A testament to the ceaseless persistence of the essence of dance.

Founded in 2008, for over fourteen years now, China’s TAO Dance Theater has been exploring the very essence of dance itself. Led by artistic directors Tao Ye, Duan Ni and Wang Hao, the company has distilled the art of dance to its core aspects, manifested as minimalist productions that focus entirely on the infinite potential of human physicality and movement.

Returning to Singapore for the Esplanade’s da:ns Focus programme, over the weekend, the acclaimed group presented a double bill of work from Tao Ye’s ‘Numericals’ series at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Stemming from the company’s signature Circular Movement System that grants its dancers greater awareness of their body and its possibilities, 13 and 14 also represent TAO Dance Theater’s greatest achievements yet in the company’s investigation into a new language for the body.

In 13, the 13 dancers onstage explore the permutations of solo, duet and group dances performed simultaneously onstage. Clad in heavy, dull grey and earth-tone robes, along with the white flooring, one imagines the dancers in a wintry landscape, huddled up and moving as a single unit for warmth, constantly revolving and turning as they navigate the stage. Xiao He’s soundtrack accompanying the dancers is equally evocative, and similarly evokes the idea of snowy winds and a blizzard, the dancers persevering regardless of the harsh weather, unable to stop until they’ve reached their destination.

But a curious thing begins to happen after some time, as dancers fall over rather dramatically, audibly hitting the ground and splayed out. Each time this happens, another dancer rushes to their aid, trying to pull them back up again, all while the phalanx of bodies continues to circle the stage ever so slowly. It takes incredible focus not to be fazed by these constant disruptions and distractions, yet the dancers maintain their poise and calm, carrying in spite of it all. At times, something else inexplicable happens, as a fallen dancer merges with the dancer trying to help them out, swapping positions with an impressive roll or a smooth lift and transfer to the other’s shoulders, becoming a completely new creature. All this while the rest of the group keep moving, still journeying on.

If one were to interpret it literally, then one sees each fallen dancer as a lost member of the troupe as they continue their odyssey and search of some kind of safe place, the sense of loss lingering in the air as their brethren try to save them from doom, or the grief that hangs on to them, as represented by the dancers who have transformed. Some of these fallen or fused bodies, we imagine them to become obstacles to their journey – streams of water, boulders to traverse or mountains to climb, the memories of their friends now one with nature.

But if we were to take a step back and think about it from a meta level, then this journey also parallels the process of exploration of dance, as TAO Dance Theater continues to train and propel the art form to new heights. It is about finding the strength to carry on regardless of all that stands in their way, always united as a single company, each one on their own journey of self-discovery, helping each other grow and learn on this seemingly endless path to dance ‘enlightenment’.

The truth is, this is a process that will never end. The cycles continue as long as the company does, and it is altogether impressive how seamless the dancers make every movement feel. It’s a testament to how much they’ve trained, every landing and recovery deliberate and perfectly timed to remain within the rhythm of the group, knowing that they’ll always be there for each other, as the lights fade to black and the journey continues.

In the second item, 14, 14 dancers are now onstage, each dressed in a different coloured robe, forming a rainbow-like spectrum of hues. Also choreographed by Tao Ye, while this number is visually brighter, it is no less serious than 13, the only sound throughout the entire performance a constant, consistent sound of an hour-hand ticking away, like a metronome keeping time.

Exploring the concept of rhythm connecting us all in life, the dancers perform the entire choreography completely in sync with one another. Never once do they switch positions, and maintain that tight window of time and movement space that allows for little margin of error. Yet each time they leap, spin or land, it feels like they truly are of one mind.

There are points 14 feels almost like a very elegant and artistic HIIT workout, where the dancers come to rest at the same time, locked into an almost meditative pose, their breaths clearly audible while the ticks get significantly louder. There is no one to signal or lead them, only their own feeling and counting of the beats before they all jump up again at the same time.

Almost like an experiment, the way the loose robes follow the dancer’s movements is mesmerising to watch, the colours swishing and coming to rest in perfect harmony, and evoking various folds and lines, clearly seen against. the black stage, the rhythm always maintained. One is left to think about the invisible, hidden rhythms of our own daily lives, and how much we stick to routines we may not even realise, moving as others do. It feels like second nature to these dancers now to be so in sync, and after the struggle seen in 13 that explored diversity, 14 is truly a testament to their togetherness and unity onstage.

Whatever the case, with both these works, TAO Dance Theater has proven the beauty of simplicity, and by bringing the focus back to the body, and their own mesmerising team work, our eyes are transfixed throughout the performance. According to Tao Ye, in Chinese, the pronunciation of ’13’ and ’14’ phonetically sounds like an idiom which express the wish that something will last a lifetime.

Indeed, by viewing these two works one after another, with 13, we see the process, the struggle and journey of exploring the Circular Movement System. And in 14, its colourful counterpart, it feels like a culmination of all that has been learnt, a celebration of dance in its purest form, and a degree of mastery over the language of the body before carrying on, and taking dance even further still.

Featured Photo Credit: © Fan Xi, TAO Dance Theater

13 & 14 runs from 13th to 15th October 2023 at the Singtel Waterfront Theatre. Tickets available here

da:ns focus 2023: CAN – Connect Asia Now runs from 13th to 15th October 2023 at the Esplanade. More information available here

Production Credits:

13 Choreographer: Tao Ye Composer: Xiao He Lighting Designers: Ma Yue, Tao Ye Costume Designer: Duan Ni Costume Maker: Dnty

14 Choreographer & Sound Conception: Tao Ye Lighting Designers: Ma Yue, Tao Ye Costume Designer: Duan Ni