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- Have you met…?
Have you met…?
A digital “blind-date” experience for two dancers to explore the idea of fostering intimacy and cultural connection.
Dates
27 Mar - 7 Apr 2023Location
Metro Arts Studios, West EndHave you met…? will create a digital “blind-date” experience for two dancers to explore the idea of fostering intimacy and cultural connection using both movement and digital methodologies and how it compares to the pace of physical presence.
The work features two dancers of East Asian descent who have been raised Buddhist and living in Australia – Australian-born and raised contemporary dancer, Billy Keohavong (Laos/Australian) and street dancer, Toshiya Maruyama (Japan) who was born and raised in Japan.
‘Have you met…?’ explores the nuance of their perspectives by unpacking their values and cultural knowledge, which they have intrinsically learnt through their upbringing and environment. They will cross-culturally exchange this knowledge with each other through movement.
The work will explore the nuance between the two dancers’ experience as East Asian men who were raised Buddhist, now living in Australia, and how they can connect through sharing with each other their experiences.
The artists
AMY ZHANG - Director
Amy Zhang is a Chinese–Australian movement artist that specialises in performance, movement direction andchoreography. My work spans across live performance, film, tv and digital art.
Her practise is grounded in Chinese ways of knowing and storytelling through experimenting with the intersections of street style foundations and contemporary frameworks. I am currently focused on building intimacy through the cross–cultural exchange of knowledge and movement.
She has worked with various artists and organisations across Australia including Performance Space, AGNSW, The Hayes Theatre, Brisbane Festival, First Draft, Belvoir St Theatre, Supercell Festival, Vitalstatistix, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Critical Path and Diversity Arts. Amy was also an artist in residence at the City of Sydney Live/Work residency in 2019–2020.
WILLIAM (BILLY) KEOHAVONGIS - Collaborator
Born in Australia, William (Billy) Keohavongis a scholarship recipient of both ‘New Zealand School of dance’ in 2015, and ‘Ev & Bow Full–Time Training Centre’ in 2012. His journey into dance started with Street Dance, specifically Dancehall and House. This since has given Billy an extra edge in his career as a specialist in Contemporary Dance.
In 2016, Billy was offered a position with ‘The Human Expression Dance Company’ (Sinagapore) as a full–time Artist. This opportunity brought him all over Asia and Europe, performing and touring extensively within festivals like; Florence Dance Festival (Italy), Zawirowania Dance Festival (Poland), Laiks Dejot Festival (Latvia), Fukuoka Fringe Dance Festival (Japan), Daegu Dance Festival (South Korea), Bangkok International Dance Festival (Thailand) and M1 Contact Dance Festival (Singapore); just to name a few. He has worked with highly acclaimed choreographers such as: Sue Healy, Ross McCormack, Meryl Tankard, Martin del Amo, Tor Colombus, Kuik Swee Boon, Sarah Boulter, Shaun Parker and Natalie Allen.
On top of all this, Billy has a strong passion for teaching and movement research where his philosophy sits between the realms of ‘Eastern practice’ and ‘Character work’. He has worked closely as a teacher and coach with full–time institutes like ‘Brent Street Full–Time’ and ‘Ev & Bow Full–Time Training Centre’. He was one of the core teachers that helped train and nurture the full–time artists within ‘The Human Expression Dance
Company’ (Singapore).
TOSHIYA MARUYAMA - Collaborator
Toshiya Maruyamais a street dancer from Tokyo, Japan. Over his 7 year dance career, Toshiya has worked alongside the leading creators in Japan. However, his passion lies in dance education, supporting the dance community on a ground level and building through community events.
Acknowledgements
Have You Met…? is part of Metro Arts 2023 Creative Development Program.
This work is made possilbe by support from Metro Arts, Critical Path, and funded by Create NSW at The Drill Hall.
