Choreographing Story

How can ancient myths be transposed to the present? “Choreographing Story” is a collaborative
work that explores Southeast Asian dance traditions and the practice of storytelling. Inspired by the ancient Sanskrit epic “Ramayana”, the project was conceived by the acclaimed choreographers Chen Wu-kang from Taiwan and Pichet Klunchun from Thailand, who spent two years in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia engaging in field work and studying with master practitioners of traditional dance in these countries. This performance is the culmination of their research, and draws connections between stories, cultural memory, personal beliefs, and the act of interpretation. With “Choreographing Story”, Chen and Klunchun are investigating the freedom and power of storytelling, vis-à-vis the interpretive aspects of Southeast Asian dance. The performance features documentary footage of the duo's interviews with traditional dance
masters, accompanied by live electronic music and other multimedia. These elements come
together to connect past and present, allowing the performance to serve as a "living" archive. In
placing the storytelling practices of Southeast Asian dance traditions within the context of a
contemporary art medium, “Choreographing Story” dives deep into the essence of the Ramayana,
and along the way, shows us how the stories of the gods are also our own stories.