance Festival in Norway Bergen. With the film “The Map of Sex and Love” he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor in 2001.
2002 he was invited to perform “ Dance in Possible III – This is a Dance Performance!?” in the Seoul Fringe Festival. In the same year he received the HKADC-University of Leeds-Chevening Scholarship to do his MA in Performance Studies in UK. In 2003 September he was invited to perform in Copenhagen Demark for the production “24 hours”. In 2004 March he was invited to perform “Invisible Contact” and “Four Corners” in the Interface International Arts Festival in India. The same year in September he was invited to perform “Invisible Contact” again for the BB04 Melbourne Fringe Festival. Ma is now the Artistic Director of Y-SPACE.
SILESIAN DANCE THEATRE (POLAND)
Poland’s first professional contemporary dance company, established in 1991 in the city of Bytom by Director/Choreographer Jacek Łuminski, has developed a new dance form and style based on the rich cultural traditions of Poland. Łumiński’s choreography and movement vocabulary is a split from the traditional and contemporary dance forms which flourish in Poland. It is considered to be incomparable and innovatory wherever abroad the company performs and teaches. The Silesian Dance Theatre has performed and taught throughout Poland and in Germany, Israel, Slovakia, Czech Republic, India, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Finland, Italy, Great Britain, Luxembourg and several times in the USA. In the repertoire of the company have been kept pieces by Jacek Łumiński, Avi Kaiser (Belgium), Anna Sokolow (USA), Terese Freedman (USA), Mark Haim (USA), Risa Jaroslow (USA), Melissa Monteros (USA), Stephanie Skura (USA), Wendell Beavers (USA), Sam Costa (USA), Frank Handeler & Diane Elshout (Holland), Christine Brunel (Germany), Henrietta Horn (Germany), Conrad Drzewiecki (Poland). In November 2001 at Swarthmore College (USA, Pensylvannia) took place the International Dance Symposium Dancing History: Poland and Contemporary Dance Theatre. The symposium focused on the work of Jacek Luminski, both by itself as well as within larger historical, critical, and theoretical contexts. Dance critics participating included many outstanding dance critics from USA, Israel, East and West Europe,and from Poland. During symposium Silesian Dance Theatre performed three choreographies. In 2002 SDT succesfuly performed in New York (The Kitchen) and in Dusseldorf (Global Dance). The year of 2004 SDT begun with the 6 weeks long world tour. „Thoughts That Got Ruffled Much” choreographed by Jacek Luminski has been presented piece on the stages of Calcata (India), Vancouver (Canada) and Los Angeles (USA). During their staying in Vancouver SDT’s dancers have been working on new common artistic project with Kokoro Dance Company’s members and then performed in Germany a few times, in Austria and again in India. In 2005 SDT performed at Vanvouver Dance Festival presenting the premiere of „Here to There” being the result of project realized with the Kokoro Dance Company. In 2005 the Silesian Dance Theatre in co-operation with six European dance schools (Folkwang Hohschule in Germany, CODARTS in Holland, Bruckner University in Austria, Dartington College of the Arts, LIPA, and Bath Spa University in UK) under Luminski’s guidance supported by Leonardo da Vinci EU Program develops the first country’s accredited university dance curriculum. During the season 2006 SDT performed first time within the International Dance Festiwal in Kaliningrad (Russia). In August 2006 SDT will be a guest of Internationale Tanzmesse nrw in Dusseldorf. The Silesian Dance Theatre, since 1991, has organized monthly national and international workshops and seminars open to dancers, choreographers and administrators. Has established the Foundation for Contemporary Dance in Poland which promotes and presents young choreographers of Poland. Has formed the Silesian Dance Theatre Foundation which supports many activities of the SDT organization with educational programs and community outreach programs especially. Opened the New Educational Workshop Series for Dance Teachers and Community Leaders to support Polish dance community and to provide dancers with the necessary tools to build their future in dance. It was established with the intention of developing Dance Department curriculum on university level and to prepare teaching staff for the department. Has facilitated the establishment of the Polish Association for Contemporary Dance. It is the first one of its kind and the first dance association since the last was abolished two hundred years ago. It is designed to create an alliance amongst the dance community in Poland creating an unified voice and giving strength for influencing the direction of dance in Poland. It associates independent artists and dance companies of the country, guests artists, besides working with SDT and the national dance community. sponsors community dance classes The dancers of SDT, as part of the training and dedication to dance teach classes to young dancers as well as the youth of the city. Since 1994 organizes Annual International Contemporary Dance Conference and Performance Festival opened the first in Poland contemporary dance program with original curriculum based on the style and technique of the SDT at the State Ballet School in Bytom. The full program takes four years and it ends with the graduation Diploma officially approved by the Ministry of Culture. The Silesian Dance Theatre and the Swarthmore College (Philadelphia/USA) cooperate within educational and artistic exchange in October 2005 started the project of The New School for Performing Arts – the program is a base for opening the first in Poland higher school for contemporary dance artists.
JACEK ŁUMIŃSKI (Artistic Director)
Jacek Łumiński is the founder, director and choreographer of the Silesian Dance Theatre. He is the graduate in Dance Pedagogy from the Academy of Music in Warsaw. For six years he studied acting and theatre arts at the State Jewish Theatre in Warsaw, taking part in classes organised by acting school, and performing in the productions of such artistic directors as Jacob Rotbaum, Szymon Szurmiej and Juliusz Berger. Apart from this, he also participated in the vernissages organised by the Society of Fine Art Lovers, appeared in the performance Śmierć Dantona (“Danton’s Death”) (directed by Kazimierz Kutz, at the Ateneum Theatre in Warsaw) and in many more. In 1991 Jacek Łumiński founded the Silesian Dance Theatre, the first modern dance company in Poland. It’s primary aim has been to develop and promote the art of dance on a national and international scale. As a managing and artistic director of the Silesian Dance Theatre, he has developed educational and social programmes. In his opinion, lobbying in parliamentary and governmental circles about modern dance, as well as consistently supporting such initiatives as dance workshops, criticism of and writing about dance, and dance management help to spread awareness and knowledge about dance. Moreover, through such actions social respect for the art of dance is being increased. In the year 2005, in cooperation with six European dance schools (Folkwang Hochschule in Germany, CODARTS in Holland, Bruckner Universitat in Austria, Dartington College of the Arts, LIPA i Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom) the Silesian Dance Theatre under the directorship of Jacek Łumiński and thanks to the EU-financed programme – Leonardo da Vinci – has developed a curriculum for the first Polish dance school at university level. This curriculum laid the foundations for Dance Theatre Department at the Ludwik Solski Academy of Theatre in Cracow in 2007. One year later, after obtaining the PhD degree in theatre arts at the Academy in Cracow, Jacek Łumiński became the dean of the newly founded department. His particular interest in the traditional culture of Polish Jews and Polish folklore has been reflected in his research, numerous works and articles. In the first place, however, these subjects have been an inspiration for Łumiński to create a dance technique and a composition method, which he jointly termed as “the Polish dance technique”. Thanks to them, Łumiński has gained a worldwide recognition, which earned him numerous awards, grants and scholarships for the creation of a new style and form of modern dance, including: Ben Sommers Award (the USA/Israel) in 1986, Ballett International Fellowship (Germany) in 1988, United States Information Agency-Visiting Artist (the USA) in 1992, Trust for Mutual Understanding/Suitcase Fund Fellowship (the USA) in 1993 and 1994, ArtsLink Fellowship (the USA) in 1994 and 2002, The Golden Mask Award in 1995 granted by the Voivode of Katowice Province, McKnight Fellowship (USA) in 1995; Pola Nirenska Award (the USA) in 1996, The Pillar Award (Filar) granted by Raport (a monthly magazine) in 2003, The Golden Cross of Merit in 2004, the Golden Badge of Merit for Silesian Province in 2005, The International Theatre Institure Award for the promotion of Polish culture abroad (in 2009). Jacek Łumiński has been conducting dance workshops in Poland and abroad, for instance in the USA, Canada and Israel. His work, techniques and style have been described in such newspapers as The New York Times, Ballett International, Tanz Affiche and Dance Magazine. Since 2000 he has been the Superintendent of the Contemporary Dance Coproduction Fund (the EU-sponsored programme). In 2000 he was also awarded the title of Professor at Swarthmore College in the USA. Since 2004 he has been the PhD student at the Indiana University in Bloomington (the USA), in the Department of Anthropology under the tutorship of Professor Anya Peterson Royce.