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

Explorative & Inspiring

I should say " SO MUCH TO EXPLORE & BE INSPIRED" to round up the three-weeks training experience. In AMDC summer intensive, I've seen and felt people's urge, heating passion, devotion and seriousness towards dance, no matter you are a choreographer, a professional dancer, an amateur student or just a dance audience. So do Stella's and my internal fire being heat up, there is no exception. The thing is already there, how deep you can dig into it simply depends on what kind of "ATTITUDE" that you adopt towards the thing that you love for. To dance and to choreograph is a lot of funs but at the same thing it's a serious matter. To quote a meaningful phrase told by my friend who devotes himself in the theatre works : "We should learn how to play a game seriously; and how to deal with sacredness in delicate but relaxing way." , which I think are very strong words and worth to contemplate about.

During the creative process, I've the opportunity to learn from an choreographer (Amy Marshall), who oversees the whole picture, and worked through efficiently with just simple elements to an aesthetically,sophiscated dance piece. Movements need not to be complicated at all times, but how you can make interesting variations and choreograph out of simple little things is a real "big" thing. I am greatly inspired by Amy's works.

Honestly, everything is expensive here in NY, not me as a Chinese tourist said so, even the New Yorker themselves said so. Time is money, thus everything needs to be done in neat time. In the intensive training, we have to learn differents movements, combinations, repertories in a very short period of time and get into your body; We've got to create short dance phrases or make collaboration with partners quickly and presented it. There is no time for your mind to lagging behind, your presence and awareness is essential at all time. I do feel that my brain runs faster here.

Besides from the gorgeous learning experiences we have had, three weeks being lived and stayed together with Stella gave us a good opportunity for opening up some in-depth conversations, sharing our viewpoints and vision towards Macao dance scenario. And I believe that we definitely lacking these kind of communication among Macao local choreographers and dancer themselves, which in fact would have a positive effect on the development of dance / performaning art in Macao.

I don't know how to draw a conclusion here, for me this is just a start..............................................

-- Candy

An unfadable and valuable experience

After 3 weeks of staying in NYC for the program Dance to New York, I would say there is so much to explore, learn and experience here. Take for the summer intensive, the techniques of modern dance and ballet are very different from the dance training I am used to have in Macau, while the creative process and repertoires learning enabled me to learn more for choreography, and most important of all, I really enjoyed the experience of dancing with the passionate and enthusiastic dancers in New York. Their attitude, their relentlessness of performing well in class and their love of dancing really impressed me a lot. In New York, it is really not easy to be a dancer. Absolutely it is a profession that will not enable them to earn a lot. In fact, most of them have to get a part time job for their living. On the other hand, they have to pay for classes to keep themselves well trained for their profession. So, the more I contact them and understand about their profession, the more I esteem for their strong passion and devotion for dancing.

As said by Amy Marshall in the promotional video for this program, "New York is the hub of all kinds of art." With my own experience in New York, I totally agree with this. Just for the art of dancing, there are so many open or intensive classes of different kinds of dance which are available for dance lovers, from ballet, modern, tap, HIP HOP, African… to different movement techniques. On the other hand, there are always audition for dancers posted by different dance companies. Hence, there are plentiful chances of learning, so are chances to work as dancers in New York. Moreover, there are also a lot of opportunities to see different kinds of performances and shows held in New York, and there are many museums to visit. Art seems to be around everywhere. As an artist, it is really very excited being in New York, and I greatly value the experience of being here!

─ Stella

A Note of Thanks

To save money and time, Candy and I had breakfast at home everyday, while lunch boxes and dinner would sometimes be prepared during the weekdays when we attended the summer intensive. However, as I was very poor in cooking, Candy was in fact the chief cook during the time when we were in New York!

May I take this chance to thank Candy for taking this role. Surely the delicious food she cooked would be a part of my good memory in New York!

I would also like to cordially thank Amy and Chad for their attentive care, making me adapt to the life in New York very promptly. It is so pleasant to dance, discuss, co-operate or just simply as to chat and get along with them!

─ Stella

Dim Sum Time....Show Off Time

In order to let the dancers start trying the Cantonese food before coming to Macau, Amy specially arranged a Friday Dim Sum Brunch at China town. And we are responsible to look for an authentic Cantonese restaurant.

Steamed Roast Pork Bun,spring roll, steamed shrimp dumpling, Beef Pan Fried Noodles, egg custard, fried tou-fu......and the most important and delicious of all-- STEAMED CHICKEN FEET IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE. Of course, this is our show-off time......finger by finger, bite by bite, we perform eating Steamed Chicken Feet. So, who dare to eat them ?.... Chad, Natasha, Alex and Aileen, nobody really succeeds.

Hey guys, it's just a matter of courage, it's yummmy.

Snap Shots after the Student Showing

(From left) Amy with her lovely daughter Pasha, Stella

(From left) Alexandra, Stella, Candy with Devlin and David

Alexandra and David are the dancers of Amy Marshall Dance Company as well. All the dancers of the AMDC are very excited about their upcoming trip to Macau!

Delving into Amy Marshall's Works

During the second week of the summer intensive, we had to learn excerpts of 4 repertories of Amy Marshall Dance Company, including "Duet", "Fire of the Dove Solo", "A Klezmer Nutcracker Fight" and "Two Duets and A Quartet Duet", and these excerpts are performed at the Student Showing on the final day of the intensive program.

Before coming to NYC, I have already seen some of the works of Amy Marshall from the company's website, however, learning to dance the repertories enabled me to have much more understandings about her works, and I am especially impressed by their diversity --- pieces that are created from a thematic approach or movement approach, pieces that are emotional, touching, energetic or humourous. Most of Amy's works have very complete story line which clearly conveys the pictures and most important of all, feeling to the audiance, while some are with sense of humour which I think is not easy to add into choreography. Even for some of the works which are abstract and more from a movement approach, the use of space and arrangement of movements of different qualities within the pieces make them substantial.

I really enjoy learning to dance and learning the techniques of choreography from the repertories of Amy!

--- Stella

We want more intensive

So two-weeks of intensive dance training now finished. We have had a wonderful time and we want more..........we are mentally and physically ready, we want more dancing.........

-- Candy, Stella

Creative Process (diary 006)

The infant rate of heartbeat is around 130-150 bpm, the toddler's about 100–130 bpm, the older child's about 90–110 bpm, and the adult's about 80–100 bpm. 75 beats per minute translates to 4500 beats an hour, 108,000 beats per day, and 39,420,000 beats in a year. How about the pulses of the city ?

Creative Process (diary 005)

Constructions going on and on in the city.

A Drink before show

With ADMC former and present dancers, we went to see Battleworks Dance Company's 5th Anniversary Season performance at Joyce Theatre. Joyce Theatre is located in Chelsea, is one of the active theatres showcases modern/contemporary dance. And just before the show, we have a drink together.

The choreographer, Robert Battle, has brought to the audience 5 pieces of work -- "Reel Time", "Ella", "Overture", "In/Side" and "Juba". Among them, I like the first and the second. "Reel Time" definitely catches the attention, the fast movements, spinnings, jumping and intersecting are terrific. On the costumes, different colors of dayglo strips were sewed on them, and I expected that there would be black light on while dancers doing all the fast movements, but it didn't. As for "Ella", the music was "Air mail special", sang by the "first lady of song" - Ella Fitzgerald, her pure and perfect voice of jazz suck me in. The dancer's sophiscated movements were awesome, but could be considered of adding more unbridle sense of feelings in it. At the end of the dance, there were a line of three/four performers entered and walked across in upstage, just like a passer-by, so funny. I love it.

Dance review of Battleworks @ The New York Times :

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/arts/dance/31batt.html

-- Candy

Creative Process (diary 004)

After the first week of summer intensive, we had a meeting with Amy and Chad at the weekend. Amy came up with the idea of having a part of pedestrians walking to represent the heart of the city, while adding different movement to project the image of the Macau people, followed by a part of buildings rising up to show how Macau changes with the increasing number of construction projects in different parts of the city. So, we started to talk about the feeling of the Macau people towards all the changes in these few years. We talked about the time around the outburst of SARS when there was economic slump in Macau, that people looked forward to the opening of the gambling industry to boost up the economy of Macau. We also talked about now as many of the Macau people earn their living by working for the gambling industry, they are enjoying from the rise of the economy but on the other hand feeling uncertain about the future. Some of the Macau people may also be afraid that the inner beauty of Macau will gradually diminish.

The content of the above discussion then became the elements to work on for the creative process of the second week of summer intensive.

Creative Process (diary 003)

The studio of AMDC summer intensive -- City Center Studio, is located in the heart of Mahatten. The Fifth Avenue, the glamorous world-renowning shopping street, a symbol of wealthy New York, is just about 1o minutes walk distance from our studio. It has been consistently ranked as one of the most expensive streets in the world. Right after the 1st-week student showing, we rushed straight to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), in order to be benefited from free Friday evening admission (free for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, 4:00–8:00 p.m.), the museum is so big, with so many many people, we wondered if we had entered a funfair market rather than a museum. Frankly speaking, we were really very tired with muscles shaking, but for the sake of free entry, hahahh, we just couldn't raise up our legs anymore and we have to glide on the floor instead of walking.

After MOMA, we took a walk along the 5th Avenue. We were surrounded by a forest of high-rise buildings, heavy traffic, pedestrians, traffic lights,....... we looked up and felt dizzy. We found ourself being lost in the city. In fact, I begin to have this kind of feeling for my home town Macau already.

- Candy

dance efficiently - II

In the morning yoga class, the teacher (Lara) told us about the 3 "A"s of Yoga - Attitude , Alignment , Action. (Attitude being the power of the heart and willingness; Alignment being the mindful awareness of how various parts of ourselves are integrated and interconnected; Action being the natural flow of energy in the body, which provides both stability and joyful freedom). This 3 "A" does not only apply to people who practise yoga. It applies to all of us, all walks of life. During a discussion with Stella, we've came up with the consensus that the dance students in Macau are in general lacking an intense initiative of learning or practicing. Students depend so much on the teacher to demonstrate the movement or sequence for them over and over, over and over, over and over again until they get into the movments. Morever, after teaching the right side of the movments, they think that it is the responsibility of the teacher to demonstrate and teach the left side. Here in summer intensive, the teacher will teach and demonstrate once, twice and maxium three times, then students should be able to do it , and for the left side, of course, students should be able to figure out by themselves. So this is the differences in the way we are trained.

Definitely, we have to contemplate on the 3 "A"s of yoga.

- Candy, Stella

Creative Process (diary 001)

At the beginning of the first creative process session in the summer intensive, Amy briefly introduced to the students about Macao and gave them an idea about the present situation and phenomenon that Macau is facing. Then based upon the elements which we have discussed earlier in our creativity meeting (water,transition,contrast,inner beauty,claustrophobia), Amy threw a related key word to each of the four groups and letting the students to work on it. These key words are:"Flowing" and "drowning" which connected with the elememnt of water; "Juxtapose" connected with contrasting situation; "chaos" with claustrophobia and "Spiral" with transition, etc. So students worked on the basic idea, and during the whole process, Amy added in different layers and colors. Thus, by the end of the fourth session, a 7-mins-20-secs collective work of creativity was done and ready to be presented in the Student Showing.

dance efficiently - I

so, the first week intensive was completed with the presentation of AMDC's 4 repertories ,"Gustav's wedding" , "Moonshine Let me fall", "A Klezmer Nutcracker Dreidel" and "Aria" + work of creative process. Everyday, we spent an hour and half to learn a new repertory. I'm surprised by the speed and efficiency that the summer intensive students learnt the pieces and got them into their bodies. For me, I had some difficulties in memorizing the pieces in such a short time. In Macau, I am always working "Shanti Shanti" and I have got used to this working habit already. So it really took me some times to run the pieces over and over again, and worked them out at home with the help of Stella.

-- Candy