COLLABORATIONS
Dapheny works collaboratively with other individuals through her primary medium of expression - movement. In these projects, she works in the capacity of choreographer and movement consultant, inserting her practice to enable the vision of the respective projects.
And so we dance
commissioned for Esplanade da:ns Festival 2021
The migrant community in Singapore is oftentimes as distant from the public eye as the workers are from their families, friends and cultures. From the strict movement protocols that they follow to their living conditions and mental health, the events that transpired this past year have surfaced a different experience of the pandemic for them. Their conversations and stories are shared in and so we dance, a social project featuring migrant workers in collaboration with dance choreographer Dapheny Chen and community theatre practitioner Serena Ho. Weaving their life experiences and personal connections to songs into a devised performance using dance as a medium, they navigate the impact the pandemic has on them, their strengths and vulnerabilities as migrant workers and their outlooks on life. At times reflective, emotional and playful, this new work sheds light on the lives of the people behind Singapore’s largely invisible workforce, who are part of our community. This project is developed with the help of the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition (CMSC) community.
​
Performers: Arlene, Jocelyn, Wiwi, Lolita, Deni, Wiwik, Widya, Taufiqul, Zilani, Nizam, Hasan, Joy, Omar and Raju
Choreographer and Co-Director: Dapheny Chen
Co-Director and Dramaturg: Serena Ho
Lighting Designer: Gabriel Chan
Sound and Visual Media Designer: Mervin Wong
Documentary Filmmaker: Jootz See
Producer: Mish’aal Syed Nasar
Production Stage Manager: Merissa Tang
Production Assistant: Syimah Sabtu
Stream of Memory
A programme of In New Light - A Season of Commissions, in celebration of Esplanade’s programme book 20th anniversary.
Sang and Jun spend carefree days by their playground—the river. One day, an unexpected event takes Sang on a magical encounter with the majestic giant Kali. Meandering across the land, they discover who Kali is, and remember what he once was. Stream of Memory manifests Papermoon Puppet Theatre’s abiding interests in the bonds humans have with each other and nature. Inspired by communities that make the river their homes, the work celebrates the life-giving energy of human relationships and nature. It also reflects on the impact of urbanisation and modern life on natural environments while urging for the rekindling of bonds with others and nature. Telling the tale of remembrance and reconnection through puppetry, dance and visual media, Stream of Memory is performed by 6 puppeteers from Papermoon Puppet Theatre and 4 dancers from Singapore. Leading the artistic team are Maria Tri Sulistyani and Iwan Effendi, Co-Artistic Directors of Papermoon, the work features talents from Indonesia and Singapore including Yennu Ariendra (Composition & Sound Design), Gilang Kusuma (Multimedia Design), Retno Intiani (Costume Design), Dapheny Chen (Choreography) and James Tan (Lighting Design).
​
Puppeteers: Anton Fajri, Beni Sanjaya, Ega Kuspriyanto, Hardiansyah Yoga Pratama, Muhammad Alhaq, Pambo Priyojati
Dancers: Jazlyn Tan, Lim Xin Ping, Tania Chua, Valerie Lim,
Director: Maria Tri Sulistyani
Puppet Design, Illustration, Animation: Iwan Effendi
Puppet Engineers: Anton Fajri, Muhammad Alhaq
Builders: Beni Sanjaya, Ega Kuspriyanto, Hardiansyah Yoga Pratama, Muhammad Alhaq, Pambo Priyojati, Iwan Effendi
Choreographer: Dapheny Chen
Composer & Sound Designer: Yennu Ariendra
Lighting Designer: James Tan
Multimedia Designer: Gilang Kusuma
Costume Designer: Retno Intiani
Videographer and Photographer: Rangga Yudhistira
Technical Manager: Huang Xiang Bin
Production Manager: Andreas Praditya
​
Pass·ages
A programme of TRIP – a platform to showcase work by early-career directors.
Blending humour and heartache, pass·ages brings us on a journey through the evolving landscape of ageing, as we witness four women navigating distinct passages through life. We meet the elderly Ching, who struggles to reclaim her personhood and dignity in the face of dementia; Shivani, a mature dancer determined to stake her claim to the stage; Ogy, a woman in a desperate race against her biological clock; and teenage Millie, who is coping with the five stages of grief in her own peculiar way.
Inspired by contributions from performers Dana Lam, Nirmala Seshadri, Suhaili Safari and Shanice Stanislaus, this interdisciplinary production boldly confronts the complex realities and anxieties of growing old(er) as a woman. pass·ages invites us to re-examine our relationship with ageing, and asks: how do we truly embrace the inevitable?
​
Conceptualiser, Director & Script Editor: Sim Yan Ying "YY"
Writer: Jean Tay
Choreographer: Dapheny Chen
Performers:Dana Lam, Nirmala Seshadri, Shanice Stanislaus, Suhaili Safari
Dramaturg: Nidya Shanthini Manokara
Set Designer: Petrina Dawn Tan
Lighting Designer: Gabriel Chan
Sound Artist & Composer: Jing Ng
Projection Designer: Genevieve Peck
Costume Designer: Sim Yan Ying "YY"
Costume Coordinator: Loo An Ni
