Without a fixed theme, modern dance My
Life as a Dancer The Evolution presents an atmosphere of
freedom. Second from right in the back row is Lau Siu-ming, 76,
Hong Kong's pioneer of modern dance.
?
Can a 76-year-old man perform modern dance? The answer is yes. Lau
Siu-ming, Hong Kong's pioneer of modern dance, demonstrated that
age is not a problem in modern dance as long as you have the spirit
of freedom. Though he hasn't given a solo performance for almost 30
years, Lau won warm applause from his performance in My Life as a
Dancer The Evolution, held last week at Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing
Theater as part of the 2007 Hong Kong Arts Festival.
The production gathered 16 of the best modern
dancers/choreographers in Hong Kong for the first time and has
already become a milestone in the city's history of modern dance.
"My biggest benefit from this work is the process of creating a
dance together," said Lau. "We are like a family, and each has his
or her own personality."
Lau was Hong Kong's first modern dancer to study abroad. In
1964, he joined Maurice Bejart's Ballet of the 20th Century in
Belgium. However, in the 1970s after he returned to Hong Kong, he
became a film actor because he couldn't support himself by just
dancing in Hong Kong.
Compared to Lau, the younger generations of modern dancers are
much luckier. Forty-year-old Daniel Yeung started dance training
when he was 27, but became an active modern dancer who keeps
presenting new works in Hong Kong and around the world.
When Yeung was invited to join the other 15 modern dancers to
create a dance together, he regarded it mission impossible. "We all
have different styles, and it was hard for me to imagine how we
could perform together," said Yeung. "But during rehearsals, we
came up with many good ideas and became excited. At last, the show
turned out to be something between a performance and a party."
In one part, Yeung and Lau, who have the shortest and longest
career as modern dancers among the cast, gave a pas de deux that
juxtaposed the situations of the two dancers.
"Lau shared with me his rich experience as a modern dancer and
told me his understanding of dance and life," said Yeung. "I'm used
to choreographing a whole work by myself, but this time I have a
good chance to learn from and exchange with other dancers."
My Life as a Dancer The Evolution, which runs for two hours and
15 minutes, is divided into 17 parts, including solos, pas des
deux, trios, and group dances. The forms and moods of each part
differ greatly. One can find fragments of ballet, tap dance and
jazz and some parts trigger loud laughter while others lead to
serious pondering.
"Modern dance is not one style of dance, but a dance of free
expression," said Willy Tsao, founder of Hong Kong's first
professional modern dance group City Contemporary Dance Company,
and one of the 16 dancers/choreographers of My Life as a Dancer The
Evolution.
"We didn't dance according to a fixed theme, for we want to
present an atmosphere of freedom. However, the audience are
expected to feel something in general after seeing the performance
'this is Hong Kong's modern dance'."
Besides performing dances, the dancers made jokes and played
games to depict the lives of modern dancers and the hardship and
pleasure of their career.
Tsao said that while Western ballet and traditional Chinese
dances have their audiences in Hong Kong, modern dance can best
represent the city's own dance culture.
"Though every modern dancer has his or her unique style, we
appreciate each other, and this work is a product of mutual
respect," said he.
This is most clearly demonstrated in the last part, in which a
dancer rapped about many other modern dancers or groups which did
not participate this performance, as all the performers performed
hip-hop dance in group, leading the work to its climax.
(China Daily March 27, 2007)
