Slinky Sticky Toys by The Kueh Tutus
By The Kueh Tutus | GroundBreakers 2019
This is a physical dance work of 30-45 minutes for children aged 5-10 years inspired by evergreen toys (such as the slinky, rubber-band ropes and the expanding ball) that are still popular today. The designs’ responses to the laws of gravity create an inherent sense of suspense, expectation and unpredictability. By playing with these toys we research and develop a dance-work that looks at ideas of cause/effect, connectivity and gravity/falling. Our quest also includes the search for a way of presenting dance that is highly interactive, gives the audience a sense of agency and blurs the line between performer and spectator without losing the wonder and sense of performance.
The Kueh Tutus are a collaborative team of creatives (dancers, a composer, a dramaturg) who dove into exploring dances and dance-based experiences for the young and very young. We have spent hours teaching, playing with or being children. Now we also feed a desire for discovery and unlock the imagination through works that are developed with children as an integral part of the creative process. Egged on by choreographer Melissa Quek, we combined our super-powers of productive curiosity in 2017 when our playful engagement with music and movement captured the hearts of parents and children alike.“The Kueh Tutus have brilliantly woven dance, theatre, music and art altogether in presenting a tantalising performance that inspired our family not to limit our imagination and the power of what we could create with that which is within and around us.” – Lim Wen Ee, Mother of Emma (8), Shauna (6), Olivia (3)
