How one inspiration, one story, one poem can develops into a dance drama? In the creating process, what sound is needed in what occasion, and how music is chosen? What sound can bodies make, and how to interact with the surroundings?

The 9th Guangdong Dance Festival, which will take place on Nov.22-28, has commissioned Na’er Dance Company to create a work entitled “Return”. In this piece, the endlessness of time and the eternal cycle of live and death will be presented physically. The UCCA has the pleasure to have invited-- Naersi, the Artistic Director of Na’er Dance Company, Jiang Keyu, choreographer and dancer, Kevin, dancer as well as Henriette Blakstad, contemporary dance artist from Norway—to give 2 workshops on how daily life inspirations can gradually be turned into a solid dance piece. The workshops will lead you to a special kind of language which is silent but at the same time speaks.

Salon I: Language without Words

14:00 – 16:00, Noverber 3^rd

When talking about language, we usually think of speaking. In speaking, there are tone, strength, rhythm, etc.. These are all the elements of physical movements, too. Physical movement visualized words, and sometimes, it’s even more communicative than speaking. In daily life, we do lots of physical movements, and we are so used to it that we didn’t realize what we have revealed.

Activity 1: Understand your own physical movements through pictures and videos.

Activity 2: Feel the difference in the tone, strength and rhythm of physical movements during emotional changes.

Activity 3: Articulate given context by using physical movement.

Activity 4: Q & A on the limits and capabilities of body language.

Salon II: The Body Speaks

14:00 – 16:00 November 10^th

Contemporary dance artist, Henriette Blakstad, from Norway will join in to share the challenge of communication when two languages are incompatible. The workshop will explore the many interesting ways of communicate without having to speak.

Activity 1: See what sounds the body can create.

Activity 2: What will the body react when hearing different sounds, for example noise or different sorts of music.

Activity 3: Create massages by using physical movements, accompanied by music or sound. Others give feedback.

Henriette Blakstad (modern dancer)

Na Ersi (art director, Na'er Dance Company (Beijing))

Jiang Keyu(dancer, Na'er Dance Company (Beijing))

Kevin(dancer, Na'er Dance Company (Beijing))

Guangdong Dance Festival

Project Manager：Pan Di