March 8 – An Evening Of Dance

An evening of contemporary dance curated by Yung-Yung Tsuai and featuring Martha Graham Company principle dancers Xin Ying, Lloyd Knight, and Xiaochuan Xie. With cellist Nan-Cheng Chen.

At the Roxbury Arts Center
5025 Vega Mountain Road
Roxbury NY
7:00 PM

Curated by Yung-Yung Tsuai. Featuring Martha Graham Company principle dancers Xin Ying, Lloyd Knight, and Xiaochuan Xie. With cellist Nan-Cheng Chen.

The evening’s program will include:

Double Helix
Through dancers’ “unspoken consensus”, the choreographer begins to play around the idea of the relationship between space and movement. Just like the double helix of DNA, it happens in duplication , but it always has moments of surprises from accidents.
Choreography: Hsiao-Wei Hsieh
Music: Unaccompanied Cello Suite No.2 in D minor: Prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach
Costume Design: Zachary Tracz
Dancers: Yuriko Hiroura, Zachary Tracz
Musician: Nan-Cheng Chen

Variation for Solo Cello (1975)
It is not, as its title might suggest, in variation form, but a piece in which a six-note sequence gradually comes to the fore and takes precedence over other ideas which, besides being of an entirely different nature, are restricted to the remaining six notes of the chromatic scale and their neighboring quarter-tones.
Composer: Witold Lutosławski Sacher
Musician: Nan-Cheng Chan

Day Dream
Choreography: XiaoChuan Xie
Music: Paris by Yael Naim
Costume Design: XiaoChuan Xie
Dancer: XiaoChuan Xie

Shadow Puppet
In a traditional shadow puppet theater, there is one popular story about a girl who lost her lover, but in her dream he appeared to be with her as if they had never separated…
Choreography: Wen Xu
Music: traditional shadow puppet song and a Chinese folk song
Costume Design: Wen Xu
Dancers: Wen Xu, Zhiwei Zha

Why Are We Here?
Choreography: XiaoChuan Xie
Music: What For by sAr, Rapture in Disguise by George Shaw and Lonely by George Shaw
Costume Design: Zachary Tracz
Dancer: Llyod Knight, XiaoChuan Xie

Four Lines
An exploration of the body shapes and the spacial relationship between dancers
Choreography: Hsiao-Wei Hsieh
Film Credits, Everything must change by Olafur Arnalds
Costume Design: Zachary Tracz
Dancers: Hsiao-Wei Hsieh, Hsiao-Ting Hsieh, Yuriko Hiroura, Zachary Tracz

Fancy Fan Dance
Choreography: Xin Ying
Music: traditional Chinese music
Costume Design: Xin Ying
Dancer: Xin Ying

Nu Chou
“Nu Chou” is originated from an ancient myth, Classic of the Mountains and Seas (a compilation of early geography and myth): “There is a woman who is burnt to death by 10 suns only after 10 days of her birth, her corpse is found on the top of a mountain with black rope sleeves covering her face. Her name is Nu Chou”. The choreographer imagines her as a witch, praying to the heaven for the rain; sacrificing herself for everyone with a great spirit while struggling with her own mysterious destiny. Would there be another rebirth or next life? Does it bring her to the new world or the remembrance of her legendary past life?
Choreography: XiaoChuan Xie
Music: Hero by Tan Dun
Costume Design: Zachary Tracz
Dancer: XiaoChuan Xie

Ama
Ama, which means grandma is Taiwanese, draws multiple tales of memories, sufferance and love. This dance is inspired by the choreographer’s grandma’s dresses.
Choreography: Hsiao-Wei Hsieh
Music: Ouendake by The Living Room, The Winter of 1539-1540 by Goldmund, Tashweesh by Kronos Quartet, The room by Harold Budd, Moonlight Sorrow by Deng Yu-Shian, with a reChinterpretation by Fan Tsung-Pei
Costume Design: Zachary Tracz
Dancers: Hsiao-Wei Hsieh, Hsiao-Ting Hsieh, Yuriko Hiroura, Marion Helfenstein, Wen Xu

 

Artist Bios:

Hsiao-Ting Hsieh is a former student at the National Taiwan University in Taiwan, majoring in Veterinary. After working as a Veterinarian, she found herself to be more passionate about dance. She went to LABAN Institute (UK) and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance (U.S.A) for 5 years. She received the Certificate of Completion in Teacher Training Program on scholarship at the Martha Graham School in 2011. Hsiao-Ting and her twin sister, Hsiao-Wei found a small dance group, InTW, based in NY in 2013.

Hsiao-Wei Hsieh is a former student at the Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, majoring in Medical Technology. She went to LABAN Institute and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and received her Certificate of Completion in Teacher Training Program on scholarship in 2011. Throughout her studies, Hsiao-Wei and her twin sister, Hsiao-Ting began to build their interest in choreography. Their success has been extensive and varied, including Bonnie Bird Theatre, New Steps Series, 60X60 Dance, EFSD Show, Graham II Spring Season 2011, WAX works, Performing in New York Experience 2012, Passport to Taiwan, and Queen Arts Express. Hsiao-Wei and her twin sister found their dance group, InTW, in 2013.

Lloyd Knight was born in England, reared in Miami, and trained at the Miami Conservatory of Ballet. He has a BFA from the New World School of the Arts, where he worked with many renowned choreographers, including Donald McKayle, Robert Battle, and Michael Uthoff. He received scholarships to the Alvin Ailey Center, Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Martha Graham School. Mr. Knight joined the Martha Graham Company in 2005, was promoted to soloist in 2009, and performs starring roles inAppalachian Spring, Embattled Garden, Errand into the Maze among others. He has worked with David Gordon on “Dancing Henry Five” and “Trying Times”. Performed in a touring production of “The King And I”. Dance Magazine named Mr. Knight as one of the “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2010. Most recently, he partnered with New York City Ballet Principle Wendy Whelan in Ms. Graham’s “Moon Duet”. And has been working with Nacho Duato on new creations for the Graham Company.

Marion Helfenstein started her training in the east of France with Francine Richard (from the Opera de Paris) and went on to study ballet and contemporary dance at the Conservatory of Lyon. Later, she moved to Paris to broaden her dance technique in various styles and joined the Modern Dance Ensemble and the FFD Company. She earned her Ballet Teaching Certificate and then moved to NYC where she went to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. As a scholarship student, she completed her Professional Training Program, Teaching Training Program and joined the Graham II. She also performed for The Buglisi Dance Theatre in the Table of Silence Project and the Amalgamate Dance Company. She joined the InTW Dance Group in 2013 and is currently interning with Gibney Dance Center. She is grateful to be doing what she loves and would like to thank her family and friends for their support.

Nan-Cheng Chen is an award winning cellist. He is recently praised for his “Beautiful Tone” by New York Concert Reviews in 2011,  and he is passionate about sharing music with music lovers. At only age of 25, Nan-Cheng is the executive director and founder of the New Asia Chamber Music Society (NACMS), a member of Sonic Escape, Chen Trio, Ensemble 101, and many other active music ensembles around the world. An active soloist, Nan-Cheng has collaborated with Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Queens Symphony Orchestra, Metro-West Symphony, Quincy Symphony and Symphony Pro Musica, which received a review that states: “It was the kind of performance one might hear live only once a decade”, from Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Press and media of Taiwan have also named Nan-Cheng Chen to be one of the most recognized Taiwanese performing cellists of today. Among Nan-Cheng’s many honors and awards are first prize in the 2010 Queens Symphony Concerto Competition, 2009 Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition, 2006 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, 2005 Quincy Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2004 Hsin-Tian Temple National Cello Competition in Taiwan, and 2003 Metro-West Concerto Competitions. He also won top prizes in 2010 Long Island Conservatory Young Artist Competition, 2006 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and 1999 Taiwan National Cello and Piano Competition. Nan-Cheng has also been featured on NPR’s From The Top national radio broadcast in 2006, performing with its host, pianist Christopher O’Riley. During the summer, Nan-Cheng has been invited to music festivals such as Canada’s Banff Centre, Sarasota Music Festival, Heifetz Institute, Encore School for Strings, Kneisel Hall and served as a teaching artist at the Annual Music Festival of Walnut Hill. A Native of Taiwan, Nan-Cheng has recently earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, studying with Joel Krosnick, world renowned cellist of The Juilliard String Quartet. Nan-Cheng Chen came to United States at the age of twelve and attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, studying under Eleonore Schoenfeld. He then entered the New England Conservatory Preparatory Program to study with Mark Churchill before attending the Juilliard School. Nan-Cheng has also worked with other world renowned musicians, such as pianist Joseph Kalichstein, Andrew Watts and Gil Kalish; Cellist Paul Katz, Laurence Lesser, Pieter Wispelwey, Orlando Cole, Ronald Leonard, Timothy Eddy; Violinist Sylvia Rosenberg, Donald Weilerstein, among others.

Wen Xu graduated from Beijing Dance Academy majoring in choreography in 2009. She received numerous awards in Dance Competitions in China, and worked as a choreographer for many events, including the director of the Chinese group gymnastic competition in 2008. She is a member of the Chinese Dance Educator Association in Beijing. She taught at Nachian University and Beijing professional Performing Arts High School. She is currently studying at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.

Xiaochuan Xie was born in Nanjing, China, where She received training in ballet and Chinese dance from the age of 10. Ms. Xie has danced for Nanjing Jinling Arts Organization in China for six years, with whom she performed for the former President Jiang Zemin and former President Hu Jintao and was awarded as the best performance in national contemporary competition in China. She moved to NYC in 2009 and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in the following year. During the time in NYC, Ms. Xie has performed works by Robert Wilson, Arnie Zane, Stjin Celis, Lar Lubovitch, Andrea Miller, Tony Fabre, Yung Yung Tsuai, Bulareyaung Pagarlava, Blakeley White-McGuire and many others. She was also listed as the most noticeable new dancer by Dance Magazine and her performance of Wilson’s Shaker Interior (Snow on the Mesa) was awarded the year’s best dance by Chicago Sun-Times in 2011. In 2013, she was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine’s November issue.

Xin Ying is a dancer, choreographer, and an educator. She started dancing when she was 6 years old. At the age of 12, she began to study dance professionally in Shandong School of Arts and won the top price in the Dance Competition of Shandong Province. She graduated from the Nanjing University of Arts. During college years, she won the Best Performance Price and the Best Choreography Price in the Fifth Music and Dance Festival of Jiangsu Province. Her works have been chosen to enter in the Chinese National Dance Competition. In 2008, she won the Chinese Dance Lotus Award. She also directed “Thousand Tai Ji” with 1 thousand people as the closing ceremony of Pacific International Dance Competition, and the Sixth National Peasant Sports Games opening ceremony, working with over 7 thousands people. She is now the associate director at Mianyang Arts College of SCCM. In 2010, she came to New York to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and received a full scholarship. She joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2011, performing the leading roles in Diversion of Angels and Maple Leaf Rag. She also worked with Graham II, Buglisi Dance Theater, and Nan-Ni Chen Dance Company.

Yuriko Hiroura was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She began her physical training in rhythmic gymnastics. At the age of 14, she switched disciplines from gymnastics to theater dance due to her fascination with Broadway musicals. From 2009 to 2012, she attended at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance as well as working with Graham II in NYC as a performing dancer. Now she is studying BFA Commercial Dance at Pace University. She has been working with InTW since 2011. She would like to thank her friends and family who have been incredibly supportive.

Yung Yung Tsuai has been on the faculty at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance since 1983. She came to the United States in 1970 on a scholarship directly granted to her from Martha Graham. She has danced with Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, Daniel Nagrin’s Workgroup, The Vanaver Caravans, and Susan Stroman. She has choreographed for the Asian American Dance Theater, Pan Asian Repertory Theater, Yangtze Repertory Theater, LaMama Theater, Bank Street Theater, The Naked Feet Dance Company, and TysanDance. From 1991 to 1992, she was the rehearsal director for the Cloud Gate Dance Company in Taiwan. She was on the faculty at the Ailey School from 1992 to 1996, and at Long Island University from 2004 to 2005.  She has also taught at SUNY Purchase, New York University, George Washington University, Brigham Young University, Johnson State College, Taiwan National Arts Academy, and the Isothermal Community College, NC. She founded the Yung Yung Tsuai Dance Company and the Byrdcliffe Performing Arts in 1979, touring internationally including tours in Italy, Canada, Taiwan and Japan. In 2007, Miss Tsuai published her memoir: the Difference in Butterflies, with co-author, Marilyn Meeske Sorel.

Zachary Tracz was born and raised in Forest Hills, NY. He began dance training at the age of 10 with ballroom dance through Pierre Dulaine’s Dancing Classrooms. He attended Ballet Hispanico during his high school training at the Talent Unlimited High School on full scholarship. There he was a member of the Ballet Hispanico School Ensemble. While he was a student at the Talent Unlimited, he got a chance to take classes at the Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance and performed on the Queen Mary II alongside with the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2008. After his completion of high school in 2009 Zachary was accepted into the Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance on full scholarship and granted a spot as a Dancer for Graham II. Zachary has worked with JT Lotus Dance Company, LaVuela Dance, and Abarukas since then and is now working freelance and with INTW. Zachary is also a freelance fashion designer with his own label “Zachary Alexander.” Zachary is pleased to still be working with INTW and appreciates working with both Hsiao-Ting and Hsiao-Wei.

Zhiwei Zha received his BA from the Shanghai Theater Academy in 2008, majoring in Chinese Classical Dance. Later, He went on to study Ballet Education at the St. Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts in Russia. In 2012, he came to New York City, studying modern dance at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. He performed dance drama ‘Yang Gui Fei’ in Shanghai, ‘Nao Bai Jin’ in Beijing, and Chinese New Year Gala for CCTV. He received a Gold prize from the Eighth Taoli Cup National Dance Competition in 2006 and was acclaimed ‘Outstanding Performer’ from Shanghai Dance Competition.

Advance tickets sales for this performance have ended. All tickets purchased the day of the event are $24. Tickets will be available at the door.

Presented in partnership with the
Byrdcliffe Performing Arts Organization