DANCER-choreographer Kuik Swee Boon created a stunning work to mark the 10th anniversary of his Singapore-based T.H.E Dance Company.
Says the Batu Pahat-born artiste: "At that time (2018), there was a feeling that there was a need to understand the various aspects of identity and belonging, which initiated the creative process.
"It was a critical necessity in my personal life, as well as a milestone for the dance company and a stepping stone for continued growth and development in the future."
Billed 'Invisible Habitudes', the dance was Singapore's Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay's first ticketed outdoor theatre performance for its annual dance festival.
It was later performed in six European cities in June and July 2019.
'Invisible Habitudes' marks T.H.E Dance Company's return to the Damansara Performing Arts Centre stage after almost a decade.
The Malaysian run happens from Jan 10 to 11.
The crew includes six dancers, Taiwanese musician Wang Yu-jun, Singaporean lighting designer Adrian Tan and costume designer Loo An Ni.
"Firstly, this is a challenging work that tests the maturity of the performers in many aspects.
"It requires a certain unwavering will, physical fitness and highly sensitive perception.
"In addition to the regular training sessions and the 'HollowBody' training, the dancers did a lot of personal preparation, such as running and swimming," says Kuik, the company's founding artistic director and main choreographer.
"HollowBody" is the signature methodology and movement philosophy advocated by Kuik.
The 51-year-old artiste says it is an experiential process, "utilising improvisational tools to guide practitioners towards a heightened physiological awareness".
"It is based on the understanding of the body as the foundation of our world. As a vessel for thoughts, emotions and energy, our embodied experiences and knowledge transcend language and logic.
"The methodology seeks to establish in its practitioner a level of trust and access that can surface these deep impulses and needs, and unearth an innate connectivity between mind, heart and body.
"We at T.H.E believe that with 'HollowBody', dance and movement can be embraced as a fundamental pillar in life that offers a deep connection to the body, and in turn, the world."
His research process of the "HollowBody" is ongoing as he continues to extend the development of the methodology and refine it for the trained dance artiste and the layman.
Kuik's illustrious dance career spans continents. Starting with the Batu Pahat Dance Troupe, he trained in contemporary dance and ballet, later joining Singapore Dance Theatre as a principal dancer.
He made history in Spain as the first Asian principal male dancer with Compañia Nacional de Danza.
In 2021, he became a Singapore Fellow under the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) Fellowship Programme in New York.
Kuik's creations, like 'The Last Puppet 'for Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, have graced international festivals, including Les Hivernales in France.
During the pandemic, he innovated with digital dance projects, notably PheNoumenon, Singapore's first full-length 360-degree VR (virtual reality) dance, touring Italy and Israel.
'Invisible Habitudes' is a reinvigorated version that seeks to untangle the complexities of a fluid identity, searching for an inherent, fundamental sense of belonging. It is a dialogue between the body and its environment.
Says Kuik: "The work is open to free interpretation by the audience. However, I personally hope that those who see it will feel a certain warmth of inclusiveness, charm and the strength brought about by openness."