Beijing Dance Theater's Wild Grass comes to BAM from October 15—18. Context is everything, so get even closer to the show with this curated selection of original blog pieces, articles, interviews, and videos related to the artists and the production. Once you've seen it, help us keep the conversation going by telling us what you thought below.
Program Notes
Wild Grass (PDF)
Read
Article
“The Power of Silence” (Creative-Asia.net)
Choreographer Wang Yuanyuan’s latest work turns down the volume.
Article
“Wildly Abstract” (NewsChinaMag.com)
Wild Grass has roots in a poetry collection by one of China’s most revered literary sons.
Interview
Gloria Davies on Poet Lu Xun (LAReviewOfBooks.org)
For author Davies, Lu Xun’s collection Wild Grass is the “holy grail” of his oeuvre.
Article
"Lu Xun: China's Greatest Modern Writer" (Columbia.edu)
Mao Zedong called Lu Xun "commander of China's cultural revolution."
Watch
Video
On Wild Grass (YouTube)
"We're all just like grass, searching for our own way to survive ," says choreographer Yuanyuan.
Video
Center Stage: Wang Yuanyuan (YouTube)
“Modern dance is about physical release and completely setting the mind free."
Video
Haze, Beijing Contemporary Dance Theater (YouTube)
Beijing Dance Theater was last at BAM with this dramatic portrait of Chinese modernity.
Worthwhile Words
A passage from Lu Xun's Wild Grass, which inspired the "Dance of Extremity" movement of Wang Yuanyuan's work:
Now your turn...Article
“The Power of Silence” (Creative-Asia.net)
Choreographer Wang Yuanyuan’s latest work turns down the volume.
Article
“Wildly Abstract” (NewsChinaMag.com)
Wild Grass has roots in a poetry collection by one of China’s most revered literary sons.
Interview
Gloria Davies on Poet Lu Xun (LAReviewOfBooks.org)
For author Davies, Lu Xun’s collection Wild Grass is the “holy grail” of his oeuvre.
Article
"Lu Xun: China's Greatest Modern Writer" (Columbia.edu)
Mao Zedong called Lu Xun "commander of China's cultural revolution."
Watch
Video
On Wild Grass (YouTube)
"We're all just like grass, searching for our own way to survive ," says choreographer Yuanyuan.
Video
Center Stage: Wang Yuanyuan (YouTube)
“Modern dance is about physical release and completely setting the mind free."
Video
Haze, Beijing Contemporary Dance Theater (YouTube)
Beijing Dance Theater was last at BAM with this dramatic portrait of Chinese modernity.
A passage from Lu Xun's Wild Grass, which inspired the "Dance of Extremity" movement of Wang Yuanyuan's work:
And there remains only the vast wilderness; this dried couple, completely naked, sword in hand, stand in the middle. With dead men's eyes they observe with gusto the withering passers-by in a great bloodless carnage. They are eternally plunged into life's giddy, excruciating bliss.
So how did you enjoy the show? Likes? Dislikes? Surprises? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below.