Tomorrow Was Becoming: Caroline Hu x Emma Portner
Caroline Hu, winner of the first BoF CHINA PRIZE, joins forces with celebrated choreographer Emma Portner in a dance-film hybrid blending Hu’s romantic couture with Portner’s boundary-pushing explorations of movement, identity, and solitude.
Dance Choreography Video: Tomorrow Was Becoming
Caroline’s SS26 collection explores the intricate structure of human and social behavior. From an early age, we are shaped by civilization, learning manners, adhering to rules, and establishing hierarchies. Yet within us stirs a strong desire to transcend these boundaries and expectations—both consciously and subconsciously.
“We yearn to express our true selves and break free from societal constraints; this is a natural expression of our humanity, rather than a conflict with opposing forces. While contemplating this theme, the designer considered the fluidity of dance and movement—an artistic expression that arises from thoughtful choreography yet retains primal bodily rhythms. This serves as a powerful medium for conveying the tension and struggle inherent in adhering to civil norms. Thus, we sought out Emma Portner, a world-renowned choreographer who navigates between mainstream and theatrical interpretations, maintaining artistic integrity while remaining approachable to the public.”
“In the imagery, we express our exploration of human and social concepts through a pair of male and female dancers. Their delicate balance of intimacy and authentic expression reveals the fragile complexities of interpersonal relationships and the subtle shifts in communication. As observers, we reflect on the contrasts of societal norms.”
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“Red lights instruct us to stop, while green lights beckon us to proceed. Yet in the remote areas of the U.S., it is not uncommon to encounter stretches of road devoid of traffic for miles. In such moments, do we remain frozen, waiting for the light to change, or do we listen to our instincts and break free from existing frameworks? This exploration of taboo—questioning what is deemed correct or acceptable—is at the heart of our piece.”
“Beyond the intimate relationship between the two dancers, we also position our concepts within nature, creating a vast world that invites various emotional bonds and intimate physical interactions. Through Emma Portner’s dynamic movements, we aim to unveil the raw, natural impulses that emerge when societal expectations are challenged.”
Designer Caroline Hu x Choreographer Emma Portner
Originally from China, fashion designer Caroline Hu graduated from Central Saint Martins in London, majoring in womenswear design, and furthered her training with a master’s degree in fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York. She is best known for transmitting moving and profound life experiences to the audiences through her haute couture design and craftsmanship. She injects her understanding of beauty and pursuit of romance into the realm of visual and imagination, while unapologetically advocating for women’s independence, awareness, and freedom. Hu has earned broad recognition for her talent throughout her career.
Canadian choreographer Emma Portner is a multidisciplinary artist celebrated for her emotionally charged movement language and radical versatility across genres. The New York Times described her as “a singular talent who seems able to channel the fragility and power of the human condition in equal measure,” while Dance Magazine praised her as “a rare visionary, blurring boundaries between contemporary dance, film, and fashion.” Portner continues to push the limits of classical rigour and experimental form across stage, film, music, and installation.
In “Tomorrow Was_____”, her choreography is both grounded and ethereal, embodying stillness, tension, vulnerability with striking precision, shaping the emotional atmosphere of the space, and anchoring the moving image in a deeply human language.
CAROLINE HÚ "Tomorrow was_____" Metalook Collection
Credit
Designer: Caroline Hu
Director: Emma Portner
Choreography & Performance: Emma Portner & Justin de Jager
Editor: Emma Portner
Co-Editor: Katya Mokolo
Co-Editor: Justin de Jager
Colorist: Katya Mokolo
Assistant Director: Xander Sen
Cinematographers:
Katya Mokolo
Christophe Deroo
Camera Operators:
Katia Hamnane
Bill Fabre
Xander Sen
Composer: Elori Saxl
Sound Design: Elori Saxl
Additional Composition: Peter Coccoma
Assistant Movement Director: Xander Sen
Assistant Movement Director: Remy Feldbruegge
Test Shot Dancer: Remy Feldbruegge
Test Shot Camera Operator: Xander Sen
Production:
Emma Portner Studio
Trente Zero Sept
Location Scout: Emma Portner
Locations:
Bytowne Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Pine Lodge, Bristol, Quebec, Canada
CF Rideau Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Bristol Mines, Bristol, Quebec, Canada
Parc des Chutes Coulogne, Mansfield-et-Pontefract, Quebec, Canada
Quyon Ferry, Quyon, Quebec, Canada
Bytowne Cinema Manager: Geneviève Morin
Tractor Operator: Byron Sheppard
Special thanks to: Heather & Dan Paszkowski, Annie & Don, Brooke Carson, RVZ Paris, Julien Borne, Jon Stewart, The Clark Lake Community & The Bytowne Cinema.
