According to Chinese folklore, the world began after Pangu (盤古) slashed apart heaven and earth. Soon after the dawn of human life, there began the eternal battle between good and evil. The first showdown took place between the Yellow Emperor and evil deity Chiyou (蚩尤). The Yellow Emperor's victory in that battle ensured the survival of the Chinese race.
Dancer and choreographer You Shao-ching (游紹菁) liked this story so much that she has made modern a dance/puppet theater adaptation of it entitled Chi-kuang-yi-dong (七匡乙咚). The title refers to the sounds puppet show performers make to signal beats in their singing.
Although she was educated in modern dance, You has always had a keen interest in traditional puppet theater since childhood, when outdoor puppet shows were a major form of entertainment in the countryside.
"Once I saw an elderly man selling beautiful puppets in a market. I went to talk to him and found he used to lead a famous puppet theater. By that time puppet theater had fallen out of fashion, and he had to make a living by selling the puppets," You said.
A deeply moved You bought two puppets from the old man -- the Yellow Emperor and the evil deity Chiyou, the protagonists of Chi-kuang-yi-dong.
Collaborating with Iwan Jan Puppet Theater's Huang Chiao-wei (黃僑偉), You's White Dance Temple (白舞寺) explores the modern possibilities of the traditional art form. In some episodes, a dancer's body acts as a stage for puppets while in others dancers act as puppets themselves.
Even after establishing White Dance Temple in 2001, You has remained one of Taipei Dance Circle's (光環舞集) main performers. You choreographed Chi-kuang-yi-dong with two other members of Taipei Dance Circle. Taipei Dance Circle's trademark otherworldly movements and body language inspired by martial arts are evident in the performance. Chi-kuang-yi-dong manages to be a riveting show from beginning to end, with Huang Chiao-wei's intriguing pei-guan vocal performance the highlight of the show.
Chi-kuang-yi-dong will be performed at 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow at Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場), located at 50, Lane 120 Tunhua N. Rd., Taipei (台北市敦化北路120巷50號). The group will perform at the Performance Hall (表演廳) in Ilan at 7:30pm on Feb. 22. Tickets are NT$300 for the Taipei shows and NT$100 for the Ilan shows. Tickets are available at the venues or by calling the group at tel (02) 2272-6899.
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