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Psychosynthesis
Asia Ballet Theatre (ABT) & Kenny Shim Dance Collective (KSDC) and presents Psychosynthesis, the first full-length contemporary dance production in Malaysia. The production will be held on Saturday, 4th February and Sunday, 5th February 2023, 3:00pm and 8:30pm at Stage 1, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC).
Synopsis
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Psychosynthesis is a powerful, dynamic, fast-paced theatrical dance production. The struggles faced by individuals and community during the pandemic and the subsequent social, emotional and cerebral toll informs the genesis of the piece, forming an impressionistic collage of movement and dance.
Psychosynthesis is a physical manifestation of the mind, exploring the repercussions that long periods of isolation have on the human psyche. The dance serves as a creative navigation of such experiences faced by the world.
Working in tandem with science and multimedia, the piece engages movement and music to portray an abstract journey which begins with intense turmoil and finally resolves with a sense of hope for the future, despite the unknown.
Psychosynthesis delivers a visual feast where themes of physiological, metaphorical and psychological coalesce and pay homage to the efforts of health workers during the global pandemic.
Why
Psychosynthesis?
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Psychosynthesis is the first full-length contemporary dance production in Malaysia which collaborates closely with technology, placing science and multimedia central in the process of creating movement, generating multimedia images, theatrical lights and setting design. This production is a visual and kinaesthetic portrayal of the initial scientific discovery of the virus, community adaptation in the height of the global pandemic and interrogates the psychological and sociological consequences of prolonged periods of isolation. Most importantly the dance explores a hopeful resolve where ultimately the will of humanity triumphs over the struggles and hardships faced. Slowly, but surely, the world returns to a sense of normalcy albeit changed.
The arts has suffered tremendous unprecedented setbacks with severe funding cuts, audiences unable to attend live performances and artists hindered from physical rehearsals. Much like many businesses, the pandemic has pushed the restart button for the performing arts industry. Psychosynthesis features all local talent from ABT and KSDC and it is the ardent hope of the production that this project will reignite the creative engine by presenting work that is of international standards and fully Malaysian made. Malaysia boleh!
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Kenny Shim
Award winning choreographer, Kenny Shim completed his BA in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and subsequently his Post Grad at London Contemporary Dance School (Masters in Contemporary Dance Performance). He joined the EDge Dance Company (London) 2016. During his training in the U.K., Kenny has worked with choreographers and company’s members from around Europe such as Wayne McGregor, Tom Roden, Alexander Whitley, Phillipe Blanchard, Gary Lambert, Alison Curtis-Jones, Lea Anderson, Joseph Toonga, Jeanne Yasko and Fred Ghedrig. Establishing himself in Malaysia, he has choreographed over 20 shows, working collaboratively with directors, composers, scientist, mathematicians and multimedia artistes, exploring new and fresh ideas through the lens of contemporary dance.
Choreographer
KSDC
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Kenny Shim Dance Collective (KSDC) founded in 2017 is a company of trained dancers who are now based in Malaysia for the purpose to produce contemporary dance production that are dynamic, theatrical, relevant, and assessable.
KSDC strive to build an international network of dance
practitioners by various connections to enrich
the contemporary dance community
through collaborative projects,
workshops, productions,
and company
exchanges.
Production History
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Psychosynthesis has undergone 3 phases of production prior to its public stage debut.
April – June 2021. Initial phase of Psychosynthesis developed for the grand opening of the new PJPAC theatre. Production halted upon announcement of the second nationwide lockdown.
June – November 2022. KSDC and ABT invited to premiere an excerpt of Psychosynthesis to a VIP audience for PJPAC’s: ‘Once Upon A Stage: A Celebration Of A New Theatre’. Show dates for Psychosynthesis postponed due to the 15th General Elections coinciding. Instead, a preview of the full-length production was held at PJPAC for a closed audience.
January – February 2023. Psychosynthesis makes its public debut, the first full-length contemporary dance production in Malaysia.
Details
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DATE/TIMES
Saturday, 4th February, 3:00pm and 8:30pm
Sunday, 5th February, 3:00pm and 8:30pm
VENUE
Stage 1,Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), S611, Second Floor, 1 Utama E,1 Utama Shopping Centre,47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor DE
TICKET PRICES*
RM120 – Tier 1
RM100 – Tier 2
RM80 – Tier 3
*exclusive of RM4.00 OneTix processing fee
SPECIAL RATES**
Bulk purchase of 20 tickets (any tier) – 10% discount
Bulk purchase of 40 tickets (any tier) – 15% discount + Q&A session with production members
**applicable only for educational institutions
BOX OFFICE
+603 7732 4988