Chatchanok Hemachandra has just recovered from a severe knee injury she picked up from her thesis dance performance.
Sun Tawalwongsri and Chatchanok Hemachandra.
After being prevented from indulging in her favourite activity, dancing, for a year, Chatchanok is ready to get back on the floor, and is taking a great leap in her dancing career by staging her own performance.
The 25-year-old has teamed up with Sun Tawalwongsri to explore space and relationships through abstract physical movements in contemporary dance duet The Room, which opens today at Sun Dance Theatre.
Chatchanok and Sun first met in London during their time studying. As soon as Sun heard that Chatchanok had recovered, he invited her to stage a performance.
When the pair first met to discuss ideas for their contemporary dance show, Sun asked Chatchanok to give a title to the performance to mark the beginning of their creative process. She pondered, and after a brief pause said "the room".
"It's a place where inspiration begins," said Chatchanok. "A room could be a space or a place enclosed within four walls, yet it doesn't have to be like that. This word has an infinite definition. It's also interesting how we establish a different relationship with each room — we don't just take a bath in the bathroom, we think in it. We don't just live in the living room, we eat in it too."
Chatchanok explains that the performance explores the idea of these relationships. Not only with people, but the environment, objects, movements, and decisions we make within them.
"There will be no explicit storyline in the performance but the mood for each parts are set," Chatchanok says, "Body language has meaning in itself. The performance will let emotions show through the bodies, which are the main communication tools."
"This may seem unusual as some audiences might be more accustomed to understanding stories or finding messages when seeing a performance. But in our show, we focus more on the movement as it's considered the most essential part in contemporary dance," explained Sun, who runs Sun Dance Theatre in Silom.
Choreography is not the only technique used in The Room. In order to extend the potential of dance, Chatchanok says that improvisation and the ability to respond to various stimuli — from inside as well as outside the body — are integral to the creative development.
Chatchanok has combined the experience she gained from working with various renowned choreographers during her time studying Bachelor of Dance at the Victorian College of The Arts (VCA), University of Melbourne, and a master's degree in dance performance from the London Contemporary Dance School at the University of Kent. This is the first time, however, she will take on full responsibility as choreographer.
"The dancer and choreographer have different tasks," Chatchanok explained. "The dancer has to be adaptable working with different choreographers and shifting emotions, but the choreographer has to hold attention by designing expressive movements that serve the setting of the show."
"But for this performance, we will alternate in the three roles of choreographer, dancer, and viewer as we choreograph ourselves," added Chatchannok.
"As we will be performing at the Sun Dance Theatre, which is a small black box theatre where the space can be creatively utilised, the way we move and have a relationship with the environment around us can be a lot more productive than performing in a large theatre. It challenges us on how we can use the best out of it," said Sun.
"The show is quite abstract." Chatchanok said. "Thus, each viewer can interpret it differently. There's no right or wrong. It also doesn't matter whether audiences will enjoy the performance or not.
"We just want to express our ideas and share our experiences. And, to me, it's more like I want to get to know the people of Thailand more who share the same interest."
The Room is on stage from Jan 22-26 at Sun Dance Theatre, 5th Floor and Rooftop of Silom Society Building (BTS Sala Daeng, MRT Silom).
