9.2

Synopsis

Asian Premiere

Two great Deaf artists, one exuberant Ode to Joy

Beethoven composed his Ninth Symphony when he was almost completely deaf. Deaf choreographer Cai Glover chooses to dance onstage without his hearing aid. What do our senses – or absence thereof – say about the way we experience the world? And above all, how do they guide us beyond our differences?

In 2016, Hélène Blackburn created 9, a landmark work in the Cas Public repertoire inspired by the journey of Cai Glover – then a Deaf dancer who had worked with the company for over ten years. Never a mere subject, Glover was a full-fledged player in a creative process grounded in mutual listening between dancer and choreographer. Together, Blackburn and Glover laid the foundation for a work in which inclusion is not decreed but lived in constant dialogue – a shared path towards the universal, culminating in a profound reflection on perception, language, and difference.

9.2 marks a new stage in this adventure, retaining the essence of 9 with a fresh look forged by experience, maturity, and an intimate understanding of the subject matter. Now co-choreographers, Glover and Blackburn revisit the scenic score with rigour and poetry, sculpting a space where sensory reference points become blurred, where light plays with perception, and where every movement becomes a megaphone.

In this physical and visceral re-reading, Beethoven's Ninth (re)embraces the contemporary vocabulary of Cas Public. 9.2 invites all audiences, young and old, to cross the boundaries of silence, to make absence an anchor point, and to recognise in each body, each journey, a potential language.

About the Artist

Cas Public

Founded in 1989 by choreographer Hélène Blackburn, Cas Public emphasises research in choreographic creation based on the renewal of aesthetics in contemporary dance.

Cas Public defines itself as a contemporary dance company dedicated to all audiences. Since 2001, the company has successfully ventured into shows for young audiences, with the aim of introducing the public to dance and contributing to its development.

Renowned for its spirited, high-performance dance, Cas Public's reputation has been built on the exceptional quality of its creations and an assiduous presence on national and international stages.

Remarks

1. Free seating.
2. You are recommended to arrive 15 minutes before the event starts. Latecomers will be admitted at appropriate times.
3. Student Pass holders may queue on-site for available seats.
4. Programmes are subject to change without prior notice. HKPAX reserves the right to final decision regarding programme arrangements.