23rd July, Chookas!

It's Opening Night!

I’ve had a chance to see all the works  yesterday, and I can guarantee it’s not going to be one of those boring long winded showcases that we often have to sit through!

Chookas everyone!

22nd July, Miss you already :(

Gezzz it’s nearly over, all this work for only two shows! What a shame, I want to do the show again!

I’m gonna miss this place. People are so unbelievably nice here; people spontaneously invite you for tea at the lake (I must go back Monday morning, entry is free before 6am and that’s when it most alive) and when it’s raining, strangers insist on sharing their umbrella with you as you wait at a bus stop or go to walk across the street. The door man at the hostel shares his cigarettes with me and there is a cute old dog that passes by where I smoke at night for a wee chat, I’ll miss her too.

But most of all I’ll miss these guys! My champions!

Thanks Taiwan! Thanks World Dance Alliance 2011-International Young Choreographers Project! Thanks Miss Chou, Thanks Ya-Chin and most of all thanks Li Yen, Pei Ing, Hsing-Miao, Yi-Ting, Yi-Echen, Ming Shan, Yi-Jie, Michun and Li-Wei!!! You Rock!

21st July, we finished the work!

Hooray! I took my own advice from yesterday and simplified the final game this afternoon. And it was still too long, so in the tech run this evening, I simplified it even more and finished right on time!! Given that we were  two dancers missing tonight (performing for the schools sponsors)  it might change a bit tomorrow, but we have another 3hr rehearsal to resolve this. I don’t care; my dancers have put up with my Nancy behavior over the last two days and still pulled together. Nice job! They ROCK!

After the run they asked me if they could shout and muck around a bit more in each of the games, I said ‘Hell Yeah!”

Oh yeah! And it was Angela's Birthday today

Music By Ryadan Jeavons
Cinematography By Kuan Ling Tsai

20th July, Nancy Day!

Today I had my Nancy day!

 I’m trying to  create a third and final game for my work, and the dancers told me it was too hard! So I got a little bit shitty, called a 10 minute break and ducked around the back of the school for a ciggy……maybe I left it a little bit late to start something new (we have our first plotting tomorrow, but we have till Saturday for the performances) . As I see it, this project is an opportunity to create a completely new work, in an unfamiliar environment, so I’m OK if I fail. But I won’t, because the first two games are finished and look great! So, to try something completely different is fun for me…………..however, I’m learning that most of the dancers are really young (18years) and have never been allowed to fail, all they want to do is “practice, practice, perfect!” (I think that’s normal in every culture, not just TaiwanJ) All I want to do is “play, play, create”.

So I had my 10 minutes to think, went back inside, had a small talk with them, tried explained my reasoning and tried to apologise. I think they were on the same wave length because they drew this wee picture on the floor while I was away.

Last week the dancers saved me from embarrassment when I walked into rehearsal with this tee shirt that I bought at the night markets on.

It says something like “I’m afraid of my wife” (I won’t show you what it says on the shoulder it’s really rude!)

So I think it’s only fair that I cut the dancers a little slack and find a way to make the third game a little simpler so they have time to “practice, practice, perfect!” it's only fair.

19th July, It’s all coming together!

I have almost finished my work…………And thanks to Kenny (the lighting designer) the sound operator now has Q-Lab!! Ryadan has sent me the final version of the music and I have almost finished the final game (hehe). Three more rehearsals!

And now I am soaking wet from having to ride in the Taiwan rain to buy more props!

This is the Taipei national theater (Right and Left) This pic dose no justice. It dwarfs the Opera House!

Pic from the other direction, a Memorial Monument to a famous General.

18th July, Cheng Tsung-Lung

Allen “Hey Zaimon, Can I have your music today?”

Zaimon “No.”

Allen “Oh? Well, tomorrow then”

Zaimon “I can get it to you buy Thursday.”

Allen “Oh no, that’s too late!?”

Zaimon “Well maybe Wednesday then....................”

Allen “………………..errrrr”

Zaimon “……………morning?”

Allen “Ok! But no later!”

On Sunday I went to Taipei to see our good friend Cheng Tsung-Lung and I got to sit in on a rehearsal of “On The Road”, for the designers and production staff! It’s a new work and he said it was different work for him, I think he’s quite nervous, but he has nothing to worry about: Three beautiful, amazing dancers, dancing for 70 minutes (with only a three minute break). There is so much focus that you can understand, empathises, laugh and cry just through watching their eyes. I think this is going to be a really special work! I was very honoured to be there!

The performance runs Friday22nd-Sunday24th July in the Experimental Theatre at the Taipei National Theatre. 

Pin-Hsiu Chen and Cheng Tsung-Lung

 I also had a really great chat to Pin-Hsiu about contemporary dance and dance development in Taipei too.

15th July, Let's dance!

Sorry for the delay, I've just had way to many things to explore this weekend.
But here is a short video of my dancing experience's so far!

Music composed by Ryadan Jeavons

See you Monday!