Passages 2025
Thank you for joining us at Passages.
Hope to see you at our next one!
Download our Passages Contemporary Season 2025 Programme Booklet here.
“We have creatives who are as good as any anywhere else in the world… And we will work hard to give as many of our practitioners as possible a platform for them to shine.”
— Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth from his speech given at Ministerial Townhall on Arts and Heritage Initiatives, February 2025
Passages Contemporary Season is Singapore Ballet’s annual platform for bold, boundary-pushing choreography. Held each year, it is the cornerstone of our commitment to artistic evolution—an incubator for fresh ideas, daring collaborations, and the creation of original works.
This year’s edition is especially significant, presented in celebration of 60 years of Singapore-Australia bilateral relations and proudly supported by the Australian High Commission in Singapore. The season stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring cultural ties between the two nations.
Presenting four groundbreaking world premieres from Singaporean and Australian choreographers, the 2025 edition of Passages brings together diverse voices and visionary artistry on one stage.
From the lyrical to the avant-garde, each work offers a unique perspective on contemporary ballet, showcasing the depth of talent and imagination shaping the artform today. With only one weekend to experience this extraordinary line-up, audiences are invited to be part of a landmark season that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection.
Passages Contemporary Season
Esplanade Theatre Studio
31 October, 8pm
1 November, 2pm & 8pm
2 November, 2pm & 7pm
Tickets: $58, $48 (Excluding SISTIC fee)
The event has come to a close. Thank you so much for your support!
Audiences are in for an electrifying journey through movement and meaning with three bold world premieres by Australia’s most celebrated choreographers:
- Natalie Weir returns with a deeply human work that dives into the emotional threads that bind us. Her signature organic style transforms vulnerability into strength, inviting audiences to feel every breath and heartbeat on stage.
- Tim Harbour unleashes The Bistro—a vibrant, rhythm-driven piece pulsing with wit and energy. It’s a playful yet precise exploration of form, where dancers become instruments of musicality and momentum.
- Alice Topp unveils Persistence of Memories, a hauntingly beautiful meditation on identity and transformation. With poetic nuance and cinematic flair, she invites us to reflect on the fragments of memory that shape who we are.
Also returning is Meeting Point by Singaporean choreographer Christina Chan, now reimagined for the theatre and accompanied live by pianist Gabriel Hoe. This intimate staging heightens the emotional resonance of the work, offering a fresh lens on connection and presence.
Set within the Esplanade’s black box theatre, Passages Contemporary Season strips dance down to its raw essence—where every gesture, breath, and glance is magnified. It’s a rare chance to witness the power of contemporary ballet up close, in a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the universal language of movement.
“Just as ballet fuses strength and grace, the 60 years of friendship between Australia and Singapore blend resilience with creativity. This season is a living expression of that bond – an artistic interaction between our countries that continues to inspire and connect our people.”
— Allaster Cox, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore
“Passages is a rare opportunity to explore new ideas and push boundaries. It’s a space where creativity thrives and dancers bring raw emotion to life.”
— Natalie Weir, Resident Choreographer at Queensland Ballet, and guest Choreographer for Passages 2025
About the Choreographers
Alice Topp
Alice is the co-founder and creative director of Project Animo, Resident Choreographer with The Australian Ballet, and one of Australia’s leading choreographers. After joining The Australian Ballet in 2007, she began creating works like Trace and Little Atlas, which earned critical acclaiCo-founder and Creative Director of Project Animo, and Resident Choreographer with The Australian Ballet, Alice Topp is one of Australia’s leading choreographers. Her works such as Trace, Little Atlas, and Aurum have earned critical acclaim, with Aurumperformed internationally at The Joyce Theater in New York. She has choreographed for artists like Megan Washington, LANKS, and Ben Folds, and created works for Houston Ballet II and Queensland Ballet.
Christina Chan
Born in Singapore, Christina Chan studied at The Boston Conservatory and The New Zealand School of Dance. She has worked globally with artists across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Since 2011, she has created seven works for Singapore Ballet and is currently the resident choreographer at Sigma Contemporary Dance. She has been featured in Prestige magazine’s “40 under 40” and received the 2015 JCI TOYP award for cultural achievement.
Natalie Weir
Renowned for her physical partner work and organic movement style, Natalie Weir has created major works for The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Houston Ballet, and more. She served as Artistic Director of EDC from 2009 to 2018 and has received both an Australia Council Fellowship and the Lord Mayor’s Fellowship. Her works have earned 21 Helpmann and Australian Dance Award nominations.
Tim Harbour
A former Resident Choreographer for The Australian Ballet, Tim Harbour is known for blending classical, contemporary, and theatrical styles. His acclaimed works include Squander and Glory and Filigree and Shadow. He has choreographed for Houston Ballet, Singapore Ballet, and Queensland Ballet, with performances at Sadler’s Wells and The Joyce Theater. Harbour continues to create for major companies worldwide.
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