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Jacob's Pillow Features Taiwan Dance Company09:36AM / Thursday, June 18, 2009
BECKET, Mass. – Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival launches the U.S. debut of Taiwanese contemporary dance-theater company LAFA & Artists from July 1–5.
Founded in 2007, the company is led by artistic directors Fang-Yi Sheu, renowned for her solo performances with Martha Graham Dance Company and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, and choreographer Bulareyaung Pagarlava. Sheu performs with LAFA & Artists in the world premiere of "Summer Fantasia Part I – Summer" at Jacob’s Pillow; the U.S. premiere of "37 Arts," a work of acrobatics and compelling lyricism; and the solo work "Single Room," all choreographed by Pagarlava.
"The artistry of Fang-Yi Sheu is a rare thing. Her dancing is exquisite. It is exciting that she has challenged herself and launched a company with Mr. Pagarlava," said Jacob's Pillow Executive Director Ella Baff. "I'm sure that audiences will be captivated by Fang-Yi's dancing. I think they will also be engaged and uplifted by this new company's youthful exuberance and the new work they are performing in the U.S. for the first time."
Jacob's Pillow audiences remember Sheu from the 2008 production of David Michalek's "Slow Dancing"; in which she performed the solo Song V, choreographed by Pagarlava. Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, a company with which both artists have performed, was presented at the Pillow in 2002.
LAFA’s engagement at Jacob's Pillow will include the world premiere of the new Pagarlava work. "Summer Fantasia Part I—Summer" is inspired by the time Pagarlava and Sheu spent at the Pillow in 2008.
Created during an eight-week residency at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City and named for its address, "37 Arts" premiered in Taipei in January 2008. The score includes music by Benny Goodman, Arvo Pärt, and Jacques Offenbach.
The shortest piece on the program, "Single Room," is perhaps its most intense. A 10-minute solo for Sheu, it features her in silhouette against a brilliantly-lit white screen, dancing on and around a long table. The jazzy score is by Henry Torgue and Serge Houppin. In The New York Times, Claudia La Rocco called it "an atmospheric vehicle that plays up Ms. Sheu’s powerhouse, femme fatale qualities."
A native of Taiwan, Sheu received her bachelor of fine arts from Taipei National University of the Arts, where she studied Martha Graham technique. She joined Martha Graham Dance Company in 1995 and was soon promoted to principal dancer.
From 1998 to 2003, Sheu performed with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and also danced with Monte/Brown Dance Company, Buglisi/ Foreman Dance, and Shen Wei Dance Arts. In 2005 she was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" issue and has received many awards including Taiwan’s National Award for Arts, as the youngest recipient ever honored.
Pagarlava is a native of the Paiwan tribe in Taiwan and a former member of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre. He also received his BFA from the Taipei National University of the Arts and upon graduating was signed as a soloist with Cloud Gate. He toured the world with the company and in 2000 was invited to choreograph for Cloud Gate 2. Pagarlava continued to work with both Cloud Gate and Cloud Gate 2 until he founded LAFA & Artists with Sheu in 2007.
Support for this engagement is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Council for Cultural Affairs in Taiwan, and the Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York.
Performances are Wednesday, July 1, through Saturday, July 4, at 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, July 4, at 2:15 p.m. and Sunday, July 5, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $33 with some discounts available. To purchase, call the box office Monday through Saturday from 10 to 6 adn Sunday from 11 to 6 at 413-243-0745 or order online at www.jacobspillow.org.
Jacob's Pillow is located at 358 George Carter Road; the campus and theaters are handicapped-accessible. |
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