A scene from "Minus 16." Courtesy of the organizer
What happens when top Chinese dancers use Eastern physical philosophy to reinterpret Western avant-garde classics? You may find an answer at the "Global Masters' Showcase," a contemporary dance production to be staged Friday and Saturday.
More than a mere performance, it promises a deep dialogue about the body, dreams, freedom, and the defining questions of our time.
Conceived and curated by a group of outstanding Chinese dancers, the program uses Eastern physicality as its foundation to reimagine Western pioneering works, infusing them with a new Chinese soul. This is not imitation — it is re-creation.
The showcase features three iconic pieces.
'Minus 16'
Created by Ohad Naharin, former artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company and creator of the "Gaga" movement language, this piece captures the complex emotions — joy, hope, and hesitation.
Rooted in the Gaga system, it encourages dancers to push beyond limitations and explore sensory experiences. Blurring the line between performer and audience, physical tension meets clear structure as energy explodes from zero to one hundred.
'I wonder where the dreams I don't remember go'
Created by French artists Yoann Bourgeois and Marie Bourgeois, this work asks: "What remains when we wake up?" — a question that echoes the uncertainties of the 2020s. Known for blending circus arts, dance, and physics, Bourgeois uses minimalist devices to explore the body's relationship with gravity. The piece employs specially designed stage elements — slides, walls, and even "partners" for the dancers — creating a dreamscape where time flows and reality is questioned.
'Cacti'
Choreographed by internationally acclaimed Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, this work is a witty, fast-paced, and self-mocking contemporary dance satire. Sixteen dancers run, fall, and twist on oversized Scrabble-like blocks, interacting with cacti in complex, dramatic rhythms. The piece explores how we view art and the very nature of art criticism.
Time: 8 p.m., June 26 & 27
Venue: Operal Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao'an District (深圳滨海艺术中心歌剧厅)
Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit D(Tang Li)
