Choreographers Naishi Wang and Jean Abreu were in residency at iC4C on Monday 4 to Friday 15 July 2022.
Coming together in a new international collaboration exploring UK/Canada and Brazil/China cultural references related to poetry and vocal traditions of folk music. This cultural exchange will create a powerful physical journey and performance that demonstrates how the body can be used as an extraordinary tool of linguistic expression.
“I seek to utilize the body as a tool to ask profound direct questions about the continual transforming nature of human identity.”
This duet will investigate cultural links, post-colonial histories, the embodiment of the migrant experience, and the transforming nature of human identity. Presenting partners are MAI Montréal, arts interculturels (Montréal, lead presenter), National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), and PuSh Festival (Vancouver).
Dance Dramaturg, Guy Cools will contribute to the creative development of the work.
“Movement possesses a bodily linguistic identity, which also deciphered in terms of cultural influences: gestures of our ways of talking, our ways of walking, our ways of dancing, our ways of singing, and our ways of relating to the world around us.”
artists involved
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Jean Abreu
(UK/BR)
Born in Brazil, Jean Abreu moved to London in 1996 after receiving a scholarship to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance. In 2003 he was awarded the Jerwood Choreography Award and became an Associate Artist at The Place in London. Since then his work has toured throughout the U.K, Europe and Brazil including performances for Royal Opera House, Dance Umbrella Festival, Southbank Centre, Julidans Festival & the Auditório Ibirapuera São Paulo. He founded Jean Abreu Dance in 2009. Across his career Jean has been a movement director for fashion magazines and global advertising campaigns including TikTok, Nike, OutThere Magazine. Jean has taught extensively his movement practice in the UK and abroad in renowned dance organisations and universities across the globe.
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Naishi Wang
(CA/CH)
Born in Changchun, China, Naishi Wang began his training at Jilin College of Art before moving to Canada in 2004 to attend The School of TDT. He was a company member of Toronto Dance Theatre for nine years, and in 2015 embarked on an independent career. As an award-winning performer and independent choreographer, Naishi’s development aligns with his belief that the performing arts offer an imaginary perspective, and is interested in pushing the art form in the 21st century. He has collaborated with Berlin-based artist Christoph Winkler, and in 2009 was commissioned by SXM studio in Beijing to create concept-based dance works. In 2018, he premiered his celebrated solo Taking Breath. Naishi is an artist in residency at Citadel + Compagnie in Toronto, and La Serre – arts vivants in Montreal. His collaboration with U.K.-based Jean Abreu is supported by the NAC-CCA Visiting Dance Artist Program. Deciphers is a co-production of The CanDance Network Creation Fund, Montreal Arts Interculturels (MAI), The Harbourfront Centre, the National Arts Centre in Canada and PuSh Festival, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Deciphers will be developed with the collaboration and support of MAI and National Arts Centre in Canada.
