PREVIEW | Independent Dancemakers Naishi Wang & Jean Abreu Talk About Deciphers
The creative team backing up the dancers includes lighting design by Lucie Bazzo, visual design by Ivy Wang, sound design by Olesia...
Jean Abreu & Naishi Wang © Maya Yoncali
Naishi Wang + Jean Abreu
Deciphers
2024-02-22 20:00
2024-02-23 21:00
60
Canada/Eastern
🎟 NAC: Naishi Wang + Jean Abreu
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/33707
In-person event
Selected to participate in the Visiting Dance Artist Program, a joint initiative of the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre, contemporary dance artists Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu had to resign themselves to collaborating virtually when the pandemic struck. It wasn’t until 2021 that the stars aligned, and the two artists were finally able to meet at the NAC for a four-week artistic residency. But despite the passage of time, their creative flame never waned....
Azrieli Studio,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
February 22
- 23, 2024
Dance
Contemporary
Canadian
- In-person event
- ≈ 60 minutes · No intermission
NAC Co-production
Selected to participate in the Visiting Dance Artist Program, a joint initiative of the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Arts Centre, contemporary dance artists Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu had to resign themselves to collaborating virtually when the pandemic struck. It wasn’t until 2021 that the stars aligned, and the two artists were finally able to meet at the NAC for a four-week artistic residency. But despite the passage of time, their creative flame never waned. Deciphers is the result of their collaboration, a transposition into movement of the poems, letters and images they exchanged during the lock down. Based on a deeply personal interpretation, this honest and dynamic new work is in constant evolution, and testifies to the exceptional synergy that developed between the co-creators over the many months they spent apart.
Deciphers is a compelling physical performance bringing together elements of Chinese Folk Dance, Brazilian dance styles, spoken word, breath, and ink on paper to explore translation. The various mediums create and question complexities of communication through the lens of understanding and misunderstanding
Co-performers and choreographers, Wang and Abreu, use the stage as their blank canvas highlighting the body as a primal source for communication and carrier of meaning. Deciphers addresses translation as a linguistic phenomenon centering the immigrant experience.
On stage, the performers transfix the audience as it witnesses a work where cultures collide, and where a powerful physical performance journey demonstrates the extraordinary use of the body as a tool of linguistic expression.
Post-show Chat
Following the presentation of Deciphers on Thursday, February 22, we invite the audience to stay in the Studio for a post-show chat with the artists. The discussion will be led by Daniel Mroz, Associate Professor at the Department of Theatre of the University of Ottawa.
- Lighting Design Lucie Bazzo
- Visual Design Ivy Wang
- Composer Olesia Onykiienko
- Dramaturgic Advice Guy Cools
- Outside Eyes Ginelle Chagnon
- Rehearsal Director Xing Bang Fu
- Voice Coach Fides Krucker
- Access Consultant Zed Lightheart
- Technical Director Emerson Kafarowski
- Stage Manager/Technical Assistant in collaboration A.J. Morra
- Management Michael Peter Johnson, Jean Abreu Dance + Robert Sauvey, Dance Umbrella of Ontario
- Technical Manager Cath Cullinane
- PR & Marketing Diagonal Dance
- Partners in Canada MAI | Montréalarts interculturels (Montréal) + National Arts Centre (Ottawa) + Harbourfront Centre (Toronto) + Citadel + Compagnie (Toronto) + PuSh Festival (Vancouver) + The CanDance Network (Toronto) + Canadian High Commission UK
- Partners in UK Fabric Dance (Birmingham & Nottingham) + Towner Gallery (Eastbourne) + Brighton Dome (Brighton) + South East Dance (Brighton)
- Co-Production Deciphers is supported by the National Arts Centre Visiting Dance Artist Program + The CanDance Network small-scale creation fund + Canada Council for the Arts + Performing Arts Technical Residency programme at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto + PuSh Festival Walks special podcast + Toronto Arts Council + Ontario Arts Council + Arts Council England + Canadian High Commission UK
Articles & reviews
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Internet draws together dancers who translate the immigrant experience
Neither Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu spoke English well - now they explore the complexities of language, human communication and the immigrant...
contemporary dance | dance | nac dance | visiting dance artists |
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