Naishi Wang + Jean Abreu

Start: 2024-02-23T20:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-02-23T21:00:00-05:00
Location: Azrieli Studio

Deciphers

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/33707

In-person event

February 22 - 23, 2024

Azrieli Studio 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

This event has passed

Naishi Wang + Jean Abreu

Feb 22 - 23, 2024

Azrieli Studio

naishi-wang-jean-abreu-deciphers-1 — Jean Abreu & Naishi Wang © Maya Yoncali

deciphers-for-web-2 — Jean Abreu & Naishi Wang © Maya Yoncali

naishi-wang-jean-abreu-deciphers-2 — Jean Abreu & Naishi Wang © Maya Yoncali

Dance Contemporary Canadian

In-person event
≈ 60 minutes · No intermission

NAC Co-production

Selected to participate in the Visiting Dance Artist Program, a joint initiative of the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre, contemporary dance artists Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu had to resign themselves to collaborating virtually when the pandemic struck. It wasn’t until 2021 that the stars aligned, and the two artists were finally able to meet at the NAC for a four-week artistic residency. But despite the passage of time, their creative flame never waned. Deciphers is the result of their collaboration, a transposition into movement of the poems, letters and images they exchanged during the lock down. Based on a deeply personal interpretation, this honest and dynamic new work is in constant evolution, and testifies to the exceptional synergy that developed between the co-creators over the many months they spent apart.   

Deciphers is a compelling physical performance bringing together elements of Chinese Folk Dance, Brazilian dance styles, spoken word, breath, and ink on paper to explore translation. The various mediums create and question complexities of communication through the lens of understanding and misunderstanding

Co-performers and choreographers, Wang and Abreu, use the stage as their blank canvas highlighting the body as a primal source for communication and carrier of meaning. Deciphers addresses translation as a linguistic phenomenon centering the immigrant experience.

On stage, the performers transfix the audience as it witnesses a work where cultures collide, and where a powerful physical performance journey demonstrates the extraordinary use of the body as a tool of linguistic expression. 

Post-show Chat

Following the presentation of Deciphers on Thursday, February 22, we invite the audience to stay in the Studio for a post-show chat with the artists. The discussion will be led by Daniel Mroz, Associate Professor at the Department of Theatre of the University of Ottawa.

Learn more in the program notes ›

The body speaks: Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu’s Deciphers

February 19, 2024 The seeds of Deciphers were sown during the pandemic. At a time when many sought new ways to connect amid isolation, contemporary dance artists Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu explored these same emotions through their experiences as immigrants. As Anya Wassenberg from Ludwig Van Toronto, writes “For audience members who don’t have firsthand experience of immigration, the performance speaks to universal elements of communication/miscommunication, and co-existence in a crowded world.” Naishi, who was born in Changchun, China, emigrated to Toronto in 2004 and Jean,

Artists

Choreography • performance Naishi Wang
Choreography • performance
Naishi Wang

Born in Changchun, China, Naishi Wang began his training at Jilin College of Art before moving to Canada in 2004 to attend The School of TDT. He was a company member of Toronto Dance Theatre for nine years, and in 2015 embarked on an independent career.

As an award-winning performer and independent choreographer, Naishi’s development aligns with his belief that the performing arts offer an imaginary perspective, and is interested in pushing the art form in the 21st century. He has collaborated with Berlin-based artist Christoph Winkler, and in 2009 was commissioned by SXM studio in Beijing to create concept-based dance works. In 2018, he premiered his celebrated solo Taking Breath. Naishi is an artist in residency at Citadel + Company in Toronto, and La Serre – arts vivants in Montreal. His collaboration with U.K.-based Jean Abreu is supported by the NAC-CCA Visiting Dance Artist Program.

Né à Changchun, en Chine, Naishi Wang a obtenu sa formation en arts martiaux, danse classique et danses traditionnelles de la Chine au collège des arts Jilin. Il a déménagé au Canada en 2004 afin d’étudier à l’École du Toronto Dance Theater, compagnie dont il a ensuite fait partie pendant 9 ans et a décidé en 2015 d’œuvrer comme artiste indépendant en danse.

Deux idées sont au cœur de la pratique de chorégraphe indépendant de Wang : les arts du spectacle ouvrent une fenêtre sur l’imaginaire et il faut repousser les limites de ce qu’est la danse au XXI^e siècle. Il a commencé à travailler à des projets collectifs en Allemagne; il a ainsi co chorégraphié deux solos et un duo avec Christopher Winkler, artiste au Tanz-Theatre de Berlin. En 2018, il a présenté son solo Taking Breath en première à Toronto. Naishi Wang est actuellement artiste en résidence à Citadel + Company (Toronto) et à LA SERRE – arts vivants (Montréal). Sa collaboration avec l’artiste basé au Royaume-Uni Jean Abreu est supportée par le CNA-CAC programme des artistes invités en danse.
NAC media featuring Naishi Wang
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Choreography • performance Jean Abreu
Choreography • performance
Jean Abreu

Born in Brazil, Jean Abreu moved to London in 1996 after receiving a scholarship to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. In 2003, he was awarded the Jerwood Choreography Award for the creation of his first choreography, Hibrido. Since then, his work has toured throughout the U.K., Europe, Brazil and China including performances for Dance Umbrella, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Royal Opera House and Southbank Centre in London.

Creative & digital technology has consistently featured within and challenged his varied performance work.

In 2009, he founded Jean Abreu Dance and has since collaborated with influential artists across multiple art forms. Jean has taught extensively in the U.K. and abroad and is currently a regular guest artist at numerous universities. His collaboration with Toronto-based Naishi Wang is supported by the NAC-CCA Visiting Dance Artist Program.

Né au Brésil, Jean Abreu s’est installé à Londres en 1996 à l’obtention d’une bourse d’études du conservatoire de musique et de danse Trinity Laban. Lauréat du prix de chorégraphie Jerwood en 2003, il a créé la même année sa première pièce, Hibrido. Celle-ci a depuis tourné au Royaume-Uni – notamment à Dance Umbrella, au festival Fringe d’Édimbourg, au Royal Opera House et au Southbank Centre de Londres –, en Europe, au Brésil et en Chine.

Les technologies numériques et de création ont une place importante dans ses différentes œuvres pour la scène.

Abreu a fondé Jean Abreu Dance en 2009, et a depuis collaboré avec plusieurs artistes influents œuvrant dans une multitude de disciplines et enseigne la danse au Royaume-Uni et ailleurs, notamment dans des universités et organisations de danse renommées. Sa collaboration avec l’artiste basé en Chine Naishi Wang est supportée par le CNA-CAC programme des artistes invités en danse.
NAC media featuring Jean Abreu
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Lighting Design Lucie Bazzo 
Visual Design Ivy Wang
Composer Olesia Onykiienko
Dramaturgic Advice Guy Cools 
Outside Eyes Ginelle Chagnon 
Rehearsal Director Xing Bang Fu
Voice Coach Fides Krucker
Access Consultant Zed Lightheart 
Technical Director Emerson Kafarowski 
Stage Manager/Technical Assistant in collaboration A.J. Morra
Management Michael Peter Johnson, Jean Abreu Dance + Robert Sauvey, Dance Umbrella of Ontario
Technical Manager Cath Cullinane
PR & Marketing Diagonal Dance
Partners in Canada MAI |  Montréalarts interculturels (Montréal) + National Arts Centre (Ottawa) + Harbourfront Centre (Toronto) + Citadel + Compagnie (Toronto) + PuSh Festival (Vancouver) + The CanDance Network (Toronto) + Canadian High Commission UK 
Partners in UK Fabric Dance (Birmingham & Nottingham) + Towner Gallery (Eastbourne) + Brighton Dome (Brighton) + South East Dance (Brighton)
Co-Production Deciphers is supported by the National Arts Centre Visiting Dance Artist Program + The CanDance Network small-scale creation fund + Canada Council for the Arts + Performing Arts Technical Residency programme at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto + PuSh Festival Walks special podcast + Toronto Arts Council + Ontario Arts Council + Arts Council England + Canadian High Commission UK

Articles & reviews

ludwig-van.com

PREVIEW | Independent Dancemakers Naishi Wang & Jean Abreu Talk About Deciphers

The creative team backing up the dancers includes lighting design by Lucie Bazzo, visual design by Ivy Wang, sound design by Olesia...
thestar.com

Internet draws together dancers who translate the immigrant experience

Neither Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu spoke English well - now they explore the complexities of language, human communication and the immigrant...