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The Center: Can Theater Open a Path to Equality?

2021.04.01
The Center: Can Theater Open a Path to Equality?

Photo：Pop-up show of The Center at Weiwuying. Two main dancers, CHENG Chih-chung (left) and CHOU Shu-yi (right).

Written by Weiwuying Residency Artist CHOU Shu-yi

Do you know anyone with a disability? Do you know that the theater has wheelchair seatings? Bring them to a performance in the theater next time! If you lose your eyesight someday, will you still come to the theater? Maybe there is a modern dance piece that allows you to hear the encounters of different bodies. If you lose your hearing, will you still go to a performance? Although you cannot hear, you can notice the lights and dance in the space. These hypophoras are my reflections on life and musings during the production of The Center.

Three years ago, I danced with CHENG Chih-chung for the first time at Primal CHAOS, a series of impromptu performances. Our body engaged in a dialogue about equality, rights, and freedom. I hoped I could work with Chih-chung on a piece about him and us. Why him? Because I was moved by his strength, focus, and tenacity in theater and physical performance. Ever since I met him, I began to pay attention to the experience of different bodies in society. The prevalence of inequality drove me to create The Center. For example, when driving an electric wheelchair with Chih-chung, you notice the bumpy road surfaces and planning and realize who the designs really serve. So if Chih-chung became the center, how far apart are we from it? Do we understand how the center of the universe works? Through theater, we bring people together to focus on what is in front of them, face something they have allowed themselves to feel, and to bring them closer to the world.

上傳圖片

Photo：Two main dancers, CHENG Chih-chung and CHOU Shu-yi, of The Center pop-up at Weiwuying.

Luckily, three years later, a creative exploration, jointly produced by Weiwuying and the National Theater and Concert Hall, began so that such a marginal issue may take center stage. It is also an opportunity for more people to learn of Chih-chung, a rare breed of theater artist in Taiwan, feel his vitality, and experience his philosophy. I share the stage with him. Stage lighting is designed by senior Hong Kong theater designer LEE Chi-wai. Music by Kaohsiung native artist WANG Yu-jun. Consulted by National Awards for Arts winner LIN Ching-ru. In collaboration with producer Neo WU and our friends at Artexpected. I hope that such an all-star partnership may open a path to equality for The Center.

The theater is filled with life stories. Its audience is composed of people of different ages and backgrounds. They share the same space for various reasons to enjoy the performance. The Center aims to bring people together in the theater to feel dance, listen to the performance, and, through our corporeality, witness a scenery of life that belongs to you and me.

 

To be continued...

 

Learn More:

The Center

Weiwuying Artist-In-Residence-CHOU Shu-yi

 

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