Chameleon 2011 Trailer

Chameleon, the experience of global citizens: 2011 Trailer from Alaine Handa on Vimeo.

Choreography by Alaine Handa & Dancers
"I am a TCK" film Directed by Alaine Handa, Editing by Nicholas Fox & Alaine Handa
Dancers: Alaine Handa, Laura Lamp, Anna Louise Herzog, Tsubasa Ogawa, Olivea Shure, Lauren Calzolaio, Lara Sofia Romero
Prop Design: Natalia Krasnodebska

Special Thanks to interviewees: Nikki Felt, Zachary Tewalthomas, Teresa Aradhana Hinds, Shayna Padovano, Ryan Tish, Ryan Kendle, Michael Chan, Natalia Krasnodebska, Simon Roberts, Reena Vadehra, Miko Mercer, Melissa Diaz Viera

Chameleon is supported in part by funds from the Singapore Internationale grant administered by Singapore International Foundation (www.sif.org.sg)
With additional support by the following individuals, companies, and organizations: TCKid, Aga Magdolen, Tina Quick, Jo Parfitt, Nicholas Fox, Eddie Hussein Nwabuoku, Ann Gould, Andrew Avery Smith, Nancy Henderson-James, Sabajin McGray, Reena Vadehra, Ann Mazzoca, Lauren Rayner Productions, Doris Chan, Natalia Krasnodebska, Miko Mercer, Tiara the Merch Girl, Emery Brenner, Rob Oandasan, Albert Gumilang, Eveline Dorothy Chang, Melanie Eyth
In-Kind donations: The Luxury Spot, Argo Tea, Go Smile, Skin MD Natural, The Great Collide, Aqualia Spa, Holistic Health Fusion, Projet F, By Natalia Jewelry, Dance of my Hands Publishing, The Skinny, Everyday Crochet, YOR Health, Beautiful Faces, Stone Creek Bar

Chameleon premiered during the Spring 2010 as part of the Performance Project @ University Settlement in New York City.

Upcoming Performances during the Toronto Fringe Festival July 8-17, 2011; http://www.fringetoronto.com


For more information about Chameleon please visit http://tckcckahdanceproject.blogspot.com

For booking Chameleon for performances, workshops, and discussions on global citizenship please contact A.H. Dance Company ahdancecompany@gmail.com

Pictures from Cool NY 2011

We performed a short excerpt from Chameleon at the Cool New York Dance Festival in February 2011 and I received the CD of pictures taken during the performances. I want to share them with you because the pictures came out amazing.

Photography by Yi-Chun Wu

If you're in Toronto, Please save the dates to see Chameleon in your city!

July 6, 2011 Dance Workshop at O.I.P. Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada. 4-6 pm. C$20 per person

July 6-17, 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. Toronto, ON, Canada. http://www.fringetoronto.com/
Location: Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, 79A Saint George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
C$10

Friday, July 8, 2011 - 10:30pm - 11:30pm
Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 7:15pm - 8:15pm
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - 11:15pm - Friday, July 15, 2011 - 12:15am
Friday, July 15, 2011 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Sunday, July 17, 2011 - 5:45pm - 6:45pm

(If you're a TCK in Toronto - check out the Toronto Third Culture Kids group on Facebook!)

TCK Photography for Chameleon project by Lauryn Ishak

Photography & Story by Lauryn Ishak

When I was young, I never dreamed of having the life I have today. I have been absurdly lucky to have had a multi-cultured upbringing and education and privileged enough to be able to choose to do what I love most, ignited by my TCK experiences.

I was born in Germany to a German / Bahasa speaking parents, but quickly moved back to Indonesia, spending my childhood living a simple but comfortable life. My TCK life started when I was eleven. I moved to Hong Kong where I attended a German-speaking school because I spoke no English. The idea of leaving my extended family and friends behind was simply beyond my comprehension, and the prospect adjusting to a foreign place where I understood no one and thought no one understood me simply compounded my “misery”. However, as time passed, I began to appreciate my new surroundings. It allowed me to travel, meet new friends and most of all, broaden my perspectives on life.

Remembrance is a huge part of the TCK life. Every so often a new life awaits, somewhere else, somewhere foreign. These life changes are exciting but terrifying at the same time. It requires you to put your faith in something new that you’ve never dreamed of; putting your faith into something you can’t see.

As a TCK, you take your past experiences to your next destination and those cumulative experiences shape your character and sense of values. You become more aware and respectful towards the variety of cultures in your world – especially when you go on to live in multi-cultural, multi-religious cities like New York and Singapore.

I hesitate when people ask where I’m from. After all these years, I’ve still not perfected an answer. Frankly, I don’t know where home is at this stage of my life and am not inclined to pick one. Home is wherever I currently am. Fifteen years on, I can’t imagine life being any different than it is today.

Today, I feel blessed to be able to capture stories and beautiful things in this world through my lens. My upbringing has turned me some sort of globe trekker, growing restless when an overseas assignment isn’t on the cards for a prolonged period of time.

Lauryn Ishak is a photographer currently based in Singapore. She holds a BFA in Photography and Imaging from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Visit her website here.




















(Above) Pbotography (c) Joe Flood, Alaine Handa performing Chameleon @ Capital Fringe Festival w/ Lauryn Ishak's photography as a backdrop.