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Dance Out of the Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale

Shoulder Hug.Dance.Hug Shoulder

When disabled dancers meet classical ballet

Experience the origins of dance in diversity

 

With a tight, equal, and warm service attitude, five performers are collaborating to build an intimate theater together

Happiness, warmth, and integration enable people with different abilities to become friends

 

We invite you to experience sign language and audio description on stage

From life to dance, from the individual to the collective

Let's put our arms around each other’s shoulders

 

 

INTRODUCTION

This is a work based on each participant's observation of their own daily life and understanding of the relationship between the individual and the community.The performance uses representative miming gestures, space and places, and "oral images" in classical ballet performances as clues and methods,  to build a space with different dialogue forms.“daap bok tau”, or patting shoulders, shows a close relationship between friends, as a symbol of encouragement and support to each other. In the second position of ballet, the dancers open their arms to form a circle in front of the body, as if they are going to give each other a hug. These positions are just like our daily activities, when we help each other, support each other, both in life and in dance. 

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Experiencing the essence of performance in the differences through various performance styles

"Link" and "Hug" are the external forms of Shoulder Hug.Dance.Hug Shoulder. We all have original desires for physical expression, but our abilities and methods vary. In this work, five performers use their dances to illustrate how individuals can relate to themselves and their surrounding life through dance and show infinite possibilities through different performance styles.

 

Making friends, from creation to stage,from onstage to offstage

At the beginning of the creation process, choreographer ZHANG Dianling met with each dancer to foster mutual understanding and friendship by sharing their lifestyles and past experiences. The links of these memories serves as a valuable source for the creation of Shoulder Hug.Dance.Hug Shoulder.

During the performance, audiences will be invited to interact on the stage and walk into the community of inclusive people with different abilities. They will truly step into this peaceful and warm field, putting their arms around each other’s shoulders.

 

Audio Description × Sign Language, Removing Obstacles and Breaking Stereotypes

The stage accommodates various possibilities for both watching and performing. The creative team integrates vision and hearing, incorporates audio description and sign language expressions to provide audiences with diverse narrative methods. This helps to make up for the limitations of traditional dance theater in appreciating disabled friends and promotes the development of barrier-free art.

The choreography of the work allows dancers on stage to move their bodies freely in a self-understanding way, process their gestures, structure their own unique dance language, abandon the constraints imposed by conventional perspectives, and break the stereotype of how "dance" should be danced.

 

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Dianling Zhang@EDPG

Dancer/choreographer/instructor, resident choreographer in Ergao Dance Production Group, artistic director of MiNi Ergaoer. 

Since 10 years old, she started rigorous classic ballet training from Shanghai Far East Ballet Academy, subsequently graduated from Chongqing University with a degree in modern dance. Afterwards, she studied abroad in  France for a year. In 2021 she completed Certificate Programme for Critical Practice in Contemporary Performance, [CP]3. Classical aesthetics and systematic order of ballet have deeply influenced  her understanding of human body and dance, especially the logic of human body in motion. In the meantime, through her creative practice with the application of body, she seeks to  reanimate a familial relationships, and members individual living experience in a microscopic view under the macro Chinese social context- with the goal of thereby evoking imagination and resonance towards our common daily life.

Dramaturgy&Producer：ER Gao

He was commissioned by Ibsen International (Norway), YAP Festival 2019, Grass field Youth Dancer Project, Fabbrica Europa(Italy), Stella & Artists Macau, Hong Kong Jumping Frames Dance Film Festiva, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, Guangdong Modern Dance Company, DPAC Dance Company (Malaysia) for theater, image and community art works. He was nominated as Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council artist in 2019, and worked as Japan AIT, Guangdong Modern Museum and Bethel House resident artist 2020. Since 2020, ER Gao’s independent image performance “Today’s Special” and his interview show “Key word” were presented in different art festivals. Recently  ER Gao and his company’s product of “Participating Art” is displayed at Guangzhou Arts Colleges museum, in the exhibition of “The first Trans-Southeast Asia Triennial research exhibition series PROJECT ”.

He’s works include the series of "Kung Hei Fat Choy", Disco-Teca, This is A Chicken Coop, Super Tight, Everyday Dance Movement. 

 

CREATIVE TEAM

Choreographer:ZHANG Dianling@Ergao Dance Production Group

Dramaturgy:HE Qiwo@Ergao Dance Production Group

Dancers:SU Huiheng, ZHANG Rongmei, XUE Xiaohong, ZHAI Jin, LIU Shiwen, ZHANG Jianfen

Lighting Design:LIU Shihao

Post Design:ZHAI Jin FU Meilin

Documentary photographer:LI Yuqian

Producer:He Qiwo Pan Xiong@Ergao Dance Production Group

 

Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale

Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale is a regular showcase of contemporary dance works by domestic young choreographers. The event aims to provide a platform for domestic contemporary dance choreographers to display their works and promote the cutting-edge contemporary dance from China to the world. Following the tradition, the theater will officially present the 2023 Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale from August 18th to 27th.

The event, initiated and hosted by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, consists of three main sections: dance performances, workshops, and showcases, bringing together domestic young choreographers, inspiring their passion for creation, and exposing Chinese contemporary dance to the global stage. Starting from August 18th, four dance works will meet with the audience, including Shoulder Hug. Dance. Hug Shoulder, Flexitarian, Talking Body, and Silent Flight. Additionally, workshops and outdoor short performances will be open to the public for free.

 

Dance Out of The Box

Dance Out of The Box is an artistic brand specially created by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, aiming to aspire the creativity of young artists and break conventional boundaries through dance. Under this brand, there are two major festival events: Dance Out of The Box Festival, which introduces cutting-edge international dance works, and Dance Out of The Box China Contemporary Dance Biennale, which focuses on works by domestic young choreographers.

The two events are held alternately every year, with one bringing in international masterpieces and the other showcasing domestic works. Through these events, Shanghai International Dance Center Theater continues to build an artistic platform that encourages innovation and crossover integration, explores diverse spaces for the expression of contemporary dance art and propels artists' creativity and achievements towards new horizons.

NOTICE

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3. Entering time: The audience can start to enter the auditorium 60 minutes before the performance starts.
4. Validation: Temperature checks are required when entering , please keep your mask on during your time in the theater.
5. Please double check the time, prize, seat information on the tickets as there is no refund or change available after the tickets are sold.