CERVANTES INSTITUTE BEIJING AND THEATRE IN MOTION PRESENT
JUAN DOMINGUEZ (SPAIN) / FROM... TO... / RESEARCH PROJECT
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DANGDAI INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BEIJING MODERN DANCE COMPANY AND THE ARTS NETWORK ASIA

ONE . PROJECT OUTLINE

FROM... TO... (FROM WRITING TO CHOREOGRAPHY) in beijing will be the second of six research residencies that will take place in 2007 and 2008 (madrid, beijing, montevideo, rio de janeiro, new york and vienna). How do we understand movement? How do we write it? How do we execute it? This research project will consist of creating a code that relates oral/written language (intellectual intelligence) through native languages, with corporal language (non intellectual intelligence). Once the code is constructed we will play with it creating new possibilities of relationships between body, subjectivity and different languages, looking for new methods of producing choreography. Based on the analysis of language as a formal system, we focus on the verbs of movement and its conceptual deconstruction in relation to the actions implied in their meaning, from the content to the gesture.

Juan dominguez' research process in beijing will consist of a three week intensive training with a chinese linguist, introducing the way chinese language functions as a formal system. The aim of this training is not to learn how to speak chinese, but to provide an academic insight in chinese language as a theoretical and conceptual construct. In this process, juan and the linguist will identify a selection of mechanisms and concepts in chinese related to verbs of movement, as a point of departure for a 5-day long workshop, for which 20 selected participants working in the field of design, architecture, film, visual arts, and/or science will join the research. In a collaborative effort, the functioning of the chinese language in its broader cultural context, the way it influences peopleĄŻs minds and actions, will be discussed and explored.

TWO . PRACTICALS

Overview

MORE INFORMATION PER EVENT

WORKSHOP KICK-OFF: Juan Dominguez introduces his work, the project and the status of his research in beijing, in an open roundtable setting with spanish choreographer la ribot who will assist him during the workshop, chinese linguist lulu wang, organizers, workshop participants and interested audience.

LOCATION: Bbeijing Modern Dance Company Studio, 7 xi changan jie, beijing, china, east of xidan subway station.

FREE ENTRANCE / OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC

24 ¨C 28 SEPT 07 . 18:00¨C22:00 . BMDC STUDIO . WORKSHOP

5-DAY WORKSHOP: Every evening from 18:00 to 22:00 with 20 selected participants from different fields. Interested, contact info@theatreinmotion.org.

LOCATION: Beijing Modern Dance Company Studio, 7 xi changan jie, beijing, china, east of xidan subway station.

MORE INFO ON THE WORKSHOP: in a five-day workshop, Juan Dominguez will work with a group of local co-researchers on a selection of conceptual definitions of verbs of movement in chinese language. This will involve open discussions, improvisations and proposed exercises, in close collaboration with the linguist that juan has worked with the 3 weeks prior to this workshop.

WORKSHOP IS FREE OF CHARGE BUT LIMITED TO SELECTED PARTICIPANTS

29 SEPT 07 . 16:00 . Beilab Studio . open studio/round-up (open for public)

OPEN STUDIO/RESEARCH AND WORKSHOP ROUND-UP: We take one last look back at the research and workshop process, reflect and interact on experiences and considerations in open dialogue with the audience.

Location: Beilab studio, beixinqiao, Dongsi Beidajie, Dongsi Shisitiao 93 building a 4th floor. Beilab is located just south of beixinqiao, the crossroads to the south of the lama temple. Directions on www.theatreinmotion.org/beilab/contact/route.

FREE ENTRANCE / OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC

THREE . CREDITS

FROM... TO... is research project commissioned by the Instituto Cervantes in Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, New York and Vienna and supported by la Casa Encendida, Madrid; Theatre in Motion, Beijing; Perro Rabioso, Montevideo; Festival Panorama, Rio de Janeiro; ps 122, New York; Tanzquartier, Vienna. Directed by: Juan Dom¨Şnguez, assisted by: Mar¨Şa Jerez/Madrid; La Ribot/Beijing; Xavier Le Roy/r¨Şo de Janeiro; Marten Spangberg/New York; video: Lennart Laberenz

From... to... in beijing is commissioned by the Instituto Cervantes in Beijing and hosted by Beilab/theatre in motion, in collaboration with the Beijing Modern Dance Company, in the framework of the Dangdai International Art Festival 2007, with the support of ana, Arts Network Asia.

Juan dom¨Şnguez, born 1964, is a performer and choreographer. He studied ballet, contemporary dance and video in Spain and USA. Since 1987 he works as a performer with different choreographers: Blanca Calvo, Olga Mesa, La Ribot, Cuqui Jerez, Gilles Jobin, Xavier le Roy, Tino Seghal among others. Since 1992 he develops his own work collaborating with different choreographers. He was artist in residence in podewil, berlin, 2004 and 2005. Since 2003 he is director and curator of the festival in-presentable at la casa encendida, Madrid.