About Martial Art in Dance

Martial Art in Dance originated from the idea of presenting a boundary-crossing theatre work that holistically demonstrates Chinese martial arts by way of pioneering modern dance, for the purpose of inheriting, developing, innovating and popularizing this unique cultural essence of the East.

In the performance, Martial Art and Dance are first presented as formally distinct but highly converged on the spiritual level, the two forms’ respective philosophies guiding the body to an essential experience – using dance to perform martial arts and martial arts to describe dance, thus erasing the separate forms of and boundaries between the two to obtain real meaning. By so doing, we hope to uphold a sense of the architecture of the human body by way of modern dance, to inquire into the great mind of Zen, to distance the martial art from competitive sports, and to give shape to spirit, energy and vitality in order to channel the essences of all three.

Credits

Playwright/Choreographer/Director/Producer: Zhao Liang

Action Consultant: Wu Bin

Art Consultant: Luo Bin

Cast:

Broadsword: Li Nan,

Broadsword: Zhang Kun

Cudgel: Luo Yuwen

Tai Chi: Cao Peizhong

Fencing: Gong Xingxing

Fencing: Liao Yuanwu

Spear: Zheng Zhi

Infinite: Zhao Liang

Live Cello: Song Zhao

Live Music: Thruoutin (USA)

Lighting Design: Chen Jianming (MY)

Stage Design: Wu Di

Composer: Thruoutin (USA)

Costume Design: Zhao Liang

Costume-making: Chen Tao

Make-up/Image Design: Wang Jia

Stage Manager: Tang Jilong

Rehearsal Manager: Cao Peizhong

Action Guide：Luo Hong

Poster Photography: Super Studio

Poster Costume: Bai Peng

Calligraphy in Poster: Xu Jing

Poster Design: Anna

Hand Drawn Poster: fanSACK (FR)

Taichi Boxing Instructor: Li Xinyu

Cha Boxing Instructor: Xue Tailai

Project Manager: Piao Wenxue

Presented by Beijing Shande Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Contracting Institute: 19th China Shanghai International Arts Festival

About Zhao Liang

Zhao Liang is a contemporary dance artist and director and a graduate of the Minzu University of China. He is one of the foremost practitioners and a pioneer of modern dance in China in recent times. From his joining the Guangdong Modern Dance Company in 1998 to his time as an independent artist and then to the establishment of Zhao Liang ART, Zhao Liang has spent several decades actively performing, accumulating experiences, and forming his own unique banner in contemporary performing art in China. Focusing on the relationship between heaven, earth, and human beings, he is constantly disassembling styles and tearing down walls. He excels at following cultural threads to extract artistic meaning, and uses contemporary dance to invite audiences to reflect on the value and meaning of traditional culture. He was the first Chinese to win the Rome International Dance Competition, and has been awarded the Lotus Award, the highest award in Chinese dance. International media has referred to him as the "shepherd from the East," while he is known as the "soulful dancer" and a "choreographic genius" in his native China. He has also received support from organizations such as the China Literature and Art Foundation and the National Arts Fund, and was selected as one of the 2020 National Leading Talents in Literature and Art.

About Zhao Liang ART

Zhao Liang ART is highly open to new inspirations and ideas and then weaves them into his well-designed storyline. He has also attracted a team of outstanding artists. Through literary allusions, seamless emotional connection and flowing performances, he blends fragments of classical stories into a multi-sensory cultural innovation. Surreal as they are, the dance shows contain layers of meanings and use metaphors to present universal truths. As a result, they resonate with the essence of our being, leading to spiritual insights beyond perception. In comparison to the traditional way of dance presentations, "neo scene setting" in Zhao Liang's art works reflects his creative insights into the interaction between dance performances and their surrounding environment. By expanding the dance scene, he demonstrates an interdisciplinary application of the modern arts. The shows use Eastern aesthetics as a vehicle to catalyze a renaissance of traditional Chinese culture in the modern context.