Jin Xing Dance Theatre’s Trinity is a triple bill program that had its world premiere in October 2013 in Shanghai.

 

It comprises creations of three international choreographers, Michael Schumacher’s Application i, Moya Michael’s Echo and Arthur Kuggeleyn’s Cage Birds.

 

 

Application i is set to music of John Cage and Etta James. Dutch based Michael Schumacher together with the company dancers used improvisation techniques to develop this choreography. Ten dancers equipped with smart phones explore the (at times negative) impact of these tools on our daily communication. Instead of connecting people they lead to isolation.

 

 

Echo is a creation by South African native Moya Michael made for 7 female company dancers using a sound arrangement by Anyal Zhang. The focal point of this piece is a group of women, occupying space. Each woman has an individual story that is intertwined with the group, yet each woman has her own voice. This is not a form of isolation. Recognition is placed on the female gaze and specifically on how change can be experienced through each of their lives.

 

This perspective gives them a greater sense of how they relate to other women and to society as a whole. Their stories echo and their lives reflect similar struggles. They can empower themselves by being true to who they are as individuals and even more so by uniting with each other as group.

 

 

The evening comes to a close with Cage Birds, Swiss based Dutch artist Arthur Kuggeleyn’s energetic and physically demanding choreography for 12 dancers. The dance performance is paired with hypnotic music by his long time collaborator, the German composer Christian Meyer.

 

Kuggeleyn uses his trade mark TransDance technique with a high rate of repetitive movements to gradually enfold the inner dynamic of the group of performers. 

 

Choreography: Michael Schumacher (US) / Moya Michael (ZA) / Arthur Kuggeleyn (NL)
Sound Design / Composition: Anyal Zhang (CN) / Christian Meyer (GE)
Music: John Cage / Etta James
Stage Set Design: Mo Xiao Min
Lighting Design: Wang Peng

 

 

The Shanghai-based Jin Xing Dance Theatre is China's foremost contemporary dance company. It was established in 1999 by its founder and artistic director Jin Xing as the country's first private performing arts troupe. Within the 15 years since its foundation, the troupe has performed in nearly 20 countries, covering 4 different continents.

 

 

Artistic Director: Jin Xing

Jin Xing is a true icon as artist and opinion leader in today's Chinese society. Trained as a dancer and being a highly decorated officer in the PLA at an early age, Jin Xing pursued further studies in the U.S. and Europe for several years before returning to her home country in 1995. She founded Jin Xing Dance Theatre, the country's first independent dance company and led it to international acclaim.

 

 

Her achievements in the cultural field have received manifold recognition: two honorary doctor degrees in the UK and the French government's "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Lettres et des Artists", just to name a few.