The nine-year-old Tjimur Dance Theatre (蒂摩爾古薪舞集) is back in Taipei from its base in Pingtung County with its latest production, “似不舞[s]” — which the company refers to in English as “As Four Step.”
The company was founded in Pingtung’s Sandimen Township (三地門) by Ljuzem Madiljin, its artistic director, and her brother Baru Madiljin, who choreographs its works, to promote indigenous dance and music as well as contemporary dance. Its name comes from the “Tjimur” community of Paiwan Aboriginals, known as the cradle of Paiwan culture.
Baru, a graduate of the Taipei National University of the Arts' (國立臺北藝術大學) School of Dance, spent 10 years living in Taipei, but yearned to return home to work with a company that could tell stories of Paiwan culture and tradition on the world stage.
Photo courtesy of Tjimur Dance Theatre
The company has had a good year, earning strong reviews once again with their second appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer, with Gaze of the Kavaluan, which examined the clashes between modern life and cultural traditions, especially the notion of chastity.
Ljuzem has been quoted as saying that “everything we do is a mix of modern and traditional styles.”
The new production, which premiered in Kaohsiung last month, is set on four dancers, and is more focused on pure movement, examining the relationship between a body’s limbs and actions, familiar and unfamiliar gestures.
The basic concept is the traditional Paiwan four-step dance, with the dancers, arms linked, moving in unison, breathing in unison. It may appear simple, but the company says there is a rich body vocabulary, linked by both the movements and the chanting and humming of Paiwan singers.
The show runs 60 minutes, with no intermission and latecomers will not be admitted.
The basic ticket is NT$500, but there are a limited number of NT$2,500 “sponsorship” tickets, which give the buyer a reserved seat and a gift.
Performance notes:
WHAT: 似不舞[s] (As Four Step)
WHEN: Tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
WHERE: 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: Tickets are NT$500 and NT$2,500, available at NTCH box offices, online at www.artsticket.com and convenience story ticket kiosks. The NT$500 seats are sold out for both matinees.
This story has been amended since it was first published to correct some of the Romanization of names.
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