T.h.e Dance Company: Phenoumenon

Additional Information

T.H.E. Dance Company
The Human Expression Dance Company (T.H.E) was founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Kuik Swee Boon. Rooted firmly in Singapore yet universal in its perspective, T.H.E’s contemporary dance works reveal the body as a medium for exploring and celebrating the human condition.

Dance artists at T.H.E are immersed in the Company’s signature methodology, HollowBody, which guides them to access their deeper instincts and impulses through movement. The Company’s movement vocabulary is distinct in its intensely personal aesthetics, yet thrilling in its diversity. Driven by a sincere desire to uncover the intricate, complex and oft-times overlooked dimensions of human existence, the Company’s incisive observations on the human condition and its original creations are an essential mirror to the issues and rhythms of contemporary life.

As one of Singapore’s seminal contemporary dance companies, T.H.E has performed and toured at many major local festivals and prestigious international festivals, including the Singapore Arts Festival, Esplanade’s da:ns festival and Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre’s Cultural Extravaganza, SIDance Festival and Seoul Performing Arts Festival in South Korea, Beijing and Guangdong Dance Festival in China, Yokohama Dance Collection at TPAM and Niigata International Dance Festival in Japan, Les Hivernales Festival in Avignon, France, as well as Italy’s Oriente Occidente Festival in Rovereto, Inteatro Festival in Ancona, Cross Festival in Verbania, and Fabbrica Europa in Florence.

Based on its vision of contemporary dance as a medium for nurturing human potential, T.H.E has also actively initiated numerous platforms to engage young artists and the wider public. Since it was founded, the Company also started its semi-professional wing, T.H.E Second Company, which identifies and mentors dance artists who aspire to reach a professional standard of contemporary dance. In 2010, T.H.E also founded the cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival (previously known as the M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival) – the country’s first annual contemporary dance festival to showcase local and international artists. The Company also regularly runs public classes, workshops, and customised programmes for schools and the community.

Swee Boon Kuik
Founding Artistic Director & Principal Choreographer, T.H.E Dance Company
Founder and Artistic Director of T.H.E Dance Company and the M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival (Singapore); co-Artistic Director of Malaysia’s D’MOTION International Dance Festival 2013 – 2015. Swee Boon was the first Asian principal male dancer with Spain’s Compañia Nacional de Danza (CND) from 2002 – 2007. During his career with the CND, he worked mainly with Nacho Duato as well as renowned choreographers like Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin and Wim Vandekeybus. Prior to joining the CND, he began his dance career in 1990 with the Singapore People’s Association Dance Company and Singapore Dance Theatre.

Swee Boon’s exceptional artistry led him to receive a nomination in 2003 for the Benois De La Danse Award. In 2007, he was awarded the Young Artist Award from the National Arts Council of Singapore (NAC). He founded T.H.E Dance Company in September 2008. Since its establishment, T.H.E has quickly ascended to become a well-known company locally and in Asia. His critically acclaimed works include Silence (2007), As It Fades (2011), collaboration works RE:OK…BUT! (2011) and Above 40 (2015) were recognised as amongst the best of shows in their respective years. Swee Boon’s works have also toured to prestigious international festivals, including festival-closing performances at the Les Hivernales festival in Avignon, France. In 2016, Swee Boon initiated and continues to develop the “HollowBody” methodology for T.H.E’s training system and performances.