A scene from "Folding."
A scene from "Near the Terrace." Photos courtesy of the show organizer
You may not have heard his name if you are not a fan of modern dance. But if you have watched the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, you might have already watched his most well-known choreographic work — "Scroll."
The dancers created an ink painting on a massive sheet of paper that gradually unfolded. This unique process integrated painting with movement, replacing brushes with their bodies — an ingenious concept that presented traditional Chinese art and aesthetics to the world in a contemporary way.
This September, renowned dancer, choreographer, and visual artist Shen Wei, who choreographed "Scroll," will bring his dance company, Shen Wei Dance Arts, to the Pingshan Theater. They will perform "Near the Terrace" and "Folding," two of Shen's most acclaimed dance works.
A recipient of the Nijinsky Award, often considered the Oscars of the dance world, and the American Dance Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, Shen is widely regarded by critics as one of today's most creative minds in the arts, known for constantly pushing the boundary of dance.
Growing up in a family of traditional Chinese opera professionals in Hunan Province, Shen's experience with traditional Chinese opera and passion for painting have profoundly influenced his choreography, which blends elements of tradition and modernity, as well as Eastern and Western styles.
Shen Wei Dance Arts, with seasoned dancers from China, the U.S., France, Italy, and more, has won worldwide acclaim for its high-quality original dance works. The company has been invited to perform at many of the world's famous art festivals.
"Folding" was created in 2000, the same year Shen formed his dance company. Its Chinese name, "Sheng Xi," was inspired by the classic Chinese text "Tao Te Ching." Integrating traditional Chinese aesthetics and philosophies and with Western modern art, it is one of Shen's most popular works and has been performed at various art festivals worldwide.
Also debuting in 2000, "Near the Terrace," inspired by the works of Belgian painter Paul Delvaux, is a piece that explores surrealism.
Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 27-28
Tickets: 80-880 yuan
Booking: WeChat account "PingShanTheatre"
Venue: Pingshan Theater, Pingshan District
Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station, Exit D1