Flying white — 飞白

Co-created by Wen Wei Wang (Artistic Director of Wen Wei Dance), Owen Underhill (Composer, Artistic Director of Turning Point Ensemble), Dorothy Chang (Composer)
Choreographer: Wen Wei Wang in collaboration with the dancers
Composers: Owen Underhill and Dorothy Chang
Performers:
6 dancers from Wen Wei Dance:
Dario Dinuzzi, Eowynn Enquist, Ralph Escamillan, Sarah Formosa, Daria Mikhaylyuk, Matthew Wyllie
–
13 live musicians on stage:
8 from Turning Point Ensemble:
Jeremy Berkman (Trombone), Jonathan Bernard (Percussion), Paolo Bortolussi (Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute), Liam Hockley (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet), Kimberly Kistler (Cello), Janelle Nadeau (Harp), Jesse Read (Bassoon), Kinneret Sieradzki (Violin)
–
5 from Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra:
Pei-Ling Chang (Pipa), Kuang-Chih Cheng (Erhu), Dai-Lin Hsieh (Guzheng), Ling-Hsuan Shen (Sheng), Lan Tung (Erhu)
with Conductor: Owen Underhill
Costume Designer: Linda Chow
Lighting Designer: Jonathan Kim
Scenic Design Consultant and Technical Director: Mark Eugster
Production and Stage Manager: Kimberly Plough

Duration: 90 minutes (not including intermission)

Premiere: January 31, February 1 – 2, 2020 at SFU Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre
PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2020 in partnership with SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs

“Flying white” is a rare and extraordinary form of Chinese calligraphy that jumps and leaps on the paper surface in graceful beautiful strokes, the black ink revealing a white background. The motion and aesthetic of this calligraphy and the philosophy of the elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are the foundations for the artistic vision of this new work Flying white – 飞白.

Mobile and delicate, flying white is like meteors passing through the sky, or hair fluttering in the wind. The piece explores the space between black and white, inhale and exhale, east and west, and sound and movement. Furthermore, integrating six dancers and an intercultural ensemble of twelve musicians, interacting on stage and with representations of elements including rice, paper, water, silk, and ink.

Co-presented by: PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and Turning Point Ensemble
Co-produced by: SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs, Turning Point Ensemble, and Wen Wei Dance

Both organizations have and are grateful for operating funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and the City of Vancouver. Supported through The Dance Centre’s Artist-in-Residence Program.

Photos by
(top) Emily Cooper
(gallery) Chris Randle