TAO Dance Theater was founded in 2008 by Tao Ye -- choreographer, costume designer, and consummate performer -- and in less than five years has had a remarkable impact. It's no exaggeration to say that TAO Dance Theater has taken contemporary dance by storm -- and revolutionized the world of dance in China. One U.S. reviewer described them as "performers working at the far edge of the known world of movement."
According to Tao Ye, art in Chinese contemporary society has stagnated in kitsch and stereotype. "Our bodies are adrift and there is extreme lack of physical research," he says. The solution is to "rediscover the neglected essence" of dance and the body, and to reconnect with self and identity, so that in the "pursuit of the corporeal, our spirit becomes free." He believes that each individual in the arts should have his own vision, attitude and perspective and that there should be more independent, individual voices. Tao explains that, in China, people have set standards of aesthetics and beliefs about what is considered beautiful. Audiences expect dance to be representational and to understand everything they see. But that only takes one so far, and this world felt closed and limited. Propelled by his own artistic vision, Tao Ye founded TAO Dance Theater -- a bold move, and not an easy decision in a country where independent dance artists are few and far between.
Tao Ye's gamble has been phenomenally successful and his work has been praised for its theatrical force and authority. Time Out Beijing wrote that "Tao Ye is emerging rapidly as a force to be reckoned with, as well as the most exciting name in modern dance." The Times (London) called Tao Ye "a radical new presence" and the UK's Ballet-Dance magazine said, "...his is some of the more interesting dance to come out of China to date ... it’s hard to disagree with the contention that he is 'one to watch'."
In the beginning, Tao Ye worked with naturalist and figurative trends, but he has now made the headlong (and very successful) plunge into choreography which explores the shapes and structures of forms, focusing on interactions between movement and music in minimalist fashion. Tao Ye is a dedicated exponent of pure movement and his work explores multiplying layers of body language and physical movements through space. TAO Dance Theater is known for outrageousness and sheer bravura theatrical impact. The company displays a kind of abstract expressionism at work -- form is content -- and it's remarkably beautiful and performed with knock-out virtuosity. The company is renowned for the elegant expressiveness of its dancers, and for challenging the conventions of modern dance. In China, TAO Dance Theater has collaborated with leading artists across numerous genres, including theatre, cinema, visual arts, and installation art. Mesmerizing soundscapes, riveting silences, experimental music, and stunning stage effects have garnered the company rave reviews and sold-out audiences around the world.
The company will perform a 20-minute excerpt from Weight x 3 (to music by Steve Reich) and the 48-minute 2 (the company's newest work, a hypnotic, minimalist duet performed by Tao Ye and Duan Ni) in the NAC Studio. Please join us for a post-performance talkback session on November 22.
Post-Performance chat
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
Join Tao Ye, Choreographer for TAO Dance Theater after the show on Thursday, Nov 22 for a special post-performance chat to share your experience of the performance. The 20 minute chat will take place in the theatre right after the show.
Pre-Performance Talk
Saturday, Nov 24, 2012
6:30PM – Le Salon room of the NAC (In English only).
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Carving Out Space for Modern Dance in China.” By Alison Freidman
Alison Friedman is the founding director of Ping Pong Productions, a producing and consulting organization headquartered in Beijing with the mission of cultural diplomacy. The pre- show chat will address the current situation of modern dance in China in the context of domestic economic forces and market pressures from abroad. Her presentation includes photos and dance excerpts, examines the evolving Chinese performing arts context and explores influences that are encumbering the development of modern dance in China. She also offers observations for what must happen for a homegrown modern dance “genius” to develop in China.
