Choreographer and multidisciplinary artist Hiroaki Umeda is recognised as one of the leading figures of the Japanese avant-garde art scene.

Since the launch of his company S20, Umeda has toured internationally to audience and critic acclaim and is acknowledged for his strong digital background, holistic artistic methodology, and for incorporating physical, optical, sensorial and spatiotemporal components. His interest in choreographing time and space has also led to work as a composer, lighting designer, scenographer and visual artist.

Solo works such as Adapting for Distortion (2008), Haptic (2008), Holistic Strata (2011) and split flow (2013) combine digital imagery, minimal soundscape and potent corporeality, and have transfixed audiences at major festivals and theatres worldwide. In the choreographic project Superkinesis” (2009–2019) Umeda worked with dancers of distinct physical backgrounds to explore kinetic languages and the environment. Since 2010, Umeda has created installations exploring optical illusion and physical immersion. A series of works combining visual and physical sensation earned him the Prix Ars Electronica, Honorary Mention, in 2010. In 2014, Umeda launched the “Somatic Field Project” to nurture young dancers and develop his movement method “Kinetic Force Method”.

Umeda is appointed the first choreographer of their new choreographer system at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse No.1 from 2022.

International producer, live performer, and DJ. AOKI takamasa released his first album SILICOM in 2001. Between 2004 and 2011, he was based in Europe before returning to Japan. Since then he has done several remixes for international and domestic artists, undertaking both production and mixing. AOKI takamasa is currently part of the unit “Neutral” along with Bun/Fumitake Tamura. He also works as a photographer.

Technological creative firm THINK AND SENSE uses technology as a basis for multifaceted approaches to the construction of frameworks and development of solutions, and does not shy away from social implementation.

Dancer Candy Hung Lai-kwan studied Contemporary Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Upon graduation in 2018, she was a teaching artist at City Contemporary Dance Company and now works as a freelance performer.

Hung has participated in productions by local and international choreographers, including Set and Reset/Reset by Diane Madden, Three Fingers at Arm's Length by Leila McMillan, Cat Dérive by Gabrielle Nankivell, Under This Weight by Dam Van Huynh, CHERISH by Moments of Recollection, Winterreise·The Rite of Spring by Helen Lai, Duality by Jacky Yu, Dance at Dawn by Yuri Ng, and The Battle by Kenny Leung.

Recently, Hung has a growing interest in theatre and physical theatre. She has attended courses by The Circus Theatre Group, including “Body Brain Institute Intercultural Performance Study Programme” and “An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski”.

Carmen Yu is a freelance dance artist who graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a degree in Contemporary Dance. Her recent works include Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio’s Hamlet, MW Dance Theatre’s The Formidable Year and Shelf Life (mainland China tour); The Next 20 Hins Live in Hong Kong 2022; Littlebreath Creative Workshop’s Future Performing Arts Lab #1; Y-Space’s Dancing All Around Yuen Long; Yat Po Singers’ Pica Pica Choose (as Director Assistant); Hong Kong Dance Alliance’s New Force in Motion series 2021; Siu Lung Fung Dance Theatre’s Bodies, Movement and the Cityscape; E-side Dance Company’s Duality; The Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series’ Elephant in the Room (toured in mainland China); Blank Space Studio’s 4’33”; CCDC’s WuQing DNA 2019: Play What!; and Let’s Be Together Arts Festival 2019’s Memory of Sugar (toured in Hengchun, Taiwan).

King is a modern dancer and versatile artist specialising in body movement and energy harmonisation. After graduating with a degree in Contemporary Dance from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Lo received his master’s degree from the London Contemporary Dance School, where he furthered his understanding of bodily movements and expressions. The practices of Qigong and Wing Chun have inspired Lo’s choreography, leading him to develop techniques derived from self-exploration.

Lo believes that combining movements and mindfulness techniques can help us discover the key to being centred and balanced, greatly benefitting our mental and physical health. He has thus devoted his practice to promoting self-discovery of one’s body through movement and mindfulness.