On today’s DanceWeekend countdown we are featuring artist Naishi Wang. Read on to learn more about Naishi and what he will be presenting on the DanceWeekend stage.
DanceWeekend’20 is January 25 & 26 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naishiw
Instagram: naishi_wang
Twitter: @Nai_shi_
1. Can you tell us little bit about your company/collective/school?
Based in culturally diverse city-Toronto, and born in Changchun, China. Naishi Wang began his dance training at Jilin College of Art. In 2006, Naishi joined Toronto Dance Theater for 9 years. In 2015, the Award-winning performer was inspired to work extensively as a freelance dancer with diverse talented artists and choreographers across the globe. Naishi is developing as an independent choreographer and pushing the form of what dance could be in the 21st century. His work premiered in cities like Beijing, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Annapolis Royal, Berlin, and Hamburg.
2. What are showing at DanceWeekend’20?
I plan to show an excerpt from my solo Taking Breath. Plastic waste. Climate change. These are often at the forefront in discussions regarding our impact on the environment. Discussion about air is often focused on consequences such as global warming and seldom do we face the question directly – Will we run out of breathable air? Breathing – an innate action of taking in air and expelling it from the lungs.“Taking Breath” brings the subconscious to the conscious, the passive to the active; questioning how we have taken breathing and the air we breathe, for granted.
3. Who are the performers/collaborators in this piece(s)?
Concept, choreography and performance: Naishi Wang.
Outside eyes: Paul-André Fortier, Ginelle Chagnon
Dramaturgy: Ivy Wang, Francoise Hüsges
Light Designer: Ivy Wang
4. Can you talk about your creative process? What inspires you?
My travel experiences inspired me to make a work about communication and using air as a possible channel to conceptualize the idea to communicate to the universe, environment and other people. Another inspiration was an event in 2017, a Canadian startup company sell bottled Rocky Mountain clean air from Canada to Beijing, China.
5. Please share your experience performing in a previous DanceWeekend and/or tell us what you are looking forward to at DanceWeekend’20?
I have been an audience to the Ontario DanceWeekend for many years and this is my first time to perform my work at the DanceWeekend. I am very excited and privileged to share my research with the DanceWeekend audiences and proud to be in the multi-talented dance community.
7. Do you have any up-coming performances/events you would like to share?
Performing for ZATA OMN dance projects on February 5-8, Presented by DanceWorks TO.
In residency at LA SERRE Montreal from April 20 to May 3.
Photo by Francesca Chudnoff