Chen Wu-kang & Pichet Klunchun

Against a black background, three small golden sand mounds emerge along a diagonal line stretching from the front right of the stage to the back left. In front of them two performers dressed in blue stand: one upright, holding a blue fabric tied to the back of his partner, who crouches about half a meter away, legs bent and fists pressed firmly against the floor.

Choreographing Story "Rama House"

Kampnagel, K1

June 18, 2026, 19.30 h
June 19, 2026, 20.30 h
Duration 70 minutes

Regular 28,-/ Reduced rate 16,- EUR
Pre-sale

Language(s): English with German surtitles; participatory part (Q&A) in English–German
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, beanbag seating available, highly visual, induction loop, pick-up and accompaniment service on request
Info: Possible triggers / sensory input: loud sounds, light use of fog and strobe lighting

This piece examines dance traditions and the art of storytelling in Southeast Asia. After two years of research in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia, the project draws inspiration from the ancient Sanskrit epic ‘Ramayana’, one of the foundational texts of Hinduism. Through gestures, symbols and oral tradition, the two choreographers question the freedom and power of storytelling as embodied in traditional dance forms. The performance blends documentary footage from their encounters with dance masters, live electronic music and multimedia creation. The result is a choreographic structure that connects the past and the present, transforming the stage into a living archive − a space where memory, belief, and cultural heritage overlap and continue.

Thai dancer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun offers a contemporary approach to Thai classical dance while keeping with the heart and wisdom of the art form. From the age of 16 he trained in Khon, Thai classical mask dance, with Khon master Chaiyot Khummanee. In 2001 he travelled to the United States with the Asian Cultural Council fellowship and later collaborated with Jérôme Bel on “Pichet Kluchun and myself” (2004), which won the European Cultural Foundation’s Princess Margriet Award. Klunchun founded Pichet Klunchun Dance Company in 2010 in order to create contemporary dance productions and to work with young professional dancers with a background in Thai classical dance. The company, based in Bangkok, has since 2010 toured internationally across Asia, Europe and North America.

Chen Wu-kang was born and raised in Taiwan, he began studying dance at the age of twelve, graduated from the Taiwan University of Arts and was the first place winner of the Annual Choreographic Competition held by the National Dance Association of Taiwan in 1999. In 2001, Wu-Kang danced with Ballet Tech and Peridance, became their soloist and started his long-term collaboration with choreographer Eliot Feld and has been working between New York and Taiwan ever since. In 2004, he co-founded HORSE as an artistic director, significant works include "Velocity" (2007), "Bones" (2008), "2 Men" (2012) which toured in Asia, US and Europe. He started to collaborate with artists in different fields in 2011, and in 2016 he began an intercultural/dance dialogue with Thai master Pichet Klunchun.

This guest performance is kindly supported by the Ministry of Culture Taiwan.

Choreography & Performance: Chen Wu-kang & Pichet Klunchun
Four masters in the documentary: Chulachart Aranyanak (Thailand), Sophiline Cheam Shapiro (Cambodia), Sardono Waluyo Kusumo (Indonesia), Shwe Man Win Maung (Myanmar)
Film Director: Li Kou-hao
Lighting design: Tseng Jui-hsuan
Stage Design: Liao Yin-chiao
Sound design: Yan Sheng-wen
Costume Design: Teng Yu-fang
Stage manager & Lighting operator: Peng Jiu-fang
Stage Operator: Huang Yen-hsun
Rehearsal assistant & Video operator: Wu Ho-ju
Project coordinator: Yeh Ming-hwa
Administrator: Chiang Yi-Hsuan
Touring Manager: Kao Yi-kai, A-Man Chen
Production: HORSE
Special Thanks: Chang Theatre
Commissioned by National Theater & Concert Hall / Taipei, Taiwan