'Dream Realms' Video Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdJ7SGcUR-Y

Click above to watch a snippet of the show.

'Changing Hue', 'Reverie' and 'She Dreams'

Photography by: Grace Chiang and Jiawei Kuo

~My first international concert

Delicious Anticipation...

It's hard to process everything that's happening now, so much packed in such a short span of time, so many people demanding my attention and time, with questions and more questions...that I need to answer so they can help me better. It took a while but I do have a strong production team now, I am so glad for everyone of them assisting me in fine-tuning what this dance, this living artwork should look like. Again just the mystery involved in drawing out a dance from the intersection of ideas in paintings still fascinates me so much, and I wonder at the every 'day' of working and thinking of trying and failing and trying again over two years, that brought me this far...I do hope for a successful representation of those ideas within the dance medium...and the test will be with the audience on that day...for now we keep working with the vision. It's so important for me to still focus on the dances themselves in the flurry of so many "other" things to do...my friend's advice, and I will take it...'focus on the choreography, it's the most important thing'. I finished making all changes and now it's about helping the dancers own the dance...I have ten days to the premiere...delicious anticipation...i want to finish well.

Closer still...

Three weeks to go and we are wrapping things up. I have a strange feeling that though the process has been really hard at times, there will be something of value to celebrate that day...I remember my adviser Ming saying each time you dance a piece, you don't just dance it, you are living it, it's life we present on stage, it is real or needs to be...I haven't had alot of time with my new dancers but I hope to have imparted something (perhaps a different something)  to each of them so they could have "lived" and "grown" through this process...

Even if it may not be the perfect result my artists's heart is so excited to see it as a whole...I will enjoy being in the audience, after a long long journey of  discovery and creation...again, this is just a beginning and there is so much more to come after this...I must enjoy this 'first attempt' on so many levels of production and choreography...someone said in the performing arts when you create, 'love your audience' love who you are creating for, it might change the way you create... and this is held in tension to creating from love instead of for love...Things to ponder on, so many thoughts, so many wishes...what will be will be.

~For those who love dreaming...

In the percussion studio...

It's been an interesting process to rework the music for the group piece as a piano and percussion composition. My new friends Seung Ri Wu and Yu Ci Kong (seen above) did a short demonstration  of the new section we are adding. It was exciting to listen to the wildness in it,as compared to the softer tones of the percussion used in the first two sections. Those have more of a layered effect of the percussive instruments, but this new part has quite a different rhythm and energy and I like the contrast. It is a little bit of a challenge to ensure the overall blend and yet variation in parts of the music score;. and having suitable transitions is also crucial to make the juxtaposition work. They are both great performers and musicians though, so I look forward to the live performance. It is a new experience for  me as a choreographer to coach and prepare the dancers for live music. I think it's going to be great!

Seven weeks...

We are seven weeks to the final production...some happy developments in the last month have been to connect with a locally based lighting designer, a videographer and  to make progress with the live music percussion and piano arrangements. The rehearsal time I had during the holidays was limited but I used it in workshop sessions to help the dancers understand different aspects of performance quality, doing improvisation and drama-based methods at first and then applying what those results on the actual choreography. I also had the time and pleasure of doing a lot of personal research and reading, including watching more performances from the point of view of a choreography student, rather than only an audience member. In particular I enjoyed a talk by choreographer/singer/director Barack Marshall at a pre-performance discussion of his work 'Rooster', at The National Theatre (Taipei) last weekend. I was greatly encouraged by his personal story and liked how his performance shared his Israeli-American heritage as a cultural expression within a dance-theatre style of choreography...I delighted in his use of gestural movement danced in patterns that gave a delicacy and intricacy to the way those dancers' bodies communicated and spoke...it reminded me of paintings I saw when I was in Caesarea, Israel. Perhaps later on I will experiment more with dance theatre, it's a medium of powerful expression. 

Seven weeks...I hope for regular attendance by the dancers and enough margin before the final to finish all changes in choreography. We run now, bolder, faster, stronger. This will be my first international concert. I'm excited.

On the road...

Winter Break. Things are moving slower now...even if I sometimes don't want to stop, I know that rest is needed to give you the strength to carry on. At the showing there were many different changes recommended and one of those was to add percussion to my music score for the group piece. I was able to connect with some new artists who join this project and could potentially perform live for the final concert. With the other dances the changes are with increasing the depth of the work mostly concerned with coaching the dancers and working on the 'dynamic engine' for each piece. Crafting and staging are also areas I can give more attention. Time is of the essence and with limited rehearsals it becomes a real challenge to accomplish everything that needs to be done. I have to be very practical and realistic about what's going to be possible for my dancers to handle, and leave overly ambitious things for another time. We grow from small things to big so I'm fine with a production on a smaller scale but done well. Yes that is my goal, go the farthest we can possibly go, but stay on the road and in the journey.

Passed the exam!

The table set up from yesterday's 'kaoshih' exam...I passed...and we passed...'us' made it through the screening! I got a lot of great feedback to work on, so we keep going,keep working, sailing ahead to 7th April 2013 for the 'Dream Realms' Premiere....Wheeeeeeee!!!!

...Making it happen step by little step

Breathe...

The Last Few Days...The exam showing is in three days...the choreography is mostly in place after a tiring weekend of finishing things...when I think over what the last two months demanded for us to reach this far, I think it's crazy...a crazy amount of work in very difficult circumstances. I handed in my production book yesterday to my exam committee...that was such a complex assignment, because I had to document the creative process through about two years of work and with many twists and turns, but present it, as briefly and concisely as possible.

I think it's so hard as a choreographer, because something you value and prize so highly can be treated by others with so little value and care. So yes it's a challenge to find the right people to work with who have what you need on an artistic, professional and relational level to accomplish what needs to be done. High standards need hard work, dedication and commitment. Someone once told me, don't pursue dance because of the money, because that won't be a driving force for you, pursue dance because of your love and passion for it, it has got to be something deeper. Perhaps love and passion for something is expressed in different ways. But when it's there you see it, you see it burning inside. I think if you are lukewarm, you don't, you can't last very long. Through stormy times,can you still burn bright...this is one journey...and after this there is more to come. I've had an endless list of things to do, but today I have a day of rest. To breathe. My adviser Ming, would tell me to do this when things got crazy, 'just breathe'...so I 'breathe'...it's beautiful for your spirit, body and mind...and what will be, will be.

Happy Times

Christmas with friends and collaborators, Chieh-Hua and Kuang-Ying, who in many different ways have supported me in doing this production. I'm so grateful for those who believe in this work and fuel the journey with their joy, compassion and encouragement. The music for the group piece (composed by Kuang-Ying) is finished ahead of the choreography. I wish I had more time to rehearse this piece, but we will at least have completed choreography by the exam date. A structure is forming, sometimes you can't rush the process even if you want to and for good choreography 'Crafting takes time'(Chieh-Hua's words of wisdom. Smiles). I keep learning, every single day, how to do life and how to be an artist. I'm glad for the experience I'm gaining about producing a work (no better teacher than life!), the reality of the art industry requires the constant need of a backup plan. Sometimes collaborations don't work out as well as mine did with Kuang-Ying, and so I want to cherish a friendship and partnership that's been built. I'm working on an 'SOS' basis with a lighting designer I know in India, who will act as a consultant and help me develop a lighting plan for my exam( yes the one in about two weeks time), because with my second lighting collaborator in Taipei there was break in communication. It is sad, but I get the privilege of another online overseas design process. There's a time crunch, but I believe it will work out, and add a richness of layers to the artistic aesthetic as a whole. For things to come and things that will be I fix my gaze steadily on the goal to be achieved, it is within reach and we will get there. In the overall picture, things are getting better, so I will think of and celebrate the 'Happy Times'.

my quest...near the end

Blogging. Because this I can do well. Less than a month to the exam showing. I am pushing past so many difficulties. And in my spirit I am not tired one bit. I just keep going. It is a key issue that this is a team effort and ultimately the result will depend on how well we can work as a team, it's the true test not just my creativity and skill as a choreographer. What are my thoughts at this point of the journey. I am so glad for the distance traveled. Smiles. I remember the first time meeting with my adviser Ming with a folded piece of paper with a highly philosophical outline for what this dance concert should be, and at our next meeting I entered his office with seven big canvases. Big ideas a very broad starting place ...the question, how do you narrow it to one definite point. From vague and abstract and things up in the air...from being so lost and clueless of how to achieve the task before me..."finding" took place...it's been a quest, a long tedious hard difficult quest...but when you have secrets revealed, it is so worthwhile...I can't explain it except to say deep in my heart something resonates inside with the world outside and time stands still for a moment, an aching peace to dwell in...I can still go deeper into what I've found...it's exhilarating as an artistic experience...even though it's very hard. Knowledge, it is so powerful. I want to know more. I'm still so hungry to learn.

Sketches with Dumile

The final designs for our costume collaboration are done and the dresses will ready in a couple of weeks. I am grateful for moving forward step by step.

New Dancers...

Six weeks to the showing, we are finding a strong footing to go ahead firmly...

I had an interesting five weeks of searching and auditioning, and then casting...but I think we have settled all that needs to be decided on...from now on we focus on moving towards our goal...a destination of excellence, no matter what it takes.

I speak from the heart because this project means alot to me and alot to several people who have invested their time, efforts and means to make this worthwhile...I am thankful, so thankful for all of the energies that pool together to bring a creation into existence.

I am still learning and growing as the journey accelerates the process of things being done...and I have many decisions to make as a choreographer and producer...but I am glad for an opportunity to experience all of this...nothing teaches you as well as life itself.

I look forward to a good pre-production showing in January.

Creating with Kuang-Ying

This is a file photograph of my new music composer for this project, Kuang-Ying Chuang. Working with her is such a joy and I think we are both quite adventurous as artists. The happy connection with Kuang-Ying was made over the summer through a dear friend Chieh-Hua (Jeff) Hsieh, choreographer and artistic director of Anarchy Dance Theatre. We are halfway through our creative process for the group piece and I'm excited for the possibilities that the new cast of dancers will bring to the development of our work. This collaboration is truly a dream come true, and Kuang-Ying and I are dreaming of future projects and travels together. I love the friendships that are being built throughout this production journey. I'm so glad for the many people encounters and interactions. Somehow I feel nothing is by accident and there will be strings that tie and lead us to other things.

Palace of Dreams

Moving forward...The short space of time to breathe and think is great. It helps me get an overall perspective of the destination and goals of this project. Somehow it is much more than completing a degree. The project has gained a value and purpose in itself and this production will carry the weight of many hours of research, deep thinking,improvising, constructing,deconstructing,re-structuring and much more. I have gained tremendously in my learning through this process not just by creating works of art, but through the wide interaction of people I have partnered with to make this happen. And the roots of this work go even deeper, many years ago to the time when I first was accepted as a student at TNUA. It's been a long journey across continents and time zones,cultures and traditions,principles and beliefs, learning and growing, living and being. It wasn't always easy, but it was always purposeful. And my life is forever changed. I love walking through the doors of impossibility and making a way...it will be an inheritance for those who come after me. It's important to know we do not live life for ourselves, but how we choose to live today will be the history that shapes lives for generations after. Let's leave behind a beautiful palace for the fulfillment of dreams.

Building...A Time for New Things

This week was another crux in my journey...I think if all of what has happened since I began working on this project in Taiwan last summer, was mapped into a dance, it would be quite the interesting landscape of structure and choreography. Smiles. The change pedal was pushed again.

The past weeks have been very difficult  for me and my dancers, because their busy schedules have actually made a huge impact on their time availability and ability to commit to this dance project whole-heartedly.

So here's where we make brave decisions and step out in faith. It feels like I'm walking on water.

I believe new dancers will be found, and with passion and energy will perform these dances they way they should be danced.

I think of buildings now...I have been dreaming of buildings...somehow without the right foundation you can't build things right. The core of your heart, your being, if not present, makes what you do what you create empty and for me at least that is meaningless.

So I will believe in miracles and for a new team to emerge even though the hour is late.

I am so glad I am still bursting with enthusiasm to keep doing this project...and I will...till we reach out journeys end. Smiles to your day.

"Imagining...Thinking...Feeling"

Remembering the material~

Seven months later, the dancers for the group piece meet in studio seven once again. Smiles, I love this journey.

The bright side...

This project has been in quite the strange balance of having to overcome many challenges and wondering why something that on paper looks so simple, it's black and white, had so many shades of grey to see it realized...and so the other side, which I'm a little surprised to acknowledge is actually I love the challenges and I love to find the way out...this isn't to do only with choreography as you might know from my previous blog posts, it includes all the practical aspects and life situations that surround a creation and production process...It's exciting and so strange, truth be told I thrive on challenge...isn't that just crazy...I am just wired this way...So now I rejoice, I have the chance to face difficulties with the joy of an inquisitive mind searching for answers, doors are locked, but I'm pretty sure I can find a key to open them. It is bliss when you have the right perspective and flip problems to be opportunities for new creative adventures. I'm so excited as every day is one day nearer to seeing this on stage, alive. My dancer asked me, when is the premiere...yes, we will have a premiere and more shows after that... Till then, we journey further....filled with joy.

Along the way