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CHÂU Kim-Sanh (she/her)

is a choreographer-dancer, filmmaker, and cultural worker. Her stage creations have been presented at the MAI, Tangente, l’Arsenal, l’Écart (Canada), Krossing-Over (Vietnam), Performance Curator Initiatives (Philippines), and SIDance (Korea), among others. In 2023, she collaborated as a dancer with Ariane Dessaulles, Erin Hill, and compagies Katie Ward, Carpe Diem /Emmanuel Jouthe. From 2018 to 2024, Châu was an associate artist at Equivoc’. In 2024, she founded her own company *MIDLAND* which produces her artistic work. Châu is also the artistic director at Studio 303, a creation centre supporting independent dance/performance artists.

estchorégraphe-interprète,  réalisatrice et travailleuse culturelle. Son travail chorégraphique a été présenté au MAI, l’Arsenal, l'Écart, Tangente, et à travers plusieurs festivals internationaux, dont SIDance (Corée), PCI (Philippines) et Krossing-Over (Vietnam). En 2023, elle est interprète pour des projets de Ariane Dessaulles, Erin Hill, Compagnie Katie Ward et Carpe Diem /Emmanuel Jouthe. De 2018 à 2024, Châu a été artiste associée chez Equivoc’. En 2024, elle fonde sa propre compagnie *MIDLAND* qui produit son travail artistique. Châu est aussi directrice artistique au Studio 303, un centre de création qui soutient des artistes indépendant·es et danse et en performance. 


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BLEU NEON



In a distant, fictional Vietnam, the echoes of pop music on cassette tape reverberate against the sounds of modern Vietnamese rap. Châu Kim-Sanh inhabits this space, metamorphosing through bodily states generated by the presence of coloured neon lights. Of this evening blue erupts a purpleness: “bầu trời màu tím xẩm” – an uncertain translation. Eyes closed, the neon haze returns her to the sensation of her ancestral land. Saigon, like many cities in South-East Asia, is flushed with these vivid lights. Here, embodied memory and the imaginary take a ride on a Honda Dream II motorcycle, across a humid sky whose wetness whips the face.

This solo is performed in its entirety from the squat position – a typically Asian posture. Audio recordings bespeckle the choreography, navigating between fantasized nostalgia, loss of language and sexual objectification – all three widely experienced by Asian diasporic populations. In Southeast Asia, rap culture is increasingly popular – giving a voice to a population marked by silence. Rap here is a prayer.

Lyrics (by Jonair) here



Credits
Choreography & performance Kim-Sanh Châu
Music Hazy Montagne Mystique, JONAIR and Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective
Rehearsal Louise Michel Jackson
Dramaturgy Be Heintzman Hope
Lighting & technic Jon Cleveland
Rap support Vladimir ‘7Starr’ Laurore, LilWaterboi Chuong Trinh, Nguyen Kim Phuong

Shows
MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels)(Canada) April 28-29-30 2022
Festival de danse contemporaine de Sherbrooke (Canada) August 19 2022
Festival Quartier des spectacles /Chinatown (Canada) Sept 23 2022
Semaines culturelles vietnamiennes /CCV Montréal /Maison de la culture NDG (Canada) Oct 4 2023
Festival des arts performatifs de Rouyn-Noranda (Canada) Oct 13 2022
Kinergie (Vietnam) April 5 2023
Krossing Over Art Festival (Vietnam) April 14 2023
Guang Ming College(Philippines) April 20 2023
Performance Curators Initiatives /Dance Forum (Philippines) April 27 2023
Festival FURIES (Canada) July 29 2023
Parcours danse - Séléction officielle /Maison de la culture Janine Sutto Nov 30 2023
Springboard (Calgary Canada) Jan 24-25 2025
PuSh Festival (Vancouver Canada) Jan 28-29 2025
Mile Zero Dance (Edmonton Canada) Feb 1-2 2025
Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges (CAM en tournée) Feb 27 2025
Maison de la culture Maisonneuve (CAM en tournée) March 14 2025
Five Arts Centre (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia) April 10 2025
Maison de la culture Plateau Mont-Royal (CAM en tournée) March 14 2025 

Residencies
Institut Français & Dancenter (Vietnam) March 2019
CCOV (Canada) July 2021
Maison de la culture Marie Uguay (Canada) December 2021
MAI (Canada) 2021-22

Financial Support
Above residecy partners
+
FTA Respirations
Conseil des arts de Montréal
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Conseil des arts du Canada
Total budget of $44,000 (research & production) - hourly rate base of $35/h for all