Leigh Warren is the artistic director of Leigh Warren Dance. He was the artistic director of Australian Dance Theatre from 1987 to 1992, and established Leigh Warren and Dancers in 1993. Warren has been completing a period of creative development with Professor Xiao Xiong Zhang, of Taiwan National University of the Arts. Here he reports on some of his experiences observing this incredible teacher.
Perched like a castle way up on a hill at Guandau overlooking the city of Taipei sits Taiwan National University of the Arts (TNUA), where the revered and beloved Professor Xiao Xiong Zhang teaches contemporary dance. Zhang, originally from Cambodia, danced first with the One Extra Company and then under my direction at Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) during the late eighties finally settling in Taiwan where he danced and taught at Cloudgate Dance Theatre of Taiwan before taking a permanent teaching role at TNUA some seventeen years ago.
As I approach the entrance of the university the first thing that swings into view is an avenue of cotton trees in full bloom, their huge vermillion flowers strewn everywhere making a carpet of exotic blossoms dotting the iridescent green grass. Glancing to my left I discover two very large buffalo grazing contentedly on that amazing green field. I’m here in Taiwan on a creative development stay with Zhang for a production I am creating for the Ozasia Festival in Adelaide. I have taken some time out from my cultural investigations to check out the TNUA dance school and its highly talented band of students.
It’s the second class of the day and the dancers scatter themselves all over the floor as dancers do anywhere in the world but what I notice is that there are as many men as there are women - unusual to find anywhere. There are also other faculty members and post-graduates in attendance, working just as diligently at their preparation for class as the students. Zhang begins his class slowly with floor-work that is a mix of released stretching and isometric body balancing, systematically leading students to standing.
Zhang is reaping the rewards of seventeen years of rigorous and dedicated teaching that has produced two generations of dancers, now in companies around the world. Later in the week I see one graduate dance the lead as the sacrificial maiden in Pina Bausch’s Rite of Spring, performed by Tanztheater Wuppertal, who just happen to be visiting. She is astonishing! (Thirty years later so is the work!)
Meanwhile back at class I observe that the students are supple, focused, show remarkable body strength and are very disciplined. Zhang is softly spoken but very definite about what is to be achieved. His students listen intently and assimilate any feedback and its immediate adaptation with remarkable speed. The body is never thought of in separate parts, each and every movement engages the entire body. The sequences are fluid and assertive they have a calligraphic feel to them bold long brush strokes right to the fingertips. The dancers lap it up, exploiting every possibility. They take charge of their own bodies and guide themselves through the exercises while a fantastic accompanist constantly shifts dynamic emphasis keeping all those ears keen in time and in tune with her.
The perspiration is now pouring off everyone, exercises are repeated and repeated until Zhang accepts improvement has been made. Only then does he move on. There is every kind of physique in the room all contrasting shapes, heights, proportions and muscle tones but somehow they all push through, not because they are bullied or coerced, but rather because they have a self motivation that seems to be part of the ethos of the university. There is a distinct Zhang style but its openness allows for adaptation it would seem to other techniques. As the class reaches its climax spirits lift and so does the humour when some timing comes unravelled to produce a comical effect. Everyone, even the pianist, joins in. Firmly in English Zhang says, “ …on the down beat,” with one of his charming grins…. the students work very hard - and when I say hard its no exaggeration - but their efforts are paying off big time!
- Leigh Warren
Look out for our interview with Leigh in the next (June/July issue) of Dance Australia.
Above: Buffalo outside TNUA.