Here’s a great preview article about Shen Wei’s thinking behind the pieces he chose to perform tonight: Rite of Spring and Re:III, two very physically demanding pieces for the dancers. Check it out here.
Where: Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, in Princeton, NJ.
When: Tonight at 8 p.m.
Tickets: Call (609) 258-2787 or visit mccarter.org
Rite of Spring, photo by Christy Pessagno.
The third week of our residency project at the Paolo Grassi School has come to a close and what an incredible week it has been.
From January 13-19, our morning classes focused on furthering the in-depth study of breath, weight, flow, rotations, spirals, center-shifting and momentum through exercises from Shen Wei’s Natural Body Development Technique, previously introduced in November. Our afternoon studio time was spent exploring movement through breath, off-centeredness, suspension and open focus. Through improvisation we worked with ideas of alphabets and architecture as well as investigated movement initiation from spatial, musical, visual and energetic forces, both internal and external.
The challenge of differing verbal languages continued with ease through the generosity of Chiara, Georgina, Silvia and others who assisted with translating. On the topic of movement we used our bodies to communicate. Our movement studies will now continue independently until we gather again in February when Shen Wei Dance Arts performs in Milan.
- Sara Procopio
If you are in the area, please join us for our performance at Princeton University’s McCarter Theatre next Wednesday!
Description Tickets Directions
Here’s an oldie that hasn’t been posted yet (the blog didn’t exist then!). This was back in the fall of 2008, when Shen Wei Dance Arts was interviewed by Dance Channel TV at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Shen Wei talks about the Olympics and Map, with additional interviews from present and past company members Sara Procopio and Jessica Harris! Check out the interview here.
What an amazing year 2009 was!
Every once in a while a photo gem falls through the cracks. So we’ve decided to put some of those photos together to help us remember all the good times we had in the past year. And now for your viewing pleasure: SWDA’s 2009 Photo Recap!
Duke Residency
(Photo by: Michael Zirkle)
Syracuse Residency
(Photo: Alex Pines)
Park Ave Armory - Ernesto Neto Installation Response
(Photo: Miwa Ikemiya)
American Dance Festival – the premiere of Re- (Part III)
(Photo: Alex Pines)
Lincoln Center Festival
(Photo: Lois Greenfield)
Bassano, Italy
Setting up the Re-I mandala to perform inside of a castle nestled in the foothills of the Italian countryside!
(Photos: John Torres)
Guggenheim – Works and Process
Performing Folding in the rotunda of the Guggenheim.
(Photo: Yi-Chun Wu)
Singapore
Larger-than-life photos of SWDA dancers installed the entrances to the Esplanade!
(Photo: Matthew Lewandowski)In rehearsal
(Photo: Burr Johnson)
Hong Kong
(Photo: Sara Procopio)
Portland – White Bird Dance
SWDA members with the white bird, Barney (seen here in the center).
(Photo: Javier Baca)
Monaco
(Photo: Kate Jewett)Wishing you and your family health and happiness in the new year!
Warmest, Shen Wei Dance Arts
After the performances in Monaco, our company has had an unexpectedly long visit in Nice. Because of the snow, like many other weary travelers, our company members were unable to return home. And now, four days later most of them are still stranded and may be unable to return until after Christmas!
Waiting to fly
So send all of your positive vibes to them in the Nice, to help them get on a flight tomorrow so they can be home to celebrate the holidays with their families! Check back here for an complete photo update on their performances in Monaco. For now, stay warm, enjoy the holiday season, and keep sending good thoughts!
In case you missed seeing our feature on PBS this past summer (Shen Wei’s second time on Sunday Arts) check out the video posted online here! Don’t miss great footage of the company rehearsing for our performances at Lincoln Center, and Shen Wei describing the work in his own words.
Immediately following our Guggenheim performances (literally the next day) the company traveled to Singapore to perform at Esplanade Presents da:ns Festival for the Asian premiere of Re- (I, II, III). The cover of the festival’s brochure featured our dancers with expressive watercolor designs.
After a week of rehearsals, performances and master classes, the company headed to Hong Kong to perform at the Silk Road Arts Festival. In conjunction with the performances, Shen Wei had an exhibition of the photographs he took along the Silk Road which served as inspiration for Re- (I, II, III). The flier for the exhibition is below:
Shen Wei’s exhibition was installed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and again later at the Kwai Tsing Theatre where the company performed. Check out the gorgeous installation below:
The dancers also had some time to enjoy some free time and explore Hong Kong on their own. Here are some fun photos they’ve shared with us.
Goldfish Market
Escalators and dancers’ feet
Searching for dinner in Macau
A delicious meal found!
Enjoying some down-time after a performance
Soon it was time to leave Asia behind and return to the US to perform in Portland, OR at White Bird Dance. The performances were very well received! See article postings below :
Oregon Live ”Shen Wei’s troupe moves with finesse and boldness”
Willamette Week ”The dancers move as if without spines, twisting amongst each other to create a sense of calm.”
We eagerly anticipate the upcoming performance at the Monaco Dance Forum (Dec 19th)! Click here for ticket information. Keep checking back here for more updates!
