Wen Wei Dance - Unbound

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Saturday, February 25th, 2012
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Crimson Coast’s season-opening weekend collectively entitled ‘Dynastic Dreams’ underscores an adventurous artistic approach to cultural collaborations.

Chinese-Canadian dancer-choreographer Wen Wei Wang’s precise direction seamlessly meshes classical Chinese dance, traditional ballet, and contemporary choreography in “UNBOUND” on February 25 at the Port Theatre. It is at the heart of three days of presentations that include Friday night’s “Royal Gems”, an interactive salute to Chinese cultural arts at Nanaimo Museum, a pre-show re-enactment of cultural life in a ‘Chinatown’ on Saturday evening, and workshops in modern, hip hop and Chinese cultural dance on Sunday afternoon.

Weaving Chinese traditions with modern perspectives, “UNBOUND” is an intense and stylish exploration of ideals of beauty, power dynamics, and gender relationships. Wen Wei Wang’s choreography reflects on the former Chinese practice of binding women’s feet in pursuit of status and an impossible erotic ideal. “UNBOUND” transcends its cultural origins to unravel emotions and relationships that are universally familiar. His mélange of styles results in an incredible body of work that is stripped, suggestive, edgy, and full of invention.

Wen Wei Wang began dancing at an early age in China. In 1991, he came to Canada and joined the Judith Marcuse Dance Company. In 2003, he became Artistic Director of Wen Wei Dance. Since the company’s founding, it has created eight full-length works that have been performed across Canada and around the world.

A 7:00 pm pre-show reception in the Lobby features the sights and scents of a ‘Chinatown’ experience where the Chinese Art Union and local merchants of Chinese products and services display and discuss their wares and talents. Art Union members dressed in traditional costumes will celebrate and roam while local shoe merchants’ display the trappings (or comforts) of womens and mens shoe fashions. A post-show dialogue with the artists follows.

On Friday evening, the VIU Chinese Art Union will join Crimson Coast to present music and dance from traditional to hip hop, childrens games, a tea ceremony and Chinese culinary treats at the Nanaimo Museum. TheatreOne will offer a reading of “Best Left Buried” an original work on Nanaimo’s historic Chinatown. Admission is by donation for this 5 – 7 pm event in the Museum.

On Sunday, workshops are the order of the day: Wen Wei leads an advanced dance class while a children’s cultural dance class is led by Yuping Tang, an adult class will be taught by Christie Yeung and Alex Cho leads a breakdance class for teens. Register on our website or by phone.