IN THE PERFORMING art world's continual search for innovation, traditional lines are being blurred as a new medium - dance video - hits Hong Kong. Jumping Frames, jointly presented by the City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) and Videotage, is a project aimed at bringing together lovers of both art forms and introducing the dance video concept to audiences. The likes of Belgium's Wim Vandekeybus and the DV8 collective in Britain have helped put dance video on the world map. 'Dance video is well developed in Europe, but not here,' says Clementine Chan, CCDC's programme and marketing manager. 'In Hong Kong, there are willing artists, but no presenters, so we needed to initiate this. 'Video is a good medium to promote dance. The screenings are affordable, and Hong Kong audiences are used to the format,' she says. 'Videotage is very experienced in this field, so we got together to mix and match artists for collaboration. Most didn't know each other before we introduced them.' Choreographer and performer Yuri Ng and video-maker Sebastian Lallemand are two such artists. They've joined forces to create a 40-minute dance sequence for video - one that hasn't been performed before an audience. 'The challenge was how to put movement into frames,' Lallemand says. 'There are so many possibilities.' 'On stage,' says Ng, 'one can choose to see what one wants, though on screen there is more direction to make the viewer see exactly what we want.' The pair adopted an organic approach to shooting, brainstorming and coming up with a shared vision first and choosing locations to shoot. Ng says he improvised his movements as they shot the video. 'Nothing was set up,' he says. 'I was affected by the space, people, air and smells. It was strange, as I was dancing in public, though it was not meant to be a performance; a very interesting experience.' From the recorded material (24 tapes, each 40 minutes long), the work developed. 'The pieces were not connected at the beginning,' Lallemand says. 'The story only came together afterwards, during editing.' Their piece, Alienation, follows a suit-clad thirtysomething (Ng) experiencing a mid-life crisis. Along the way, Ng negotiates familiar and unexpected territory. It's accompanied by a specially commissioned soundtrack, courtesy of Broadway composer Leon Ko. Another commissioned work on show is Aftermath - an exploration of physical death, and the body's spiritual place within that process. Christopher Lau, video artist and manager of Videotage, teamed up with cinematographer Nose Chan and choreographer and dancer Daniel Yeung for the project. 'We wanted to create a broad vision of this topic,' Yeung says, 'and not present something self-indulgent or singular in viewpoint.' The relationship between camera and performer is of parallel importance. 'In terms of choreography, everything that moves is dance - from the curtains and the props to, in this case, the camera,' he says. 'Choreography is not just of the body. I provide something to be captured, and Christopher transforms it into something else. To me, that is art.' Lau agrees. 'The movement of the camera is the dancer's partner doing a dance itself, always interacting.' This multi-medium alchemy is, perhaps, the essence of why dance video works so well: the process not only delivers the performance in a novel and accessible fashion, but adds a new dimension and potential en route. 'It is an independent medium,' Lau says. 'Everyone has a home video these days. The size of the camera allows great freedom to experiment with angles, and it's easy to edit and manipulate in post-production ... and, of course, it's cheaper than film.' Commissioned works - of which there are three (plus a special screening from two travelling French artists) - make up just one component of Jumping Frames. The programme also included Hong Kong's first open call to the public for entries in this field. Applications from all over Asia were received, with the top five selected for inclusion in this year's event. As well, a series of free lectures and seminars has been held, to educate and showcase all that dance video represents. Jumping Frames, today and tomorrow, May 12-15, Fringe Club Theatre, 2 Lower Albert Rd, Central. $40, $50. For more information, go to www.videotage.org.hk or www.ccdc.com.hk