Award-winning choreographer Albert Tiong plunges into a new work of dance with the brains of a mathematician and a drive to explore the various personalities that one person can have in That Which Cannot Be Divided.
I learned recently that the creation process for That Which Cannot Be Divided focuses on how the six dancers each move among one another, forming conversations between themselves in different permutations. ‘This piece is a simple, uncomplicated play of numbers. While the emphasis is on the prime numbers, I also wish to highlight the even number between a pair of twin primes that may be neglected. The dancers represent the numbers, both prime and even, and they are continually moving in and out of one another.’ Albert tells me via email in between rehearsals, quite a refreshing and unusual starting point for a dance piece.
I am always inquisitive about a choreographer’s expectation of their audience. What does one foresee from putting a piece of choreography on stage? Albert replies, ‘I have always hope that when an audience watches a contemporary dance performance, they can appreciate the choreographer’s sincerity in the pieces, and not judge the work based on their likings. The vocabulary of contemporary dance is endless, and so is the creation of a choreography. When an audience comes to watch a show without any expectations, they may be able to formulate more of their own ideas and even logic.’
I couldn’t agree more with Albert, I for one don’t often read programmes before a performance starts and as much as possible, I try to never stay for a post-show talk. Instead, I like to head home with my very own ideas on the work. Albert finishes our digital interview with a beautiful quote which leaves me inspired to watch That Which Cannot Be Divided.
“what comes, when it comes, will be what it is” ( Alberto Caeiro).