The curtain has risen on Shanghai International Dance Center Theater’s Dance Out of The Box Festival, which focuses on contemporary works by young choreographers and creators.
Held every two years, the festival gives stage to both domestic and international performers.
Five productions will be presented in two weeks during this year’s festival. The first two works “Strange Tales” and “Dance Me! In China” were staged at the Dance Center Theater over the weekend.
Ti Gong
“Strange Tales” boldly deconstructed the classic Chinese literature “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio,” presenting a multi-dimensional world for living beings, ghosts, and gods. Choreographer Yu Erge’s contemplation of human nature continues to be rendered by her signature absurdity and dark humor.
“Dance Me! In China” is adapted from German troupe She She Pop’s original creation “Dance Me!” Six amateur performers born in the 1960s and 1970s, selected from open auditions, shared the stage with performers born in the 1990s. They discussed on the generational gap through dance and music.
Three more exploratory shows will soon meet the audiences at the theater.
“Park of Allures,” choreographed and performed by Song Xinxin and Wang Shuhuan, is an intimate and interactive performance. It involves audiences discussing topics ranging from the body, gender, to the definition of beauty and goodness.
“Exhale,” presented by Norway’s Haugen Produksjoner, combines modern dance with electronic music and installation art. Audiences will be guided into a huge balloon to explore the harmonious coexistence of the human inner world and the external world.
In “Graces,” Italian choreographer Silvia Gribaudi will try to break people’s stereotypes about beauty in a humorous way. She and three male dancers will create a laughter-filled water park on the stage, triggering audiences’ re-examination of this imperfect world.
Apart from dance performances, the festival also involves physical workshops, art market and creators’ communication sessions with the public.
Ti Gong
Performance info:
Exhale
Dates: September 14-17, 2pm/5pm/7:30pm
Tickets: 280 yuan
Graces
Dates: September 15-16, 7:30pm
Tickets: 180 – 380 yuan
Park of Allures
Dates: September 20-21, 7:30pm
Tickets: 200 yuan
Venue: Shanghai International Dance Center 上海国际舞蹈中心
Address: 1650 Hongqiao Rd 虹桥路1650号