Life is dance was a motto of Taipei Dance Circle (光環舞集) cofounder and artistic Liou Show-lu (劉紹爐), so it is fitting that his life and work are being both celebrated and commemorated this weekend at Taipei’s Experimental Theater, where his troupe is performing Chakra Dances (舞輪脈).
The piece was created to mark the 30th anniversary of the troupe’s founding by Liou and his wife, Yang Wan-rung (楊宛蓉), in 1984. However, it turned out to be Liou’s final work. He died on Sept. 1 at age 65, after the re-emergence of the brain tumor he had first battled four years ago.
When the tumor was first discovered, Liou underwent surgery, and though doctors said he might just have a few more years, Liou undertook months of rehabilitation and physical therapy to get his body back in condition, insisting that dancing was his life.
Photo Courtesy of Lee Ming-hsun 
He produced four more works, including last year’s Chasing the Wind Turning (逐風轉), where he seemed as ebullient as ever during his promotional efforts.
However, earlier this year there were signs that all was not well and tests in early August showed the tumor had reappeared. Yang said that while Liou was in hospital, he insisted on the Chakra Dances performances going on as scheduled and said he hoped his works would not be lost.
Chakra Dances is a continuation of Liou’s baby oil series, for which he will be best remembered.
Photo Courtesy of Chen Chang-chih
Seeking “frictionless” movement, Liou hit upon the idea of slathering his dancers bodies (including his own) and the dance floor with baby oil, a substance that allows them to glide effortlessly, but makes standing and balancing difficult.
Like other recent works, Chakra Dances reflects Liou’s interest in spiritualism and the environment.
Liou’s baby oil works are unlike any other modern dance productions, and not just because of the slick bodies — guttural vocalizations are often added to the mix as part of the dancers’ focus on breathing.
Liou was a unique presence in Taiwan’s dance world and he will be sorely missed.
However, as Liou said, dance is life and that life is also on display this weekend at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, where choreographer Chou Shu-yi’s (周書毅) Next Choreography Project (下一個編舞計畫) is staging two different programs this weekend and next in the Fruit Wine building.
This weekend’s show, titled “Create — The Next Scene,” features works by three (relatively) established choreographers: Jeff Hsieh (謝杰樺), who has his own company, the Anarchy Dance Theater; Tien Hsaio-tzu (田孝慈), who has been featured in several choreography showcases in recent years and Lin Su-lian (林素蓮), who has done pieces for earlier Next Choreography productions.
The thread linking the three works this weekend is the creative process. Hsieh’s piece is titled Dancer and Choreographer (舞者與編舞者), Tien’s is called They dig a hole under the eyes (她們在眼睛的角落挖了一個洞) and Lin’s is Invisible (邊緣人物).
Next weekend’s show, titled “Discover — New Faces,” features mostly solos by five fledgling choreographers: Lin Hsiu-yu (林修瑜), Wu Yi-juan (吳宜娟), Liu Yan-cheng (劉彥成), Su Pin-wen (蘇品文) and Wang Wen-ning (王玟甯).
Chou’s goal in establishing the Next Choreography Project in 2011 was to create a dance laboratory that would be a forum for both choreographers and students. It has proven to be a solid showcase, even if there is unevenness to some of the productions.
The aim to try, even if sometimes you miss, whether in dance, or in life itself.
Performance Notes:
What: Chakra Dances
When: Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
Where: National Experimental Theater (國家實驗劇場), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
Admission: NTS$500, available at NTCH box offices, online at www.artsticket.com and at 7-Eleven ibon and other convenience store kiosks
Additional Performances: Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30pm at Da-Dong Cultural Center (大東文化藝術中心), 161 Guangyuan Rd, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市光遠路161號); tickets are NT$300. Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30pm at the Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市文化局演藝廳) at 16, Dongda Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號); tickets are NT$300 and NT$400
What: 2014 Next Choreography Project III
When: Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
Where: Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Fruit Wine Building 2F (果酒禮堂2樓) 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
Admission: NT$500 and NT$1,000; available at NTCH box offices, online at www.artsticket.com and at 7-Eleven ibon an
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