Wednesday, March 4, 2009

In Retrospect


- Contributed by Shumin, NUS Chinese Dance Alumnus

Childhood memories…

After School…Study? Play? Love?

Beyond Yesterday

****

In November 2008, the NUS Chinese Dance alumni choreographic team met up to decide on the theme for our EMCC performance. In less than 3 months’, we presented Retrospect.

In the 1-hour long performance, NUS Chinese Dance transported the audience back to the yesteryears, a time and space filled with happy, sad, loving and agonizing memories. As 1 of the 6 alumni choreographers, I choreographed yes-THE days, an item inspired by the Japanese film, Always, San-chōme no yūhi. Stimulated by certain images, sounds or smell, people may feel nostalgic for the past; but is this longing not for a (constructed) past that has been romanticized and idealized? Combining video and dance, the 8-minute item revolves around the notion of memory, highlighting memory as a construct, a perception, an imagination.

The path to producing a dance was a fun yet challenging process. From the filming of raw footages, to editing, and to combining the video with dance, I have enjoyed every single moment spent with my team (dancers and video editor) despite the numerous obstacles that came along the way. Being in the dual role of dancer and choreographer also meant more time spent in the dance studio practicing, and longer hours in the theater doing lights plotting and blocking. On the other hand, it also meant more bonding time with my dance-mates which is always the most memorable part of the performance experience.

I believe all the dancers and choreographers have enjoyed EMCC 09 as much as I had, and I really look forward to working with them again! Special thanks to the NUS Museum for granting our request to film on their grounds.

****
回。想。
回。想。
回。想。

看见
现在,
彩色的画面
彩色的画面
留在记忆、记忆、记忆。。。



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