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Modern dance inspired by 'wild' calligraphy
By Nie Xin |
October 29, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE "dance" of calligraphers and flowing energy of Chinese characters inspire the Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan to perform its world-famous "Cursive: A Trilogy" on November 17-18. Nie Xin picks up a brush.
The world-famous Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan will perform its acclaimed contemporary dance "Cursive: A Trilogy" at Hangzhou's Red Star Theater next month.
"Trilogy" by theater founder and director Lin Hwai-min is inspired by Chinese calligraphy and is considered ground-breaking in dance theater.
It will be performed on November 17-18 and accompanied by shows of a film about Lin and his works, a lecture by the innovative choreographer and a seminar on contemporary dance and Asian elements.
"No company in the world dances like Cloud Gate. It presents a distinct and mature Chinese choreographic language," writes Dance Europe magazine.
"The importance of this evolution in Asian dance is no less profound than the impact of Forsythe's Ballet Frankfurt on European classical ballet."
The "Cursive: A Trilogy" (2001, 2003, 2005) was awarded the "Best Choreography of 2006" in a critics' poll by Ballet Tanz magazine and Theaterheute in Germany.
Cloud Gate's rich repertoire has its roots in Asian myths, folklore and aesthetics, but it brings to ancient beliefs and stories a contemporary and universal perspective.
The company is made up of two dozen dancers whose training includes tai chi tao yin (an ancient form of qigong), meditation, martial arts, Chinese opera movement, modern dance, ballet and calligraphy.
"I am always fascinated by the way ink flows on rice paper. Tender and fluid, it creates rich shades, from intense black to misty white," says choreographer Lin.
"I hope I can convey the rich dynamics of dancing characters in calligraphy and the serene and intense power of the empty space on the white paper."
Lin studied Chinese opera movement in Taiwan, modern dance in New York and classical court dance in Japan and South Korea.
He often draws inspiration from traditional Asian culture to create works with innovative forms and contemporary relevance.
The New York Times wrote, "Lin Hwai-min has succeeded brilliantly in fusing dance techniques and theatrical concepts from the East and the West."
After studying Chinese calligraphy masterpieces, Lin found, despite the differences in styles, they all shared one common element - the focused energy with which the calligraphers "danced" during writing.
The dancers absorb the energy, the qi of the writer, and imitate the linear "route" of ink, full of lyrical flows and strong punctuations, with rich variations in energy. The exercise produced unimaginable movements, with subtle slow motions and dynamic martial-arts-like attacks.
These eventually became the material for the original "Cursive" (2001) with slides of gigantic brush characters as backdrops. "Cursive II" came in 2003 and the final chapter of the trilogy, "Wild Cursive" (2005) draws choreographic ideas from "wild calligraphy," or kuang cao in Chinese. This free style is considered the pinnacle in Chinese cursive aesthetics freeing characters from any set form and revealing the writer's spirit.
Inspired by the essence of "wild calligraphy," cascading streams of rice paper are the sole set decoration. Black ink seeps onto the paper slowly; creating "wild" and abstract patterns, and breathes through the entire performance.
Against and between the layers of rice paper, Cloud Gate dancers' liquid movement echoes the serpentine and meandering lines of the ink. Their organic vocals and foot stamps further enrich the music from the natural sounds.
The company was founded by Lin in 1973. According to legend, cloud gate is the oldest known dance in China, a ritual dance going back 5,000 years.
Under Lin's direction, the company has been exploring traditional Chinese physical disciplines, including meditation and martial arts.
These led to "Songs of the Wanderers" (1994) and "Moon Water" (1998), which was named the best dance of the year by The New York Times in 2003.
Cloud Gate Theater has toured worldwide.
At home, Cloud Gate is popular and acclaimed, performing throughout the island from the grand theater in Taipei to medium-sized venues to high school auditoriums in remote villages. It gives free outdoor performances.
In addition to two performances, "Lin Hwai-min in Hangzhou" will include a film of the highlights of Lin's works, a lecture by Lin and a seminar on contemporary dance.
Date: November 17-18, 7:30pm
Venue: Hangzhou Red Star Theater, 280 Jianguo Rd S.
Tickets: 150-880 yuan
Tel: (0571) 8839-8123, 400-818-3333
The world-famous Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan will perform its acclaimed contemporary dance "Cursive: A Trilogy" at Hangzhou's Red Star Theater next month.
"Trilogy" by theater founder and director Lin Hwai-min is inspired by Chinese calligraphy and is considered ground-breaking in dance theater.
It will be performed on November 17-18 and accompanied by shows of a film about Lin and his works, a lecture by the innovative choreographer and a seminar on contemporary dance and Asian elements.
"No company in the world dances like Cloud Gate. It presents a distinct and mature Chinese choreographic language," writes Dance Europe magazine.
"The importance of this evolution in Asian dance is no less profound than the impact of Forsythe's Ballet Frankfurt on European classical ballet."
The "Cursive: A Trilogy" (2001, 2003, 2005) was awarded the "Best Choreography of 2006" in a critics' poll by Ballet Tanz magazine and Theaterheute in Germany.
Cloud Gate's rich repertoire has its roots in Asian myths, folklore and aesthetics, but it brings to ancient beliefs and stories a contemporary and universal perspective.
The company is made up of two dozen dancers whose training includes tai chi tao yin (an ancient form of qigong), meditation, martial arts, Chinese opera movement, modern dance, ballet and calligraphy.
"I am always fascinated by the way ink flows on rice paper. Tender and fluid, it creates rich shades, from intense black to misty white," says choreographer Lin.
"I hope I can convey the rich dynamics of dancing characters in calligraphy and the serene and intense power of the empty space on the white paper."
Lin studied Chinese opera movement in Taiwan, modern dance in New York and classical court dance in Japan and South Korea.
He often draws inspiration from traditional Asian culture to create works with innovative forms and contemporary relevance.
The New York Times wrote, "Lin Hwai-min has succeeded brilliantly in fusing dance techniques and theatrical concepts from the East and the West."
After studying Chinese calligraphy masterpieces, Lin found, despite the differences in styles, they all shared one common element - the focused energy with which the calligraphers "danced" during writing.
The dancers absorb the energy, the qi of the writer, and imitate the linear "route" of ink, full of lyrical flows and strong punctuations, with rich variations in energy. The exercise produced unimaginable movements, with subtle slow motions and dynamic martial-arts-like attacks.
These eventually became the material for the original "Cursive" (2001) with slides of gigantic brush characters as backdrops. "Cursive II" came in 2003 and the final chapter of the trilogy, "Wild Cursive" (2005) draws choreographic ideas from "wild calligraphy," or kuang cao in Chinese. This free style is considered the pinnacle in Chinese cursive aesthetics freeing characters from any set form and revealing the writer's spirit.
Inspired by the essence of "wild calligraphy," cascading streams of rice paper are the sole set decoration. Black ink seeps onto the paper slowly; creating "wild" and abstract patterns, and breathes through the entire performance.
Against and between the layers of rice paper, Cloud Gate dancers' liquid movement echoes the serpentine and meandering lines of the ink. Their organic vocals and foot stamps further enrich the music from the natural sounds.
The company was founded by Lin in 1973. According to legend, cloud gate is the oldest known dance in China, a ritual dance going back 5,000 years.
Under Lin's direction, the company has been exploring traditional Chinese physical disciplines, including meditation and martial arts.
These led to "Songs of the Wanderers" (1994) and "Moon Water" (1998), which was named the best dance of the year by The New York Times in 2003.
Cloud Gate Theater has toured worldwide.
At home, Cloud Gate is popular and acclaimed, performing throughout the island from the grand theater in Taipei to medium-sized venues to high school auditoriums in remote villages. It gives free outdoor performances.
In addition to two performances, "Lin Hwai-min in Hangzhou" will include a film of the highlights of Lin's works, a lecture by Lin and a seminar on contemporary dance.
Date: November 17-18, 7:30pm
Venue: Hangzhou Red Star Theater, 280 Jianguo Rd S.
Tickets: 150-880 yuan
Tel: (0571) 8839-8123, 400-818-3333
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