Singapore, 14 March 2025 (Friday) — This June, cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival marks a milestone 15th edition with Paths That Bind Us, a festival-long reflection on the relationships, collaborations, and artistic journeys that have shaped its legacy and paves the way for its future. Running from 13–29 June 2025, this landmark edition, presented by The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company, amplifies Singapore’s presence in the international dance landscape and expands accessibility for diverse audiences.

Opening the festival is Dance at Dusk from 13–15 June at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade, continuing its role as an accessible gateway into contemporary dance. This year’s edition features an extended excerpt of As It Fades by Kuik Swee Boon, performed by T.H.E Second Company. Rooted in themes of memory and heritage, the work invites audiences to reflect on the threads that connect past and present. Building on the success of 2023’s presentation, Dance at Dusk will once again incorporate live poetic narration by Access Path Productions, offering a fresh, immersive experience for both visually impaired and sighted audiences. The programme will be emceed and accompanied by Singapore Sign Language (SgSL), reinforcing the festival’s commitment to inclusivity.

A milestone for T.H.E Dance Company—Sloth Canon is the company’s first-ever international co-production, created in collaboration with Vancouver’s acclaimed Company 605. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Anthea Seah—recently appointed as T.H.E’s second resident choreographer alongside Kim Jae Duk—together with Josh Martin, Artistic Co-Director of Company 605, the work marks its Asian premiere at cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival (20–22 June) following its world premiere in Vancouver, Canada (5–7 June), before making a tour stop in Jakarta, Indonesia (28–29 June).

Anthea’s return to T.H.E in a new capacity follows her tenure as Assistant to Artistic Director from 2017 to 2021, before pursuing new ventures in New York, where she also became a mother of two. Now, she brings her distinct choreographic sensibilities into dialogue with Company 605’s collaborative and physically charged movement approach. Together with a creative team from Singapore and Canada, they shape a work that probes the tensions between momentum and collapse, ambition and fragility. Set against the backdrop of an ever-shifting reality, Sloth Canon grapples with the instability of shared imagination, where collective desires strain against the limits of what can be sustained.

“The festival has always been a space for connection and collaboration, and this year’s theme, Paths That Bind Us, encapsulates that spirit,” says Kuik Swee Boon, Artistic Director of T.H.E Dance Company, who is also the Festival Director of cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival. “As we celebrate the 15th edition of cont·act, we also honour Singapore’s 60th year of independence. This year’s festival aspires to embrace the warmth and richness of our diversity as we look forward to new possibilities, and inviting everyone to explore these Paths That Bind Us.”

Open Stage, which runs from 26–28 June, brings together a selection of returning artists whose works have made an impact on the festival’s history. This year, the platform will also welcome festival directors and presenters from Odoru Akita International Dance Festival (Japan), New Dance for Asia International Festival (South Korea), and Contemporary Dance Exchange (CDE) Springboard (Macau), among others, reiterating the festival’s role as a key meeting point in the region. Presented in two triple-bill programmes (Programme A and Programme B) at the Esplanade Annexe Studio and a spotlight performance at the ArtScience Museum, the platform reaffirms its role as a space for artists to revisit and expand on past creations. Programme A features Mothership by Pat Toh (Singapore) and Jenni Large (Australia), a powerful meditation on resilience and adaptation. A time within time, 공존, a duet by Adele Goh (Singapore) and Kwon Hyuk (South Korea), reflects on the fluidity of memory and time. Hung Dance (Taiwan) presents Miss Shape, a solo by Cheng I-han exploring identity through rhythm and stillness. Programme B features Give What Gives You by Chiew Peishan (Singapore), an introspective duet on generosity and reciprocity, performed with former T.H.E Dance Company dance artist, Ng Zu You. Olé Khamchanla (France/Laos) presents Cercle, a poetic reflection on cultural intersectionality. Rounding off the lineup is Together, Yes? by Ross McCormack and New Zealand Dance Company (New Zealand), a sharp duet examining the dynamics between artists and curators.

“Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay has been a longtime partner of cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival, and we are delighted to see the festival reach this milestone,” says Faith Tan, Director of Programming (Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts & International Development), The Esplanade Co Ltd. “Over the years, we have seen the festival evolve, creating meaningful connections between artists and audiences. This year’s programme continues to push the boundaries of contemporary dance, and we are excited to be part of its journey.”

At the ArtScience Museum, our Open Stage—Spotlight Performance presents AeReA by Panzetti/Ticconi (Italy/Germany), an arresting visual work that explores the symbolic power of flags as both markers of division and liberation. Ginerva Panzetti choreographed MALEBRANCHE – Harleking multitude for T.H.E in 2024 which was presented at the 14th edition of cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival.

Beyond performances, the festival offers a rich lineup of 22 classes and workshops, alongside the four-day T.H.E Mid-Year Intensive, all held at T.H.E Dance Company’s studio at Goodman Arts Centre. A cornerstone of the festival, the T.H.E Mid-Year Intensive provides a rare opportunity to immerse in T.H.E’s signature HollowBodyTM methodology, featuring technique classes, guided improvisations, and an exclusive chance to learn excerpts from Kuik Swee Boon’s latest work, re: intertwining. Complementing this, the 22 curated classes and workshops—led by local and international artists including Josh Martin (Company 605), ScRach MarcS, and T.H.E’s own Chang En—offer fresh perspectives across expressive physical theatre, dynamic street dance influences, fluid improvisation, and cross-cultural movement practices. Whether through introductory mind-body explorations or intensive contemporary techniques, the festival’s workshops invite participants to expand their movement horizons, all within the intimate setting of T.H.E’s home studio at Goodman Arts Centre.

With the generous support of donors, cont·act is also offering two fully funded festival scholarships—one each to a recipient from Malaysia and Indonesia—to attend the T.H.E Mid-Year Intensive, selected workshops, and Sloth Canon. The scholarship also covers accommodation and per diems, with travel support provided by festival partners in Malaysia and Indonesia. These scholarships extend the festival’s commitment to supporting dance artists in the region, enabling them to engage with new perspectives in training and movement research alongside festival artists and peers.

Early bird tickets for performances and the T.H.E Mid-Year Intensive have gone on sale from 13 March at contactdancefestival.bigtix.io/en, with a 25% discount on standard ticket prices until 13 April. As part of a company-wide initiative to make contemporary dance more accessible to young audiences, Sloth Canon will offer 20 tickets per show at S$20 for those under 20—ensuring that students and young arts-goers, who may have limited spending power, can experience world-class dance performances. This initiative extends across all local productions featuring T.H.E’s main company this year, ahead of the upcoming SG Culture Pass launch. The festival also introduces an Open Stage Twin Bundle, where audiences can purchase one ticket each for Programme A and Programme B at Esplanade Annexe Studio and enjoy S$10 off (applicable to both standard and concession tickets). The full lineup of classes and workshops will be revealed on 18 March.

For media inquiries, including press invitations to festival performances, artist interviews, or access to behind-the-scenes insights, please reach out to:

Crispian Chan (Mr.)
Communications Strategist
crispian@the-dancecompany.com | M: +65 8161 8464

Athelyna Swee (Ms.)
General Manager | Producer
athelyna@the-dancecompany.com | M: +65 9735 1292

Opportunities to collaborate on preview features and in-depth articles that spotlight the festival’s milestone 15th edition, its international collaborations, and the artistic voices shaping this year’s lineup are most welcome.