Sat, Sept 25, 2004, 8 pm
Sun, Sept 26, 2004, 7 pm

Venue: Zellerbach Hall

Price: $26/$36/$48

Subscription Series: Dance Series A

"I wasn't taught the arts separately, so I don't separate them in my work — I'm looking for a new way to communicate," says award-winning Chinese choreographer Shen Wei of his groundbreaking approach to modern dance. A prolific painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, as well as a dancer, Shen Wei fuses striking visual imagery with physical movement to create transcendent moments of profound beauty. Classically trained in Chinese opera, and a founding member of China's first modern dance company, Shen Wei created his new company in the U.S. in 2001 and following breakthrough debuts at the American Dance, Spoleto, and Lincoln Center festivals, was hailed as one of the most talented choreographers on the dance scene today. For its Bay Area debut, the company will perform a double bill of acclaimed works showcasing his powerful hybrid of Eastern and Western artistic influences, including The Rite of Spring, Shen Wei's fiercely original exploration of Stravinsky's two-piano score, cited as one of the 10 best dance events of 2003 by The New York Times.

For more in-depth information on this event, see New and Notable.

Program: The Rite of Spring; Folding, set to set to the music of John Tavener and Tibetan chanting

Patron Information

Program Notes: Program notes are available online, click here.

Education and Community Events: 2 Sightlines events:

Thu, Sept 23, 4:30 p.m., Geballe Room, Townsend Center for the Humanities, 220 Stephens Hall, University of California, Berkeley — Free lecture "Shen Wei on Shen Wei: The Artist Talks About His Inspirations and Multi-Faceted Work" featuring acclaimed choreographer Shen Wei
Sat, Sept 25 ZH — Post-performance discussion with the artists

Related Performances:
Trisha Brown Dance Company
Eifman Ballet
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Artists links:
Official Shen Wei Dance Arts site