12 October 2016
A Letter/Singapore is a unique interdisciplinary fusion of multiple performing practices – dance, theatre, music and video – around a movement-based core. The search to break new creative ground in this way is the kind of innovative industry-focused practice model that LASALLE encourages in its students.
Faculty members and students share what it was like to participate in the development of the work and to train with the company.
Melissa Quek, Head, School of Dance and Theatre
This is a truly unique experience. We have had artists in residence before, but the experience of having an entire company, including production personnel transported here to put up a production is unrivalled. Students get to see how a world-renowned international company works and how the people gel. We are very grateful to SIFA and the US Embassy for this opportunity.
I think that, with this project, the greatest impact has been on the students. Bill has been very generous with his energy and time. Initially I was expecting only a few isolated sections for them to perform in, but as the rehearsals progressed they were incorporated into more and more sections, in dynamic and unexpected ways that complement, frame and weave in with the company.
Neo Jian Ling, BA(Hons) Dance Level 3
It’s been an honour to be able to see how professional the crew are when they are troubleshooting, when they are in the rehearsal process and how they communicate. Outside of the dancing itself, just watching someone like Bill T Jones work and how his working style affects his company’s way of work is really interesting. For me, as a student, it’s very inspiring.
Koh Hwee Ling, BA(Hons) Dance Level 3
It’s been very intense, but very eye-opening at the same time. We really get to experience what it’s like to work with a professional company and how they work together.
I’ve learnt that communication is key. There are a lot of details in movements, and it can be really small, like the position of a finger, or the expression on your face. With such a big class, it’s easy to miss out on some of them. But the company members always clarify the movements and they make sure that everyone gets it right.
Valerie Lim, BA(Hons) Dance Level 2
It prepares me to enter the industry. I really know what I need to do to become a professional dancer and what I need to do to work with a company like that. Every dancer has their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to know your own. We all do the same move but we do it differently, according to each body type. It’s for us to find out what our own body types are, and learning to do moves in a way that only we can do.
Chua Pei Yun, Diploma in Dance Level 3
It’s a very special experience to learn from individual company dancers because they come from very different genres or styles. Each day, we learn from a different dancer and you can see how their different training and background is embodied in their movement. My takeaway would be to take risks and just be confident about what I’m doing. Even if I’m getting it wrong, just go ahead. Sometimes when I hold myself back, I don’t know how far I can go. So a lot of times when I try something new now, I just go as far as I can.
Susan Yeung, Lecturer, Dance
Bill has this charisma and energy that make you want to keep catching up with him, his thoughts, his ideas, his big plans. Contrary to the general perception of a "superstar", I'm truly amazed to discover that Bill, who is a big name in the scene, is also a very down-to-earth choreographer and director. He's determined to make things happen and to lead everyone to his vision through many different ways. There is an overwhelming sense of passion and dedication that one cannot ignore whenever he steps into the studio.
Working with Bill T Jones has been the most inspiring and stunning experience I've ever had. This experience will live in me for a long time, and I know it will be the same for all our students too.
