In celebration of enchanting movements that reach to the depths of the soul, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay presents da:ns Festival 2009, which assures unprecedented and phenomenal creations from Oct 23 to Nov 1.

Watch as a Spanish art form meets contemporary style on stage with the opening performance, featuring acclaimed flamenco dancer Maria Pagés and renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, who has won several awards including this year’s KAIROS Prize. Making its world debut in Singapore for the da:ns Festival, the piece is titled Dunas, which in Spanish means “dunes”. The work is inspired by the ever-evolving terrain of sand dunes and is set to original music composition, which will be staged ‘live’ by instrumentalists from Poland, Morocco and Spain, together with a traditional Arabic vocalist. The dance creation will embark on its Europe tour after its premiere at da:ns Festival.

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Photo Courtesy of The Esplanade Co Ltd

One other highlight is Project X by Australia’s RAW Dance Company and Korea’s Last For One. This programme promises a dynamic combination of “funk tap, breakdancing, acrobatics and athleticism that will have audiences jumping in their seats.”

The da:ns Festival 2009 hopes to bring dance to everyone, and, keeping this in mind, the festival’s programme What’s Your Move? provides a range of mass dance activities where anyone can learn some grooves, with genres spanning from Latin to Hip Hop.

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Photo Courtesy of The Esplanade Co Ltd

And dance need not be all about staged performances with complicated gestures and footwork. The festival will endeavour to portray elements of dance in a different form, that is – the visual arts. There’ll be a showcase of creations from local artists displayed around Esplanade during the da:ns Festival. The artworks include Dawn Ang’s Freeze Frame drawings, David Joe Lim’s Celebration of Life 3 and Hafizah Kasim’s 九 9 IX.