Ng Chor Guan is an artist, creator, composer and educator, and co-founder of the singular contemporary arts collective, Toccata Studio. He is the composer, sound designer and a co-creator for Dance With Me, which sees four women—Mei Yoke, Siew Lan, Meng Lan and Jean—reuniting after 40 years of friendship to reflect on the essence of dance and life itself, presented as part of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2025. He takes us along in a day of rehearsals, while sharing his reflections on being a part of the creative team behind the show.

This text was originally written in Mandarin, with an accompanying English translation.

骑着30的路程，不算长也不算短。每一次都会尝试不同的路线，沿途感受别样的风景，享受迎面而来的清风，偶尔顺风而行，如虎添翼，加快了速度。

主要是希望能找到一条红绿灯最少的路线，一路畅行无阻。今天天公作美，顺风又无雨，最终轻松抵达了月珉艺术中心。

Riding along this 30min route, it doesn’t feel too short nor too long. I take a different route every time, appreciating the different sights and atmosphere around me, enjoying the passing breeze. Occasionally, I catch the wind and sail along its path, my energy redoubled, riding with increased speed. 

Always, the hope is to find a route with the least traffic lights for a smooth journey. On this particular day, the weather was favourable, with a good breeze and without rain. In the end, I arrived at Goodman Arts Centre with ease.

每一天，都有一颗球等待着有人去推动开始。它可以是风平浪静的一片草地上的练习，也可以是荆棘满布、充满挑战的舞台。那些不规则的场地和种种外来因素，虽然让排练步履维艰，却也柳暗花明，带来了无法预知的惊喜。

这一次，我有幸与两位前辈共同创作一场意义非凡的舞蹈剧场演出——《与我共舞》。四位在舞蹈道路上携手同行的好友，40年前曾在舞台上齐心协力，万万没想到，40年后再度重逢，一起共舞，非常有意思 ！最可贵的是她们真诚的与创作者交流， 把自己再一次的表现在剧场上。今天她们在舞台上一起创造了新的回忆。 

Every day, there will be a ball on the field waiting for someone to kick it into action. It could just appear as it seems, a tranquil field for practice, or a dance stage filled with challenges. Although unorthodox spaces and externalities have created some difficulty for rehearsals, it has also resulted in some silver linings and unexpected surprises.

This time, I have the honour of creating a meaningful dance work with two respected industry seniors, titled Dance With Me. Four friends who worked together on stage 40 years ago after journeying on the same path of dance, never imagining they would reunite 40 years later and now, dancing together again. How meaningful!

The most precious part of this experience is the sincerity of their exchange with us, their co-creators, and how they expressed themselves on stage once again. They create new memories together on stage today. 

每一次创作都有着独特的工作站，始终保持流动的特质。这一切源于十五年前，我开始以脚踏车代步，穿越不同的大洲、国家，城市-乡村，完全依赖它。这样的生活方式不仅改变了我的移动方式，也潜移默化地塑造了我的创作和表演思维与模式。同时，我逐渐意识到，嗅觉的融入也是创作中不可忽视的一部分，它让灵感更加鲜活而富有层次。

这一次，我的工作站依然延续流动的特性，选择了厨房岛台作为创作核心。在舞台上，我随着步伐的变化自由游走，声音与动作相辅相成，化作无形的装置，融入到表演之中。正所谓“举重若轻”，创作在流动中自然生长，虽无固定形态，却充满了生命力与无限可能。

Every new creation will have its own unique workstation, the similarity being their mobility. This began 15 years ago when I started to move about on my bicycle, relying entirely on it as I travelled across different continents and countries, across urban and rural landscapes. This lifestyle not only changed the way I travelled, but also subtly shaped my way of thinking and the mode in which I created and performed. At the same time, I gradually realised that being able to ‘smell’ (or rather, have a nose for creation) is also an important part of the work, allowing for inspiration that is more vivid and richer in its layers.

This time around, my workstation continues to possess this special element of mobility. I chose to work from the countertop of a kitchen island. On stage, I flow freely with the steps. Sound and movement work together in invisible ways, blending into the performance. Like lifting a weight with ease, creation flows organically. Although it does not have a fixed shape, it is full of life and boundless possibilities.

舞者的脚上，承载着不同的故事和记忆。穿上鞋子的一刻，展现出无与伦比的优雅，而这种优雅的背后，是无数的努力、血汗与牺牲。

这一切，只因为两个字——热爱。

正是这种热爱，让他们无所畏惧，也让他们的四十年友谊散发出别样的芬芳。

A dancer’s feet hold a variety of stories and memories. The elegance that they express the moment they wear their shoes is entirely unparalleled, behind which holds an innumerable amount of effort, blood, sweat and sacrifice. All this because of one word: passion. It is because of this passion that they are freed of fear, that their 40 years of friendship possesses a different essence. 

披上不同的衣裳，仿佛为自己的舞姿甚至灵魂注入新的力量。这些衣裳不仅仅是外在的装饰，更是与自身深度对话的媒介。尤其是，当一件衣裳承载了与你共同的记忆，多年后再将它穿上，是否会让身体的记忆与衣裳重新融为一体？

衣裳的纹理、重量和触感，像是时光的回声，唤醒那些沉睡的瞬间。每一个舞步，都仿佛在与过去的自己共舞；每一丝动作，都像在与衣裳的历史交织。

Putting on different clothes seems to inject new energy into one’s dance, even one’s soul. This clothing is not merely décor for one’s body, but also a way for one to engage in deep dialogue with oneself. Is this especially so when the item of clothing possesses memories that you share—when you wear it again after so long, will the body become one with these memories embedded in the clothing?

The texture, weight and touch of a piece of clothing echo the passing of time, reawakening those dormant moments. Every step made feels like dancing with your past self; every movement intertwined with the history of the clothing worn. 

祝贺阳历新年，同时预祝即将到来的农历新年吉祥如意！每一天，我们聚在一起排练，气氛热闹非凡，就像一个温暖的大家庭：有吃、有聊、有哭有笑，排练也进行得井然有序，充满乐趣。

这不仅是一场弥足珍贵的重聚，更是一次心与心的真诚碰撞。最令人感动的是，她们以坦荡的姿态与创作者深入交流，将自己的人生与情感再度凝聚于剧场之中。而最幸运的我，有幸加入她们的回忆，与她们在舞台上携手共舞，默契如初。每一个动作、每一段旋律，都是我们共同创造的崭新篇章，也是她们岁月故事的延续。

Happy New Year, and good luck too in the upcoming Chinese New Year! Every day, we gather for rehearsals with the warmth of a large family gathering: eating, chatting, laughing and crying. Rehearsals are carried out in a proper way while still filled with fun.

This is not just a treasured reunion, but also a coming together of sincere hearts. What moves me the most is how the four dancers approached us, the creators of the work, with such a candid and open attitude, condensing their lives and emotions for the stage. And lucky me, with the honour of being part of their memories, to be able to dance with them like before, implicitly. Every movement, every melody, is a new chapter that we collectively create together, a continuation of their years of stories.

排练结束后，雨依然没停下，伙伴顺路送我回家，真是太幸福了！这种温暖的关怀让我感受到家的味道，也让忙碌的排练增添了一份温馨和轻松。感谢有这样一路相伴的支持，心里充满了感激和温暖！

The rain still kept going even after rehearsals, so I was happy that a friend could send me home! This familial care made me feel at home, and added a sense of warmth and ease to the busy rehearsal process. I am so thankful for the support of my companions, my heart is so filled with gratitude and warmth!

隔天重复，晴天在等红绿灯的时候看到这四栋建筑物，让我联想到她们四位。正如她们四位的成长历程，见证了从建国初期的艰苦奋斗，到如今的繁荣昌盛。她们的坚韧与努力，犹如新加坡从独立到繁荣的历程，值得我们深深敬佩。

While repeating this routine the next day, which was bright and sunny, I spotted these four buildings while waiting at the traffic lights. It reminded me of the four women’s journey. Just like their growth, these buildings have witnessed the struggles in the early days of the country’s founding to what we see today. Their tenacity and hard work, just like Singapore’s journey from independence to prosperity, deserve our deep admiration.

Catch the heartwarming dance production Dance With Me on 7 & 8 Feb at Esplanade Theatre Studio, happening as part of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts 2025.