The lady next to me gasped when an unexpected screech burst from one of the dancers. The woman in front frantically snapped the camera button on her phone, then there rippled all around the sound of shutters and whispers.
Filled with the best of Nanjing’s glitterati and ultra-chic upper class, this Soho-esque gathering was assembled for only one reason; to watch the latest performance by the KheN dance group. Blessing Nanjing’s artistic scene, this unexpected piece of dance theatre was a refreshing delight.
Dramatically elegant story telling spoke of a changing Chinese youth through the eyes of modern middle upper class Chinese women. Focusing on the struggles of intense relationships, gossip and power, this piece helped highlight parts of a modern Chinese psyche.
With the use of minimal props and the audience situated on all sides of the act, the dancers did a fantastic job utilising what they had in order to help tell the story better. Abstract gestures saw the dancers riding to the rhythm of each other and the music.
Audience members appeared struck by immense emotion while others simply peered over their phones with a perplexed look wondering what on Earth was this all about. In order to portray a certain sense of intimacy and strong emotion, it was the techniques used by the dances that allowed for this. Rarely did the women move in unison so completely as to render the display of feelings we so often experience in intense relationships.
Well-rehearsed, clean and polished, this contemporary ensemble delivered a show that was passionate, elegant and thought provoking. This show was a deliberately female driven team with femininity, girl plus woman and sisterhood at the heart of the piece.
W5MEN continues to be staged in various Chinese cities thru November.
