Modern ballet Hyper debuts in Beijing

By APD writer Tao Xing

A modern ballet Hyper was put on the stage on Saturday night at the theater of Beijing Dance Academy.

Performed by the Beijing Dance Theater, the ballet Hyper consists of two pieces: Manolita Chen and Retreat , which were respectively instructed by famous Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau and Danish choreographer Sebastian Kloborg. Unlike classic ballets, the two pieces highlight the creativity of body language and cultural integration.

Taking the Flamenco dance as form and vehicle, Manolita Chen blends the Spanish folk custom and emotional elements.

Manolita Chen (Photo by Haohan Y)

Manolita Chen

(Photo by Haohan Y)

Morau said that he hopes the audience would create their worlds when enjoying the performance and pay much attention to the unique Spanish culture.

Manolita Chen

(Photo by Haohan Y)

Manolita Chen

(Photo by Haohan Y)

“The dancer sliding on the floor was like being linked to the earth. We want to use the contemporary way to understand traditions. When we know where we come from, then we know where to go,” he said in the interview.

Manolita Chen

(Photo by Haohan Y)

Manolita Chen

(Photo by Haohan Y)

Meanwhile, the collision of Chinese and Spanish cultures poses striking contrasts and makes the piece more attractive.

As Robert Weller, professor of Anthropology and Research Associate at US Boston University, pointed out in his new book Discovering Nature , the westerners tend to separate the nature and the human completely. So the western painting just includes grand natural views, while in Chinese wash paintings, some figures are often found.

Retreat (Photo by Haohan Y)

Retreat (Photo by Haohan Y)

The Retreat tells a story about a homeless hunter who makes a living by hunting. Wandering about in such a severe environment with wind and rain, he just wants to find a safe place to warm himself.

The hunter’s story tells the audience a natural law, how you destroy the nature means how you destroy yourself and valuing the environment is to value the mankind itself, said Kloborg.

Retreat (Photo by Haohan Y)

Retreat

(Photo by Haohan Y)

He said in his version the hunter comes from the city and recalls memories of the past, and it is just his story. “But what the audience think about and build their stories and worlds is the most important,” he said.

The three people from left to right are Wang Yuanyuan, director of Beijing Dance Theater, Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau and Danish choreographer Sebastian Kloborg (Photo by Haohan Y)

Wang Yuanyuan, director of Beijing Dance Theater said that, “There are some differences in understanding dance between China and the West. Dancing is the creativity of human’s body, and the storyline is not always necessary. The modern ballet advocates innovation and creativity in body language and leaves more room for the audience to imagine. Sometimes, what the audience watch and think is what the dance is.”

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)