AURUM x Yvens Yao Wei - Part I
"Rooted in Tradition, Dancing in the Present: Yvens Yao Wei's Personal Odyssey"
There are artists who possess a unique ability to transcend the boundaries of movement and expression. Among them is Yvens Yao Wei, a visionary choreographer and performer whose artistic journey is marked by a profound dedication to accessibility, inclusivity, and cultural fusion. Yvens' profound grounding in traditional Chinese dance serves as the cornerstone for his journey into the contemporary art world, where he persistently explores the boundaries of artistic form.
In this exclusive interview, we delve into the rich tapestry of Yvens's artistic odyssey. From his early experiences in traditional Chinese dance to his foray into the captivating realm of contemporary movement, he shares the transformative moments that have shaped his unique perspective. He talks about his experience with students with visual impairment. He shatters preconceived notions about the limitations of the human body, proving that movement is a universal language that transcends sight.
Join us as we embark on a journey through the mind and heart of Yevns Yao Wei, a luminary whose artistry transcends the physical and speaks directly to the soul.
October 27 2023 - By Lisja Tërshana
Part I: Journey & Personal Evolution
Lisja Tërshana (LT): What drew you to the field of performing arts and specifically improvisation? What was the catalyst behind this route?
Yvens Yao Wei (YYW): It’s a long story. I started to study improvisation and have been obsessed with it in recent years. I don’t believe the idea just came suddenly. Improvisation has been running everywhere in my life and career journey. New ideas are always popping into my head spontaneously, which keeps me questioning where they come from. I grew up in a traditional Chinese family, and formal education sometimes drives you to break the rules with curiosity. My parents sent me as a child for many years to study visual arts until one day. I said I’d had enough of sitting still in front of a canvas. My body was begging me to move.
I saw on a TV programme a dancer with great skills, and it was so cool. That was when I decided to be a professional dancer, even though my parents disagreed. I was a rebellious teen who liked challenges and adventures. For six years, I trained in Chinese dance, classical, and folk in a professional school in mainland China. At the same time, I actively participated in various dance activities. Contemporary dance was such a refreshing perspective with freedom of expression. I applied to the best contemporary dance school in Asia, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and was offered a full scholarship. After attending an improvisation class there, and as of now, twelve years later, I am the one teaching it.
LT: That’s a full circle moment. By joining this Academy, you underwent two transitions at the same time: geographically relocating to Hong Kong but also transitioning from traditional Chinese practice to contemporary dance. How did you navigate this change, and what were the key experiences that shaped it?
YYW: As a vibrant, opportunistic, and fast-paced city, Hong Kong has always attracted me. The culture in mainland China and Hong Kong is entirely different. The most challenging was language; I spoke Mandarin, and people here in HK speak Cantonese and English. Lifestyles, food, weather, and everything were so different. It took me nearly a year to settle down. In retrospect, during that period, I hardly had time to overthink, and I always felt like I was racing against time. The picture is like a young man always running and trying to do everything best. Many years later, I realised that sometimes I must slow down to think and enjoy the scenery around me.
LT: In what ways does improvisation carry personal significance to you and on your journey of self-discovery and skill learning? Would you connect its essence to the core of human nature?
YYW: For me, improvisation is a powerful tool for self-discovery, self-expression, and creativity. It allows me to explore my own thoughts and feelings in the moment. It is a crucial tool for dancers to explore their own body movements, encouraging risk-taking and stepping outside of their comfort zone; it requires individuals to be fully present at the moment. Improvisation is a valuable skill not only in artistic creation but also in daily life — it helps people respond intuitively to unexpected challenges and opportunities.
LT: Would you say a specific mindset or technique is required to achieve the feeling of being "immersed in the moment"?
YYW: Immersing yourself at the moment requires cultivation. Our human brain activity is complex; it's smarter than we think, and it needs to be well-trained and stimulated. How do we sustain this instant sense of “now” in improvisation and real-time? When your brain, eyes, and other senses receive information, you will immediately convey this information in physical responses and movements. You don't have time to think and design, so you need to reach the state of body-mind connection that spontaneously activates and stays concentrated on your body. Let your mind and body flow; it will surprise you. But this requires practice over a long time, just like my mindfulness in meditation.
LT: This is very different from the facets that traditional Chinese dance uses to express emotions and narratives. What do you think about these different and unique roots, techniques, and interpretation styles? How do you strike a balance between these two dance forms?
YYW: Traditional Chinese and contemporary dance have their own cultural touch and theoretical background. Traditional Chinese Dance has deep cultural roots, often drawing inspiration from Chinese classical performing arts. Its concrete movement and gestures have been passed down through generations, so its interpretation tends to be more stylistic and symbolic. Dancers playing characters from traditional stories aim to convey specific emotions and ideas with their movements and facial expressions. On the other hand, contemporary dance is abstract; it is more open and free to personal interpretation. It values improvisation, experimentation, and the bending of rules, pushing the boundaries of what dance can be by reflecting on modern life and individual experiences. Finding a balance between these two is not easy; through years of professional training, our bodies have grown muscle memory, and body communication becomes essential for transformation.
LT: What insights should a dancer expect to gain through improvisation? Whether it is creativity, self-awareness, communication, or collaborative work.
YYW: Dance improvisation is an essential component of formal dance education. Improvisation not only allows dancers to explore the relationship between their body and space but also trains their body-mind consciousness and inspires their artistic potential. There are structured and unstructured improvisation, action and reaction, motif development, contact improvisation, group improvisation, etc. These methods will enhance the dancer's self-awareness, performance, creation, and cooperation skills.
LT: What about the other side? What should the audience absorb or understand from the realm of self-expression, emotions, and connections when experiencing improvisation?
YYW: Being an engaged and attentive audience is crucial. Not everyone can be comfortable with improvisation: it involves elements of risk, surprise, and real action. The audience usually appreciates an authentic expression of feelings and thoughts, and they may be open to experiencing and acknowledging their own emotional responses. It's a unique opportunity not only to consume an artistic performance but also to reflect on one's own humanity and capacity for connection.
LT: Considering the roles of the audience, performer, and choreographer, what are the criteria for a successful improvisation performance?
YYW: It's a hard question. I think it very much depends on different audience perspectives. They can connect with your current state and feel the energy and emotions you share to initiate the dialogue, which is an exciting process. When I perform as a dancer on stage, I only do one thing: Invite the audience to my performance while looking for the easiest way to contact them. It's challenging! When you breathe, everyone breathes with you... But when it does happen, we are close on a different level, creating an opportunity for a deeper conversation.
LT: What techniques or methods do you use to achieve this deeper conversation?
YYW: First of all, you must believe everything you do and your roleplay on stage, which includes every single action, gesture, and even your look. At the same time, you'll also need to stay conscious of your surroundings with any energy changes. In an immersive performance environment, the performer and the audience are in a shared space where the chemistry will change over time. Distancing, movement, or eye contact may affect the audience experience. Sometimes, you lead and guide the audience into specific emotions or circumstances, but other times, you empower them by providing a space to explore independently. A mature performer can adjust, control, and predict their relationship with the audience and find a platform to connect with deep and comfortable dialogue. This process is crucial to make the performer accountable, and a rich performance experience is necessary.
Editor - Lisja Tërshana
Lisja Tërshana (@tershana) is Art Editor of Aurum Arts. She is also an art curator, writer, and design strategist. As an MA Innovation Management candidate at Central Saint Martins, she is researching innovative philosophies and mediums to meaningfully transform the art ecosystem.
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