澳門舞者的紐約夢 (上 / 下)

非一般的“朝九晚五”生活

對於普通澳門上班族來講，這樣一張“朝九晚五”時間表或許不會太陌生：八時起床，梳洗穿衣出門，九時準時到公司報到，埋首辦公桌，打開電腦，回電郵、寫計劃書、開會、覆電話……直至午飯時間短暫放鬆之後，又再次陷進檯頭如山的文件堆裏，等到下班時間早已過了、天也黑了、肚子也餓了，才拖着僵硬的身體回家！可是，你可曾試過轉念一想：原來還有一種不一樣的“朝九晚五”生活？

此刻，兩個澳門上班族女孩就正在紐約體驗不一樣的“朝九晚五”生活：兩個澳門OL——何雅詩(Stella)及郭瑞萍(Candy)，加入紐約職業舞團艾美·瑪素舞蹈團，進行三星期的編舞訓練及創作。在紐約，她們的時間表也是朝九晚五，但內容卻與澳門生活大不相同：她們每朝六時就要起床，吃過早餐，就要坐公車出發，從所住的皇后區阿斯多利亞前往路程較遠的紐約市中心。九時正，抵達舞團報到，首先來一小時的瑜伽訓練，從生理及心理上準備好應付全天的緊張訓練；接下來，是一個半小時的現代舞技巧課及另外一個半小時的創作時間。午飯之後，緊接是芭蕾舞課（對主攻中國舞的Stella和專習現代舞的Candy來說，上芭蕾舞課就像重遇老友一樣），而既然身在“通識”的編舞訓練營，當然要對舞團的舞蹈風格有所認識，所以最後一節是舞團作品的練習。這時候，已是下午四時半，剩下來的半個小時就讓兩人做做伸展運動，紓緩高度緊張的肌肉。

同樣是“朝九晚五”，但在紐約職業舞團的生活當然與在澳門辦公室的生活截然不同，甚至與以往工餘或周末的舞蹈排練也不一樣。在紐約，除了每天都要保持身體的極限狀態，她們最需要適應的，還是職業舞團的“高效率”，因為不論動作難度與複雜性，導師只會作兩次（最多三次）示範，學員就要“認識”及“做到”這動作，對比以往習慣將動作重複數十遍的練習，她們承認如今需要頭腦更加專注及清醒。而這樣一天“朝九晚五”的舞蹈練習下來，最有力的證明當然要算是一身的瘀傷痠痛。其實，每次到練習中途小休，那種全身痠麻的感覺便會讓人只想趴在地上不動。不過，只要老師一聲號令、音樂一起，大家又會馬上跳起身，忘形起舞，也許這就是“舞蹈”的能量所在吧？ （上）

文心

http://www.macaodaily.com/html/2008-08/20/content_212594.htm

紐約的啟示

正如世上所有的大都會，紐約充滿一切令人驚訝目眩的新奇事物：一整條街看不見頂的摩天大樓、永遠擠滿了新穎房車跑車的馬路、匆匆而過彷彿要把全世界抛在後頭的西裝友、把夜空染成不止七色的霓虹光管……紐約的一切都來得更壯觀、更深刻，像要把其他大都會的新奇都比下去，無論在此逗留多久，都不會令人生厭。

要認識這個城市，最快速、最好的方法，可能就是參觀博物館。只有三個星期去認識紐約的Stella和Candy，每有空餘時間，無論一整天的工作坊弄得四肢有多痠軟疼痛，都會掙扎着到各式各樣的藝術博物館參觀，就如珍藏着當代最重要畫家（如畢加索、莫內、梵高等）主要畫作的大都會美術館，以及與“當代藝術”畫上等號的MOMA（紐約現代藝術館 / Museum of Modern Art）等。

典藏的藝術傑作給人不少靈感啟發，然而令二人感觸最深的，卻是在紐約大都會的繁忙、喧囂與霓虹光管後，倒映着“小城澳門”的影子：走在紐約街頭，抬頭望向令人暈眩的高樓之際，此景此情在澳門又何嘗陌生？由沙士時期的經濟低迷，到賭權開放後的急速發展，作為澳門市民的一分子，Stella和Candy享受着社會繁榮的同時，也憂慮着“小城”原本美好的一面在慢慢消逝。這亦自然成為她們編舞習作的其中一個題材。在名為“建構”(Construction)的兩篇舞作功課中，兩組編舞不約而同選擇了板直的身段與仿如工地機械的重複動作，營造出忙碌而冰冷的非人化景像，也許這就是她們對那些拔地而起的高樓的第一印象吧？

藝術源自生活，Stella和Candy用舞蹈表達對“澳門”這城市的感覺，也嘗試與未曾到過澳門的紐約朋友分享她們的想法。三個星期的紐約之旅，不單提升她們的編舞技巧，亦同時引發了她們對澳門的思考。(下)

文心

http://www.macaodaily.com/html/2008-08/22/content_213500.htm

Mix of Cultures

After having the Dim Sum, Amy Marshall and her dancers accompanied us to walk around China town for a while. Then just by crossing a road, we turned to walk along the area called Little Italy.

Just like what one of the dancers told us, “In New York, it's interesting that the previous moment you were like being in Asia, but next moment you will feel like being in Europe!”

Exploring NYC

Only after the summer intensive, we had the time to start to explore the “Big Apple”:

The Central Park is a place that could not be missed out!

Walking around the historic, neoclassical campus in the Morningside Heights of Columbia University, savoring the classical architecture of America.


We were lucky that the Guggenheim Museum is now exhibiting the representative selections of one of the most important artists of our time ─ Louise Bourgeois.

Walking around the West Village made us feel like walking in a small town of Europe. We enjoyed the leisure feeling there! The studio of Merce Cunningham Dance Company is also situated in the West Village.

It is so surprising for us to find the national flag of the People's Republic of China hung outside New York Stock Exchange Building.


To explore the Big Apple, the “glassy” Apple Store is another spot which could not be missed!

It seems that we have visited quite a number of places, but with so much to see, in fact there are still a lot of places of New York which could be explored, only time is limited ...

-- Stella, Candy

50th Anniversary of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Just the day after the summer intensive, Candy and I went to New York City Center (the studio for summer intensive classes is in this building) again, because on that day Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) was celebrating its 50th anniversary there. The West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues was close for pedestrians only and it was really a street party, with stalls selling clothing, accessories, food, etc, and stalls holding activities for kids.

There was also a stage set for providing free lessons of drumming, Horton, Hip Hop and West African dance to the public. As we saw, a lot of people passing by were attracted and joined the free lessons. It was really happy and excited to learn dancing with so many people on the street!

Aside from the street party, free dance performances were provided as well, and we were fortunate that the programs shown on that day were the classical dance pieces created by Mr. Ailey, such as Phases (excerpt), "Bird" - With Love (excerpt), Blues Suite (excerpt) and Revelations. The dancers were terrific with sophisticated dance techniques. On the other hand, the audience was mostly fans of AAADT, highly lifted up the atmosphere of the performance.

We had a great time for this celebration activity held by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater!

--- Stella

Feel the City, Feel the Art!

Day 2

On the second day of arrival at New York, we started by having a nice brunch with Amy, Chad, Matt and Natasha (two of the AMDC dancers), followed by more discussion on the project.

In the evening, we took the time to go to the area around Times Square in Manhattan to feel the atmosphere of this metropolitan, but where's the Times Square building? We don't find it!

Large digital signages, billboards and multi-colored neon lights make this city as gorgeous and splendid as it could be.

Just like other big cities in the world, New York is always crowded in its business area, and there are lots of different attractions for tourists from around the world, but somehow its harmonious blending of people of different races makes it unique.

Day 3

On our third day in New York, we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This museum is really huge and we only managed to see a small portion of exhibits. However, we really have a great time seeing the paintings of the famous painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Picasso, etc as well as the works of some famous contemporary artists. We have already decided to arrange for more time to visit this museum again during our stay in New York.

--- Stella & Candy