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‘A Riveting Gem’ Performs in New York at 2022 Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia

  • Date:2022-01-25

“As part of Taiwanese choreographer Wei-Chia Su’s FreeSteps project, the exceptionally agile dancer NiNi (also known as Yu-Ting Fang) performed on a stage island in the lobby of Japan Society. ... This was dance as moving sculpture, a three-dimensional study best appreciated in person.” -- Brian Siebert, the New York Times


“This pre-show performance choreographed by Wei-Chia Su – founder of Taiwan’s celebrated dance company called Horse – was a riveting gem.” -- Karen Greenspan, DanceTabs


“NiNi is an enchanting performer who set the tone and whet the appetite for more.” -- Cindy Sibilsky, Broadway World


HORSE, a Taiwanese dance company, traveled halfway across the world to bring their latest piece, “FreeSteps – Nini,” to New York for Japan Society’s Contemporary Dance Festival from January 14-15. The performance did not disappoint, receiving significant acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.


Wei-Chia Su, founder and choreographer of HORSE, was grateful that audiences and dance critics in New York had the opportunity to see NiNi (aka Yu-Ting Fang) perform. “Their praise and applause were the best part of this trip,” he said.


Taipei Cultural Center’s director, Huichun Chang, appreciated the Japan Society’s partnership and efforts to showcase Taiwanese dancers at its Contemporary Dance Festival. She added that “This was the first live performance of Taiwanese artists who flew to the United States since 2020, and their wonderful performances became worth waiting for.”


Japan Society – 2022 Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia

January 14-15, 2022

The lineup included FreeSteps – NiNi (Taiwan), A HUM SAN SUI (Japan), Complement (South Korea), and Touchdown (Taiwan)


FreeSteps - Nini《自由步-一盞燈的景身》

This piece was created by the founder and choreographer of HORSE, Wei-Chia Su (蘇威嘉), and performed by Yu-Ting Fang (方妤婷). In this solo dance project, the dancer performs under the lights in an indoor Japanese garden, where all of the elements, including the temperature, lighting, landscape, and even passersby, become a part of the spectacle.


About the Reviews:

New York Times Review: Reveling in Live Dance at Japan Society

By Brian Seibert, January 16, 2022

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/16/arts/dance/japan-society-dance-festival-review.html


Broadway World Review: CONTEMPORARY DANCE FESTIVAL 2022: JAPAN + EAST ASIA at Japan Society

By Cindy Sibilsky, January 17, 2022

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Review-CONTEMPORARY-DANCE-FESTIVAL-2022-JAPAN-EAST-ASIA-at-Japan-Society-20220117


Dance Tabs Review: Japan Society – 2022 Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia

By Karen Greenspan, January 19, 2022

https://dancetabs.com/2022/01/japan-society-2022-contemporary-dance-festival-japan-east-asia/


photo courtesy of Takaaki Ando