Celebrating Culture: H.T. Chen
and Dancers' South of Gold Mountain
Next month, H.T. Chen & Dancers presents the New York premiere of their latest work, South of Gold Mountain. This unique work tells a powerful story of immigration, civil rights, and the struggle, courage, and strength that underlie generations of Chinese American experience. The work is based on extensive research and interviews, funded by the Ford Foundation, with Chinese immigrants and their descendants throughout the southern United States. The World Dances spoke with husband and wife choreographers H.T. Chen and Dian Dong about the inspiration behind this piece, the stories they hope to convey, and the challenges and rewards of honoring history through dance. Tickets for the New York premiere, October 15-18 are available here.
What inspired you to create this piece?
Dian Dong
We're excited because this history that we're covering in the new work is quite hidden, but the Chinese Americans played a vital part in the building of America. It's just finally being recognized. The U.S. Department of Labor last August issued a statement to acknowledge those who helped build the transcontinental railroad, which was long overdue! For myself, I'm fifth generation Chinese American on my mother's side. My great grandfather came here in 1864. For many generations in my family, we always knew ourselves as a minority. There are deep, unspoken stories of the family we never asked about when we were young. I felt I needed to honor our elders by sharing their stories.
H.T. Chen
First of all, I am a new immigrant. In my country, we never really have a sense of minorities--everyone is Chinese. When I came to the United States, it was very surprising. I met a Chinese gentleman who lived in the south, and I saw he had a lot of scars. He explained that he took care of his parents' grocery store in Mississippi when he was young. The store was looted and burned many times. He said while he was growing up, he was always beaten up. Neither white nor black, the Chinese didn't fit in to a segregated community--they were just in between. The people who talked to me and shared their families' stories were very moving and inspiring to me.
What do you hope people take away from this piece?
H.T.C.
I think it is a celebration. No pain, no progress. If people don't have pain they don't understand happiness. In the end, I'm very proud of what all Chinese Americans have been through, but not only Chinese Americans--we all go through hard times. It's not only about Chinese; it's about humans. The work is about people.
Read more here.
By Tamara Johnson
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Spotlighting Artists: Movers and Shapers
Public discourse is at the heart of the modern dance company, The Moving Architects. In marvelous alignment with that mission, TMA founder and artistic director Erin Carlisle Norton has created a podcast series about dance called Movers and Shapers. The World Dances spoke with Norton about her motivations for creating the podcast, her dance company, and the impact of sharing artists' stories.
What made you decide to start the podcast?
I've been listening to podcasts for a long time and I'm a big fan of the interview format. I always looked for dance podcasts but there aren't really any of them out there. I've had my dance company for eight years now and I always love doing new projects. I'm new to NYC and I thought it would be a great way to meet other people in the arts. We're also sharing what's going on in different niches of the dance world. I'm involved in the modern dance realm, but I've been learning so much about what's going on in different creative areas and hearing so many amazing stories. I wanted to get that out there. It's been really good. I'm really glad I started it.
Is it challenging to approach dance through a disembodied, non-visual medium?
Ooh, good question. It's been a transition. I'd done video editing and written lots of grant proposal, so I have that experience, but there's something tricky about editing the voice. I want to make everything as clear as possible, and to gain audience is a bit of a jump. People are used to seeing videos and then learning more about an artist whose work they like. But with podcasts you don't get to judge the work. You get to know someone's stories and ideas as an artist. I think if you understand an artist and his or her perspective first, though, you might be able to get even more out of his or her work. Or you might become interested in seeking out something new that maybe you hadn't been aware of.
Has it impacted you as an artist to hear and share so many dancers' stories?
Yes. What I've been feeling from these interviews is that we're all facing the same struggles. I've been interviewing a lot of people who are trying to make things. They want it to be fulfilling and for people to enjoy it. There's something powerful about us all wanting the same things and struggling at the same time trying to make a living that I find very supportive. I don't feel so alone. I think there's a commonality that's very comforting. I want people who listen to the podcast to feel the same thing. You're not alone. Stick with it and try to make your way in the dance world!
By Tamara Johnson
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Upcoming Wonderful Must-See Dance
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Mariinksy Ballet's Raymonda. Viktoria Tereshkina as Raymonda Photo Credit: Natalia Razina
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Costa Mesa, CA: One of the world's most influential and historically rich dance companies, the Mariinsky Ballet returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts September 24 - 27 opening the Center's 30th Season with the West Coast premiere Raymonda. Performing with the Mariinsky Orchestra, this will be the company's eighth visit to the Center and the first time this masterpiece from the Golden Age of Russian classical ballet will be performed on the West Coast. Following the Segerstrom Center engagement, the company will perform Cinderella at The Music Center in Los Angeles October 8-11, 2015.
 San Diego, CA: Enjoy The PGK Dance Project on The Lyceum Theater's Main Stage for the first time September 18 - 20. See w orks by 12 choreographers from across the US and abroad including Boroka Nagy (New York / Los Angeles), Sean Curran (New York), Kevin Jenkins (San Francisco), Andrew Pearson (Los Angeles), Alyssa Junious, Blythe Barton, James LeMaster, Nicole Lee, and Peter G. Kalivas (San Diego).
New York, NY: Rolex presents Career Transition For Dancers 30th Anniversary Pearl Jubilee on Monday, September 28 at New York City Center. The performance is a variety retrospective featuring a star-studded list of dancers and the Jubilee Orchestra. This one-night-only entertainment event of the season celebrates Rolex's distinguished past award recipients and honors the legacy of dance, dancers, and the mission of CTFD. The 2015 Rolex Dance Award Honoree is Shirley Maclaine. The gala performance at City Center is followed by a Supper with the Stars at the Hilton New York's Grand Ballroom.
 New York, NY: New York City Center's 12th Annual Fall for Dance Festival is September 30 - October 11. Experience the very best the dance world has to offer, where you'll see world-renowned companies performing alongside daring new artists. The Festival's five programs will feature two commissioned works and companies from all over the country, as well as from Brazil, India, Israel, and beyond. Come to the theater early and take part in free dance lessons and talks by choreographers, artists, and dance critics. Tickets go on sale Sunday, September 13th at 11AM Eastern time.
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There is a Time. Photo Credit: Gabriel Morales
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New York, NY: Enjoy t he Jose Limon International Dance Festival at the Joyce Theater October 13 - 25. José Limón International Dance Festival will assemble dance companies and colleges from 7 countries around the world to join the Limón Dance Company in sharing 15 of Limón's masterworks with a wider audience.
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September 3, 2015
Follow
The World Dances!
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Congratulations to all four August Harlequin Floors Scholarship winners! Please watch their winning videos in this newsletter along with more than 1500 other dance videos on TheWorldDances.com for fun, entertainment, great ideas and inspiration. Every month we are amazed at the caliber of dance we see in the videos submitted for the Harlequin Floors Monthly Scholarship contest. Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with TheWorldDances subscribers! Harlequin Floors is proud to award $1,000 in scholarships every month and to celebrate the wonder, joy and power of dance. Please submit your video now to enter the September contest. We look forward to seeing you dance!
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Judges' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| Barbara Perdomo
2015 YTBD Overall Winner |
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Judges' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship Winner
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| Claire Rammel & Hailey Kodosh
Human |
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Viewers' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship
Winner
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| Elijah Richardson
Sta~Tic |
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Viewers' Choice
Harlequin Scholarship
Winner
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Nationwide Career
in the Arts
Are you a marketing expert, an experienced dance teacher, a costume designer, a dance company executive director, a grant writer, a production director or do you have other valuable arts experience? Dance companies, organizations, and schools across the nation including Joffrey Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Mark DeGarmo Dance, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Smuin Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Sarah Lawrence College, Island Moving Company, The Joyce Theater Foundation and many others have openings right now that might be the perfect fit for your talents. Find these and dozens more career openings on TheWorldDances.com.
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TheWorldDances E-Newsletter Team
Publisher: Karla Johnson
Editor: Tamara Johnson
Producer: Ester Rodriguez
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