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Artists' Bios

SPY

Lim Chin Huat, Director & Dancer

Chin Huat began his training in visual art and this has influenced his artistic perspective. His past teachers include Colleen Darby, Janet Sturman, Boon Teo and Angela Liong.

As a young dance student, he demonstrated unusual fortitude, breaking his flat feet into their present arches and dancing again six months after a fracture. Using his management and production skills, he headed the Toy Factory Ensemble (1994-96) and directed the Creative Arts workshop at NAFA. The passionate response to his works such as a-thebird,
Floating mirror and Tales from a Giant Blanket at festivals in New
Zealand, the former Yugoslavia and Indonesia, testifies to their universal
and emotive appeal.

The National Arts Council recognised his achievements through the Professional Artist Grant (1999) and Young Artist Award (2000). Chin Huat relishes challenges. He designs the stunning sets and costumes seen in theatre and site-specific performances, bringing Ecnad’s visuals to life.

Kon Su Sam Choreographer & Dancer

Sam first began life as a dancer with the university ensemble. While working as an engineer, he danced in Ecnad’s projects. This kicked off his professional career as a dancer.

Since then he has performed in most Ecnad productions, touring with the company to Indonesia, Yugoslavia and New Zealand. Extensive practical experience as a dancer also makes him an ideal mentor for dancers-in-training.

He seeks to sample a wide variety of techniques and styles in dance. March Spin (2003, 2004) intimated his budding talent as a choreographer.

EGO FLAMINGO

Tan How Choon, Director & Dancer

The aesthetic and sport melded in gymnastics provided How Choon with an early physical and mental foundation for his artistic career. Dance classes in the US and Singapore with luminaries such as Colleen Darby, Anna Sokolow, Mary Anthony, Angela Liong and Boon Teo marked him out as a prodigious student.

After dance studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), he worked as a full-time dancer. He took on the creative challenge of choreography, collaborating with LIM Chin Huat on Zero O’Clock (1996). Its excellent reception led them to found Ecnad Project based on their working ideals. This partnership has resulted in thirty multidisciplinary productions over the past eight years.

In support of his artistic development, the National Arts Council awarded him the Professional Artist Grant (1999). How Choon conceptualised the use of cartoons, live video feed, iconic images and fluid environments with dance choreography, seen in productions such as Plastic (1998), Water Story (2001) and Missing in Tall Pillars (Singapore Arts Festival, 2002).

He is currently exploring voice-movement integration, as well as developing bone-breathing and body contact into a new style of
movement.

Content Contributor: ECNAD