Wisconsin-based Taiwanese choreographer Yu Jin-wen (余金文) and his dance group Jin-wen Yu Dance (余金文舞團) have performed in the US since 1999. One year after bringing of his repertoire to Taiwan highlights with Interflow, he and his group are back again in Taipei with the new Interspace (切換空間).
The prefix "inter-" is common to all Yu's dance pieces, some others being Intercommunity and Interplay. The word reveals the two aspects of Yu's works display elements of both Western and Asian cultures. Movements in the dance piece are reminiscent of Peking opera and Tai-chi.
Yu also integrates multimedia installation in his works, with close-up video images of the dancer's feet projects onto the stage's backdrop.
Interspace consists of six solo and group dance pieces.
Duet #1 is a widely acclaimed work in the US. Accompanied by Bobby McFerrin's lively vocals, the piece's two dancers push, hold and chase each other to show various interpersonal relationships. They pause from time to time to whisper pithy, friendly advice, "Hi! Listen! Life is short and vital. Be easy".
Yu's solo Off-join (望江亭) was inspired by a Peking opera piece that tells the story of how a woman misses a faraway lover. Yu fused his nostalgia for to express the freedom mixed with loneliness that an expatriate feels.
Audiences in Taiwan will be treated to the world premiere of Yu's Which One is Pink, a long but taut group dance inspired by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.
Interspace will be performed at the Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場), located at B1, 50, Ln. 120, Tunhua N. Rd., Taipei (台北市敦化北路120巷50號B1), tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm. For tickets, call 2805-8872.
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