December Dance takes place in Brugge|Bruges, Belgium 4-14 December 2014 on the theme Connecting Asia, exploring contemporary Asian dance scene from Japan, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Korea (14 productions - 10 Belgian premieres). A Round Table Discussion on the Flanders-Asia Connection is organised on 5 December.

December Dance is a collaboration between Concertgebouw Brugge and Cultuurcentrum Brugge. December Dance 14 focuses on the (contemporary) Asian dance scene. Under the title Connecting Asia, we bridge the gap between East and West, contemporary and traditional; slowness and speed, music and silence, spirituality and exuberance … and in so doing, we generate confrontation and dialogue.

DECEMBER DANCE - programme in brief:

The dancers and drummers of Taiwan’s U-Theatre, Japanese Butoh choreographer Ushio Amagatsu and Pichet Klunchun, the great master of Khon, the Thai masked dance form, all rework their country’s dance traditions in an amazingly contemporary way. But we also have Western and Asian choreographers and dancers who have entered into cross-border collaborations. Audience favourite Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui creates a poetic choreography for young Chinese dancer Yabin Wang, Belgian.

German Arco Renz explores the tensions between youth and age, together with senior dancers from the Vietnam National Opera Ballet, and Dutch choreographer duo Leine and Roebana adapt their dance vocabulary to include gamelan music and traditional Indonesian dance. Korean Hyoseung Ye and Taiwanese Shang-Chi Sun, on the other hand, present choreographies that might be seen as purely Western contemporary dance.

The Flanders-Asia Connection: December Dance Round Table Discussion

During this edition of December Dance, Concertgebouw Brugge and VTi will organise a round table discussion for all interested in exchange and partnership with Asia. The goal of the session is not only to share experiences and information, but also to discuss possible actions and initiatives. Artists and companies with experience and/or projects in Asia will be present, as will a number of Asian artists and producers. Tang Fu Kuen and Els Silvrants among others will share their experiences. Tang Fu Kuen is an independent producer, curator and dramaturge for theatre and also visual arts based in Bangkok. Els Silvrants worked for several arts organisations and festivals in Beijing. In 2005, she founded Theatre in Motion, that is now called the Institute for Provocation. Date: Friday 5 December 2014 from 15:00 - 18:00 Venue: Concertgebouw Brugge, 't Zand 34, 8000 Bruges The Round Table is free - register now