Wayson Poon: PHONATE

When breathing becomes language

A thought-provoking piece reflecting the shared poetry and consciousness of human beings and human bodies.

Wayson Poon’s latest work PHONATE explores the dynamics of power, control and communal strength that occur between choreographer, dancers and audience. Pushing the limitations of their bodies, the dancers transform the air of a minimalist performance space into audible energy. As the rhythms of their breath compete and synchronise, a state of involuntary connection develops and the audience become one with the dancers, inhaling and exhaling in time.

Poon’s choreography is informed by Taoist notions of “Qi” and the movement and meditation practices Liquid Body and 5Rhythms. The research and development of this work was supported by Freespace, Dance Info Finland, Zodiak – Center for New Dance and Dance House Helsinki through the residency exchange project Creative Meeting Point: Hong Kong x Finland (2016–2018).