Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Shen Wei Dance Arts: Chinese Philosophy in Body Calligraphy

2010; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/01472526.2010.485948

1532-4257

Ellen Gerdes,

Musicology and Musical Analysis

Abstract Chinese-American choreographer Shen Wei recontextualizes his dancers as visual artists in his piece, Connect Transfer. This paper explores the various versions of this choreographic work as representations of Chinese philosophy, particularly the concepts of qi, wuwei, and yin-yang, through an investigation of the unique movement vocabulary and aesthetic created by the dancers' role as calligraphers. Notes Mandarin Chinese has two main systems of romanization. Pinyin uses the spelling "qi." The Wade-Giles system uses the spelling "chi." I use qi to distinguish "energy" from the "chi" in tai chi, which actually means "ultimate." Taiji is the pinyin spelling. 1. Shen Wei Dance Arts, "Shen Wei's Segment at the Olympics Opening Ceremonies '08," http://www.shenweidancearts.org/videos.html (accessed June 20, 2009). The author viewed the works discussed in this article in a variety of formats. The Olympic opening ceremonies were first seen on WNBC television, August 8, 2008, and later viewed on Shen Wei's website, http://www.klauslucka.com/lincoln/shenwei.htm. Connect Transfer was viewed at several internet links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmehHrkLnXo; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_zNBIVQSg; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neJ0REfYjWw; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzeHfMpXpYc. Connect Transfer II was seen live at Judson Church, December 6, 2008. Second Visit to the Empress was viewed at the internet link http://www.shenweidancearts.org/videos_secondVisit.html. Rite Of Spring and Re(Part I) were seen live at Swarthmore College, October 28, 2008. Re(Parts I, II, III) were seen at Alice Tully Hall, New York, July 9–11, 2009. Map and Re(Part One) were viewed at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, February 15–16, 2008. 2. Jennifer Wen Ma, quoted by Julie Bloom, "Before the Games Begin, He Has to Make Moves," New York Times, July 6, 2008. 3. The Connect Transfer II program notes Shen Wei's employment of "elements from theater, Chinese opera, Eastern philosophy, traditional and contemporary visual art, and sculpture." See also Zhao Xu, "Dancing in the spotlight on opening night," China Daily, August 6, 2008. 4. Geoffrey Fowler, "A New Yorker Exalts China," Wall Street Journal, August 9, 2008. See also Zhao, "Dancing in the spotlight on opening night." 5. Shen Wei, interviewed by Charlie Rose, "Interview with Shen Wei" (August 30, 2007), http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=53490944093176711&q=Shen+Wei&total=2763&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2 (accessed April 1, 2008). 6. Shen Wei interview on Dance Channel TV, "Interview with Shen Wei," http://www.dancechanneltv.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&video_id=15 (accessed June 20, 2009). 7. Geoffrey Fowler, "At Lincoln Center: Shen Wei on Choreographic Style," Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/video/at-lincoln-center-shen-wei-on-choreography-style/A47D64D7-3555-41BE-82C1-B384A7D4B9F5.html (accessed June 5, 2009). 8. Shen Wei Dance Arts—Works & Process at the Guggenheim (May 12, 2003), video recording viewed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Jerome Robbins Dance Division. 9. Shen Wei, e-mail to the author, July 20, 2009. 10. Geoffrey Fowler, "At Lincoln Center: Artists Without Borders," Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/video/at-lincoln-center-artists-without-borders/A47D64D7-3555-41BE-82C1-B384A7D4B9F5.html (accessed June 5, 2009, but no longer accessible as of January 10, 2010). 11. MacArthur Foundation, "Fellowship Interview with Shen Wei," 2007, http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.3440837/k.6CFA/VideoFlashFellowsShen_Wei.htm (accessed April 20, 2008). 12. Wu Kuang-Ming, "Chinese Aesthetics," in Understanding the Chinese Mind: The Philosophical Roots, ed. Robert E. Allinson (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989), 237. 13. Fowler, "At Lincoln Center." 14. Dai Jian, interview by the author, September 6, 2009. 15. Zhao, "Dancing in the spotlight on opening night." 16. Huang Hsu-Hui, "Contemplative Practices Open Dialogue," lecture-demonstration at CHI Movement Arts Center, Philadelphia, August 2, 2009. 17. Shigenori Nagatomo, "The Body's Role in Aesthetics in Japanese Philosophy/Culture," in Proceedings, Conference of the International Association for Philosophy and Literature, University of Leeds, England, 2003, 19; Thomas Kasulis, "Introduction," in Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice, ed. Thomas P. Kasulis (Albany: State University of New York, 1993), xix. 18. Wu Wen-Chi, "Spirit-dancing through Qi-Body," doctoral dissertation, Temple University, 2005, 210. 19. Dai Jian, interview. 20. Nagatomo, "The Body's Role in Aesthetics in Japanese Philosophy/Culture," 19. 21. Quoted in Lewis Segal, "That'll leave a mark," Los Angeles Times, section E, June 20, 2007. 22. MacArthur Foundation, Fellowship Interview. 23. Yu Jin-Wen, "The Energy Flow of the Human Being and the Universe: Tai Ji Philosophy as an Artistic and Philosophical Foundation for the Development of Chinese Contemporary Dance," doctoral dissertation, Temple University, 1994, 150. 24. Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching: A New Translation, trans. Sam Hamill (Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2005), 111, 150. 25. Yu, "The Energy Flow of the Human Being and the Universe," 258. 26. Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, 5. 27. Lao Sze-Kwang and Lao Yun-Wei, "On Understanding Chinese Philosophy: An Inquiry and a Proposal," in Understanding the Chinese Mind: The Philosophical Roots, ed. Robert E. Allinson (New York: Oxford University Press, 1989), 277–78. 28. Wu Kuang-Ming, "Chinese Aesthetics," 238. 29. Zhuangzi: Basic Writings, trans. Burton Watson (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003), 4. 30. Yu, "The Energy Flow of the Human Being and the Universe," 249. 31. Roger T. Ames, "On Body as Ritual Practice," 163, and "The Meaning of Body in Classical Chinese Philosophy," 172, in Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice. 32. Yuasa Yasuo, The Body: Toward an Eastern Mind-Body Theory (Albany: State University of New York, 1987), 27. 33. Wu Wen-Chi, "Spirit-dancing through Qi-Body," 206. 34. Fowler, "At Lincoln Center." 35. Wu Kuang-Ming, "Chinese Aesthetics," 246. 36. Segal, "That'll leave a mark," 14. 37. Huang, "Contemplative Practices Open Dialogue." 38. John Hay, "The Body Invisible in Chinese Art?" in Body, Subject, and Power in China, ed. Angela Zito and Tani Barlow (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1994), 66; John Hay, "The Human Body as a Microcosmic Source of Macrocosmic Values in Calligraphy," in Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice, 183. 39. Ames, "On Body as Ritual Practice," 155, and Wu, "Chinese Aesthetics," 246. 40. Hay, "The Human Body as a Microcosmic Source," 196. 41. Dai Jian, interview. 42. David Lipfert, "Shen Wei Does an Encore," Attitude: The Dancers' Magazine, vol. 18, no. 3 (Fall 2004): 18. 43. Quoted in Lipfert, "Shen Wei Does an Encore." 44. Anna Kisselgoff, "Lincoln Center Festival Review: A Breakout for the 'Rite,'" New York Times, Arts section, July 25, 2003. 45. Anna Kisselgoff, "Dance; With His Heart in His Imagery," New York Times, Arts section, June 24, 2001. 46. Wu Kuang-Ming, "Chinese Aesthetics," 236. 47. Wu Wen-Chi, "Spirit-dancing through Qi-Body," 147. 48. Wu Kuang-Ming, "Chinese Aesthetics," 238. 49. Wu Wen-Chi, "Spirit-dancing through Qi-Body," 146. 50. Huang, "Contemplative Practices Open Dialogue." 51. Wu Wen-Chi, "Spirit-dancing through Qi-Body," 210. 52. Quoted in Zhao, "Dancing in the spotlight on opening night."