Body / Language

Commissioned as part of the Joffrey emerging choreographer fellowship. The piece reads Mandarin and English calligraphy through movement, performed solo to a live cellist.

The challenge

Translate a deeply personal narrative — being raised between Shenyang and Chicago, two international sister cities — into a piece that lands for an audience of dance professionals without becoming literal.

Approach

1. 01

   Six weeks of studio research pairing classical Chinese dance vocabulary with contemporary release technique.

2. 02

   Collaborated with composer Nia Roberts to score the piece for solo cello and field recordings from both cities.

3. 03

   Self-produced lighting and projection design to keep the piece tourable as a one-person show.