Emerging contemporary dance choreographers from Southeast Asia were selected to attend an intensive residency at the private arts centre of Rimbun Dahan from 13 to 21 June 2026.
The program consisted of 7 work days with 2 days of excursions to arts spaces or recreational spaces in Kuala Lumpur. Work days in the Dance Studio at Rimbun Dahan consisted of sessions exploring choreographic methods, analysis and movement techniques led by invited guest artists and by the participants themselves.
Other activities included live performance viewing, informal socializing and discussions, and networking events. The program concluded on Sunday 21 June, with a studio showing to share the creative process and artistic development from the Choreolab with the Malaysian dance community and the wider public.
Selected participants must support their own travel costs/airfare to Kuala Lumpur. The project provides local transport, meals, accommodation and access to all activities during the Choreolab.
SEA Choreolab 2026 Participants
- Hannah Moujing (Malaysia)
- Farahani binti Mahdi (Malaysia)
- Trina Acacia (Bali, Indonesia)
- Melynda Adriani (Berau, Indonesia)
- Ela Mutiara (Jogjakarta, Indonesia)
- Bjork Calao (Philippines)
- Gia Gequinto (Philippines)
- Lena Caminha (Timor Leste)
- Linh Trinh (Vietnam)
- Prapassorn Konmuang (Thailand)
Project Aims
To support and enable emerging Southeast Asian contemporary dance choreographers to
- Adopt new choreographic tools and physical, thematic and conceptual approaches to enrich their artistic practice;
- Develop regional networks among their peers and with regional dance institutions, for knowledge sharing, future artistic collaboration and touring;
- Experience works of art, cultures, places and histories beyond their home, to increase international understanding and to help contextualize their artistic practice.
- Work with established artists to delve deeper into the choreographic process, and to benefit from their insights, advice and experience.
We hope the participants will have a positive and enjoyable experience at the SEA Choreolab, which will reenergize them and help reaffirm their commitment to their artistic practice. We would like the SEA Choreolab and the networks established here to be an ongoing resource to which the participants may return for inspiration, refreshment, respite and a sense of continual community.
SEA Choreolab 2026 is Edition #8 of the Southeast Asian Choreolab series which started in 2014. For more information about other editions of the SEA Choreolab, click here.