Studio 88 is honored to welcome Sophon Tabklong aka Toffee, a groundbreaking visually impaired artist, blind dancer, acting coach, performance artist, and disability justice advocate from Thailand. Toffee’s artistic practice expands the boundaries of dance and theatre, offering a transformative perspective on embodiment, perception, and inclusion. He will give a talk, conduct a workshop, and lead an experimental lab titled “The Touch of Movement & Connection” during his time at Studio 88!
Toffee approaches movement through the lens of touch, sound, space, and memory—reclaiming the body as a site of both self-discovery and social transformation. Born blind, he navigates and interprets the world not through sight, but through physical sensation, emotional timing, and embodied memory. Each movement, gesture, and pause becomes a form of visual language, deeply rooted in experience and feeling.
His journey began with Blind Theatre, where over 4–5 years he trained intensively in physical expression. For Toffee, acting and performance were not just about taking on a role—but about learning what his body could do, discovering how it moves, responds, and communicates. The rehearsal room became a space of deep experimentation, where the body’s potential was slowly uncovered through repetition, contact, and trust.
In his own words, movement was once his greatest fear. As a blind person, he feared the risks that came with moving through an unpredictable world. But by facing that fear—by learning to trust his body and the space around him—Toffee transformed movement into empowerment. Today, he works to create opportunities for disabled and non-disabled individuals to move together, not as separate worlds, but as part of a shared human experience.
Working closely with Dr Nitiphat Pholchai (Ong), Toffee is a core collaborator in “Blind Together,” a multi-year movement research initiative exploring non-visual dance, kinesthetic empathy, and collective access in Southeast Asia. Through practices like Contact Improvisation, he helps co-create inclusive, sensory-rich spaces that center listening, co-regulation, and co-creation beyond sight.
Toffee’s work is not only artistic—it’s deeply political and communal. He speaks openly about the social barriers faced by blind and disabled individuals in Thailand, especially the fear of public life and social participation. His art invites us to ask: When was the last time you saw a blind person at a swimming pool, a restaurant, or a cinema—not performing, but simply living? His performances become a call to action—to build a world where difference is not feared, but embraced.
People often ask him how a blind person can ‘see’ an image,” Toffee says. “For me, images come from memory—of movement, time, and feeling. That’s how I see. And through art, I want others to see differently too.”
During his time at Studio 88, Toffee will continue developing his somatic performance practice, inviting us all to move past fear—toward connection, shared vulnerability, and radical inclusion. Together with Ong, Toffee will give a talk, conduct a workshop, and lead an experimental lab titled “The Touch of Movement & Connection”
Talk: Attendees will listen to Dr. Nitipat (Ong) and Toffee share their ideas and artistic practices around movement and connection. This is a great chance to get to know the artists, their perspectives, and the core concepts behind the work.
Workshop: A guided, practice-based session where participants will engage in exercises involving movement, voice, and participatory theatre. Facilitated by Ong and Toffee, the workshop explores embodied awareness, accessibility, and shared physical expression.
Lab: The Lab will emerge based on what unfolds in the talk and workshop. Participants (including invited artists, musicians, performers) can propose, test, and explore ideas in an open, collaborative environment. It’s less structured, and more about shared discovery and improvisation.
Studio 88 is committed to being an inclusive space, striving to provide a safe, supportive, and accessible environment for creativity—for everyone, including individuals with disabilities, special needs, or those requiring additional care.
Studio 88 is accepting applications on an on-going basis. Check out our residency program and apply now.
Studio 88 Artist Residency 