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Cock-pit
“The ideas for my new work are somewhat a reflection of my own experiences as a student at my dance school in China. I was one of five boys who shared a small room for more than five years. Sometimes we liked each other and at other times we did not, and at other times we liked some of the boys but not the others. We were at the age when we became concerned about sexuality without having had any advice from our parents or any of our elders. We were not allowed to have girlfriends, so we only thought of them in our dreams and imaginations. As we were all far away from home, we talked a lot about our mothers. These memories contribute subconsciously to my scenario for the proposed new work.” - Wen Wei Wang
In 2008, Wen Wei Dance began the creation of a new work for four men and one woman. They have no way of being alone except in their imaginations. They are psychologically isolated, yet inescapably together. This proximity promotes violence, masculine insecurities and male bonding. All are vulnerable, oversensitive and therefore weakened. One female dancer is able to enter and exit as figments of their imaginations. She sometimes acts as a surrogate mother, at other times as a symbol of sexuality. Within this simple narrative structure is a complexity of physical movement and emotional relationships. The work will involve dialogue and song. Wen Wei will collaborate once again with composer Giorgio Magnanensi, who created the score for Three Sixty Five, Unbound and One Man’s…, as well as James Proudfoot as the lighting designer. Additionally. Kate Burrows will once again be engaged as the costume designer. Together, the collaborators will assist Wen Wei in pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance. The work will be approximately sixty minutes long.
Winner of the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award – Dance 2009
COCK-PIT IS A CO-PRODUCTION WITH L'AGORA DE LA DANSE AND THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
Photo credit (top right): By Chris Randle, featuring Wen Wei Wang
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