16 & 17 TAO Dance Theater

16 is the fifteenth work in choreographer Tao Ye’s Numerical Series. Inspired by the traditional Chinese Loong (dragon) dance, it features a curved line of 16 dancers moving and gesturing to transmit energy from beginning to end. Through a dynamic use of space, the dancers move like a dragon: their spines drill, pass, follow, twist and wriggle to guide their arms and legs in a dance that is in harmony with the body’s center of gravity. With 2024 being the Year of the Dragon in China, 16 explores the suppleness of Eastern physicality, hoping to bring good luck for the new year.

17, the sixteenth work in the Numerical Series, follows on from 7 and continues the experiment between sound and body movement. The concept derives from the visual language created by tonal movement, whose fluctuations and linear progression are both auditory and physical. 17 dancers disperse and reassemble in a seemingly chaotic manner. Sounds accompany each movement: falling with “hm”, suppression with “ng” and surprise with “ah”… Since the movements are always synchronized with the sounds, a play between two languages in counterpoint is created. This leads to a multitude of mixed and unconventional relationships. The resonance between sound and body aims to evoke profound dramatic and theatrical effects.