Australia Dancing - Chan, Kai Tai (1944

Chan, Kai Tai (1944 - )

Lynkushka, Angela: Portrait of Kai Tai Chan, 1992 or 1993

Kai Tai Chan grew up in Penang, Malaysia and came to Australia to study in the 1960s. He completed a Bachelor of Architecture degree at the University of New South Wales, Sydney and eventually practised architecture in both Sydney and London. While studying in Sydney, Chan performed in many Asian student concerts and choreographed short pieces (including several versions of the Chinese scarf dance) on a number of occasions. After seeing a show choreographed by Margaret Barr for her Dance Drama Group he began to take classes with Barr and to perform with her group. He also took ballet classes from Moya Beaver and later from Valrene Tweedie and appeared, mostly dancing Barr's works, in a number of Ballet Australia workshops and choreographic competitions. During a period of time in London between 1973 and 1976, in conjunction with another dancer, Sue Little, he established a small company, Another Dance Group. In 1975 he was attached to London Contemporary Dance Theatre as a guest choreographer.

Chan returned to Australia in 1976 and formed the One Extra Dance Group, which he directed until 1991. The company, which became fully professional in 1981, underwent two name changes to the One Extra Dance Company in 1978 and the One Extra Company in 1983. The company's first production, The Drop in Show (1976), was an experimental dance event happening simultaneously in various spaces at the Stanley Palmer Cultural Palace. Throughout the 1980s Chan commissioned a range of composers and visual artists to work with him on new, contemporary dance pieces for One Extra and the company travelled extensively in Australia and overseas. Chan resigned as artistic director in 1991 although continued to choreograph as a freelance artist into the mid 1990s.

Bibliography:

Garry Lester, 'Kai Tai Chan: part one, fingers dancing in the dark', Brolga, 8 (June 1998), pp. 7-17; Garry Lester, 'Kai Tai Chan: part two, the London years', Brolga, 10 (June 1999), pp. 46-55. A list of the choreography made by Kai Tai Chan for the One Extra Company between 1976 and 1991 is included in The Ausdance Guide to Australian Dance Companies (Canberra: AGPS, 1994) at pp. 164-173.

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Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia