This October, the Esplanade presents da:ns focus – Connect Asia Now, a weekend of performances highlighting collaborations between Asian artists and exploring diverse cultural expressions through dance, rope art, and music. The event features innovative works that challenge traditional boundaries and bring together multidisciplinary talents from Singapore, Indonesia, and beyond.

One of the central programmes is *Still Lives: Singapore*, a long-term project by Melbourne-based multidisciplinary artists Luke George and Daniel Kok. Since its inception in 2019, the project has evolved into a platform that takes rope art beyond its conventional erotic context, using it to explore themes of sports culture, relationship dynamics, and national identity. George, 47, and Kok, 50, who have collaborated for over a decade, present a new iteration at the Esplanade that deliberately removes any sexual connotations and nudity from the performance.

In this iteration, the artists collaborate with Singaporean Vedic metal band Rudra, whose members will stand still for two hours as George and Kok compose a living artwork with rope, ambient soundscapes, and video footage. Guitarist Vinod Seer1, 44, noted in a Zoom interview that the band is accustomed to vigorous performances with loud instruments but will instead portray "mannequins or puppets" for the duration, emphasizing stillness and trust between performers.

Rudra, formed in 1992, is known globally for pioneering a subgenre fusing extreme metal with traditional Indian music and Hindu philosophical themes. Their participation in *Still Lives: Singapore* adds a novel dimension to the project, which aims to disrupt audience expectations of both rope art and Singapore’s cultural landscape. Kok expressed enthusiasm for the multicultural audience the show might attract, bringing together metal fans, Japanese bondage enthusiasts, and general arts audiences under one roof as a way to reflect Singapore’s multifaceted identity.

Another significant offering at the da:ns focus event is *Batu*, a collaboration by Indonesian choreographer Ayu Permata Sari and Singaporean artist Hasyimah Harith. The piece draws on folk traditions from Indonesia and Malaysia, centering on the mortar and pestle—a common kitchen tool across Southeast Asia—as a symbol to explore themes of femininity, tradition, desire, and control. Developed under the Esplanade’s Contemporary Performing Arts Research Residency, *Batu* incorporates sensory experiences like the smell and taste of sambal and the rhythmic grinding sound of the stone.

Ayu, 34, and Hasyimah, 37, have used their platform to interrogate patriarchal cultural norms and address topics often regarded as taboo, including female sexuality, pregnancy, and bodily autonomy. Ayu shared that some family members initially struggled with her challenges to traditional values, but she prefers to engage through ongoing dialogue rather than confrontation. Hasyimah added that their work aims to create a space where women feel connected rather than isolated, emphasizing the artist’s role in raising difficult questions.

The partnership between Ayu and Hasyimah extends beyond the stage, grounded in a personal friendship marked by shared experiences of motherhood. Hasyimah described *Batu* as an artistic and emotional anchor amid life’s transitions.

Together, these programmes at da:ns focus illustrate a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural dialogue, and the reimagining of artistic traditions within contemporary Asian performing arts. The Esplanade’s initiative highlights the vibrancy and complexity of regional identities while fostering new connections across communities.