The space created by the body's movement plays an important role in the artistic creation of dance. It's also an issue that is repeatedly experimented with by post-modern dancers and choreographers, both in China and around the world.
Hou Ying, one of China's first generation modern dance artists, has made a bold attempt to tackle the much-discussed issue. Presented by the dance theatre named after herself, the piece "The Moment" strives to capture the fragmented memories of a life that's full of possibilities.
Presented by Hou Ying Dance Theatre, the piece "The Moment" strives to capture the fragmented memories of a life that's full of possibilities.
No background music. No stage gimmicks. One dancer utters meaningless and random numbers, while others fill and share the stage with distorted movements.
"The Moment," choreographed by Hou Ying, boasts no theme or storyline. According to Hou, during the process of creation she was trying to empty her mind and to make something fun out of nothing.
"We think a lot all the time. But at that moment I really want to give up the process of thinking. So at that moment I thought, OK let's make a game. I asked the dancers to make games," Hou said.
"They wrote words and later they switched, and they made movements according to the words. I picked up the movements and combined them together. They also called numbers, which is also part of the game. I asked dancers 'You can tell me what the point of the numbers is, be it 1 or 2 or 3.' I didn't judge anything."
Presented by Hou Ying Dance Theatre, the piece "The Moment" strives to capture the fragmented memories of a life that's full of possibilities.
Hou Ying's signature buzz cut hairstyle makes her stand out. A former established dancer and choreographer of the Guangdong Modern Dance Company, the first professional modern dance company in China, Hou has over the years developed her own style that's rich in nuanced body language and agile movements.
Hou established her current dance theatre in 2011, which was developed from her Vision Dance Theatre company founded in New York in 2006 when she was studying in the States. In 2008 Hou returned to China to join the production team creating the 8-minute dance work 'The Picture,' which was performed at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Talking about her piece "The Moment," Hou explains she really enjoys the moments she's having now.
"This is my moment. It's my moment to be in China. I'm being now. I have a sense about this country and the people. The dance can help me tell what I feel about this. It's subconsciousness. It's totally about this," she said.
So far the Hou Ying Dance Theatre has toured more than 10 countries around the world with a rich repertoire, having been invited to international art festivals such as the Lincoln outdoor art festival and the New York Festival of Asian Art.
"The Moment" presented by Hou Ying Dance Theatre runs for two consecutive nights at the Qinglan Theatre on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
