This article was published on News-n-Views
Dance is more than an outlet for personal expression. It is an art form. This weekend, Shen Wei Dance Arts returns to the Orange County Performing Arts Center and celebrates its 10th anniversary with the West Coast premiere of Re – (I, II, III) April 16 through 18. Billions of people experienced Shen Wei’s work during the first seven minutes of the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ Opening Ceremonies, and now it is O.C.’s turn to become part of the show.
The Shen Wei Dance Arts first visited the Center during 2008’s Fall for Dance festival and instantly became a raving favorite among attendees. Nearly two years later, the company returns to O.C. with its highly acclaimed Re – (I, II, III), which invokes concepts which “R” minds often run across including “renew,” “reconsider,” “rediscover,” “revisit” and “repair.”
Some say that all art is a reflection of the artist’s self. Whether it is in writing, imagery, dance or song, the idea of leaving a personal mark on a piece is of importance to the creator. In terms of this performance, it is absolutely true to this piece as it is in fact autobiographical to the choreographer. During the near two-hour spectacle, the audience will enter setting of an artist’s coming home.
Re – (I, II, III) is divided into three individual works and was inspired by lands such as Tibet, Angkor Wat and ancient and modern China. Shen Wei elegantly fuses elements of dance, theater, visual art and Chinese opera to share his journey through these beautifully complex cultures. The story will travel through scenes of reconciliation of the split between two distinct hemispheres and illustrate a coming to terms with seemingly incompatible societies. The dance is a deeply generous spiritual offering and a hopeful appeal for reconciliation and understanding.
The immensely talented Shen Wei, choreographer, director, dancer painter and designer, is internationally praised for his defining vision of an intercultural, interdisciplinary, and groundbreaking original mode of movement-based performance.
His ability to translate brilliant imaginative thoughts into pure physical art, Shen Wei created new works that were produced at venues such as the National Theater of Taiwan, Stockholm Dance House, Millennium Moves Festival in Germany, the American Dance Festival and more. Now it is Orange County’s turn to set the stage.
Another treat for fans will be presented this same weekend at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. On Saturday April 17 at 11 a.m., Cyrus Parker-Jeannette, chair of the Department of Dance for the California State University, Long Beach, will personally interview Shen Wei. There will be cross-ticketing promotions offered to audience members with special discounts related to the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Bowers Museum. For more information on these offers please visit www.bowers.org or call 714.567.3677.
