Yin Yue Dance Company Shares Stage with Performers from China’s Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School
Company:
Yin Yue Dance Company (YYDC)
Yin Yue Dance Company
Shares Stage with Performers from China’s Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School
Sat, Sep 20th at 8:00pm
and Sun, Sep 21st at 3:00pm
Peridance Capezio Center
126 East 13th Street
New York, NY 10013
Tickets available online
$38 General Admission
$20 Student
Two presentations at the Peridance Capezio Center combine works by three female choreographers who share a deep understanding of the Chinese dance practice, but approach this rich tradition from very different angles. Shanghai-born and NYC-based dancer and choreographer Yin Yue will show original works in contemporary style, showcasing her signature combination of emotional freedom and technical flair in pieces performed by members of Yin Yue Dance Company. Her works will be complemented by a selection of traditional pieces of Chinese classical and folk dance, performed by all-female 21-piece ensemble of students from the Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. The idea behind the program is a unique synthesis of two different dance idioms – of East and West, improvisation and composition, of emotion and technique, of modernity and ancient tradition. Modern dance ensemble will be joined by Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School performers in a presentation unlike any other involving Chinese dancers visiting New York City.
One of the most important aspects of this presentation is familiarizing the audience not only with the ancient tradition of Chinese dancing, which – in different forms – has been increasingly present in New York, but also the current state of the art in China: both in its local form, as presented by dancers of Jiangxi Zhongshan School, and in the form highly transformed by Western influences and individual approach of Yin Yue Dance Company. Yin Yue is hoping to establish this presentation as an annual event, not only showcasing emerging Chinese artists and her own work, but also creating a platform for the young Chinese to be exposed to Western audiences, artist and ideas, rarely available to them due to Internet access restriction and limited international exchange possibilities.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Yin Yue is a versatile performer and choreographer with a singular background: having been born and raised in China, she studied extensively all styles of traditional Eastern ballet, Chinese classical and folk dance at Shanghai Dance School, where she received rigorous training in all aspects of technically demanding and highly structured traditional Chinese forms. She continued her education in this field at the Shanghai Normal University. By the end of her university training, she has been appearing in many festivals and dance competitions throughout China, and in 2005 was ranked among the top ten participants of the National Contemporary Dance Competition in Yunnan. Frustrated with rigidity of Chinese dance education system and told that with her petite frame she could never be a professional dancer, she moved to the United States to pursue further training in contemporary dance at New York University’s Tisch School of The Arts.
Upon graduating with MFA in dance in 2008, she has already garnered attention as a highly original performer and choreographer. Since early study years, she has been especially fascinated with folk dance of Mongolia and Tibet – two regions with ancient dance traditions virtually unknown in the West. Elements such as “horse riding” steps from Mongolian dance with its signature rocking, tilting and dragging movement styles made way into her contemporary choreography. Transformed by Yin’s individual sensitivity and expressive approach, these elements became inspiration and root material for her own, very personal style, in which she strives to achieve combination of grace, effortless and strong physical power finds harmony and balance. You don't dance to be able to find out how you feel, you dance when there is so much power and feeling in you, you just have to stand up and move. – says Yin about her approach. Main themes of her work (recognized and awarded by such organizations as Northwest Dance Project 5th Annual Pretty Creatives International Choreographic Competition in 2013 and 2010 A.W.A.R.D. Show!, presented by New York’s The Joyce Theater Foundation) are emotional experiences, conflicts and relationships in all their complexity.
Yin Yue Dance Company has been founded in 2012 as a modern dance ensemble, consisting of collaborative team of freelancers, presenting original work incorporating variety of styles and approaches. The company’s mission is to find story in each movement, to investigate the subtle yet powerful visual images, to utilize the honest gesture and dig deeply into life in order to explore the unique personality and quality of each dancer and bring the essence out in each performance. The company has presented works in several dance festivals (including New York City Fringe in 2013 and Jacob’s Pillow Inside Out in 2012 and 2014) and venues such as Joyce SoHo Theater, Lincoln Center Rosh Hall, La MaMa ETC, and New York Live Arts. In 2013, the Company has taken their evening-length dance production Within Reach on tour in China. So far, the group produced three feature-length works, all of which premiered in NYC: We Have Been Here Before (2012), Within Reach (2013) and a collection of ensembles, duets and solos, presented under the common title An evening of Yin Yue Dance (2014). Of their most recent presentation, The New York Times critic Brian Schaefer wrote: “That controlled tension and the sparse lighting and chilling soundscapes she favors add to an ominous atmosphere that Ms. Yin punctures with quick, precise gestures or paints with melting bodies.” YYDC are: Liane Aung, Luke Bermingham, Grace Whitworth, and Yin Yue.
Watch a Video: Yin Yue's solo performance at Dixon Place 2014
Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School will bring to New York a series of gorgeous traditional Chinese dances, performed by their students and faculty. At Peridance Center, the students of Jiangxi Zhongshan will perform traditional and folk dance works complete with original score and lush handmade costumes. This performance marks the NYC and American debut for the award-winning dancers and choreographers who have never performed in front of the Western audiences. Founded in 1996 and located in Nanchang in Jiangxi province in the Southeast of the country, the school is the only private-run educational organization for dancers ranked among top Chinese professional dance schools. Its curriculum includes a 6-year Chinese traditional dance and ballet program – while its approach, very unique among other similar institutions in the country, emphasizes international collaboration and communication and frequently organizes trips for students to attend various performances in order to enhance their understanding not only of performance skills and stage presence, but also creativity, independence and artistic freedom rarely presented to Chinese dance adepts. From its inception, the school has been run by Yin Yue’s parents and her personal connection to its program was crucial in creating new opportunities for its students. “It is not a coincidence that I decided to devote my life to dance,” says Yin Yue. “This commitment was already present in my family for two generations, and has deeply influenced my upbringing and later my determination to create possibilities for young dancers of China to expand their creative horizons not only through traditional training that is offered to them in their home country, but also through insight into modern Western approach. I believe the where different cultures cross-pollinate is where most interesting art is born.”
Watch a Video: Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School students on stage
THE PROGRAM
100 minutes, no intermission
GAN YUN YOU YOU (JZDS), an ensemble piece for 13 dancers, in traditional Gan opera style
THE SPACE IN BETWEEN (YYDC), a duet; premiered 2013 at Dixon Place, NYC
SPRING BALLET (JZDS); a contemporary ballet piece for 8 dancers
UNTITLED DUET (YYDC), a duet, premiered 2014 at Dixon Place, NYC
*Sept 20: 4 SOLO WORKS (JZDS), folk dances of Dai, Wa, Yi and Mongolian minority groups
*Sept 21: 3 SOLO WORKS (JZDS), Yang Ge folk dance; contemporary ballet; historical piece
NIGHTFALL (YYDC), a quartet; premiered 2014 at Jacob's Pillow Inside Out
QING HUA RHYME (JZDS),“Porcelain Dance”; an ensemble of 8, contemporary ballet
UNTITLED SOLO (YYDC), a new work performed by Luke Bermingham
BLOSSOM (JZDS); an ensemble piece for 10 dancers; folk dance of Xinjiang minority group
WITHIN REACH (YYDC), a quartet; premiered 2013 at FLIC Festival, Brooklyn
NUO DANCE (JZDS); an ensemble piece for 13 dancers; a traditional New Year's celebration dance
For more information, visit www.yinyuedance.com
Photos © Quinn Batson.
