It's doubtful that you could find a more cliched theme for a dance performance than self-identity, but A Box of Light (角落) contemplates the topic without being overly introspective.
Contemporary dance theater is not always easy to interpret, but audience response is exactly what the Radiant Dance company (神色舞形舞團) is aiming for in its latest production.
With live music, vocals and animated choreography, A Box of Light is more like a contemporary drama than a dance recital. The production is the creative consummation of three artists -- dancer Hsiao Lei Lee (李曉蕾), musician Yi Chang (張藝) and singer Pi-Yu Shih (施壁玉) -- who together gave birth to the idea and later separated to choreograph and compose their own parts.
The show is divided into five sections, each of which represents an aspect of personal identity. When seen as a whole they combine to communicate an image of personal space, or "box," as the title suggests. Each of the performers portrays himself or herself in the production, leading the audience on a journey of self-discovery via the personal lives of a dancer, musician and singer.
"We are performers and we love to express ourselves. In this production we are expressing our true selves, who we are today and how we became this way. We would love for the audience to relate to it and express themselves in their own way," said Shih, the vocalist who added that during the performance she sings in Italian, French and English in addition to Chinese.
Though the show leans heavily on the metaphysical question of personhood, it doesn't leave its audience clouded in the darkness with excessive philosophical airiness. In fact, although dance theater is always open to interpretation, there is an underlying theme of shared human experience.
A Box of Light will run Feb. 20 through to Feb. 22 at 7:30pm. Matinee performances will take place on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22 at 2:30pm. All performances will be held at Zhongshan Hall (中山堂光復廳) located at 98 Yenping S Rd, Taipei (台北市延平南路98 號). Tickets range from NT$400 to NT$1000 and are available at Acer Ticket outlets. For more information on the production call Radiant Dance at (02) 2592 6046.
"Everyone is a light in a box and the box contains our life's experiences. But we are not alone because at times our boxes come together and our lives connect. In the end everyone is in one box," Shih said.
While the theme matter examined in this choreodrama might not suit everyone's taste, most people will see the personal dedication that illuminates the
performance.
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