Thoughts

Candy,
Great start on ideas. We still need to talk more about story line though. I think that the start of the three ideas are on the right track but we need to be a little more specific. And then we need to talk about what it is that we are trying to convey to the audience about the subject(s). Showing them isn't enough I think. We need to delve a little deeper and get a little more specific from out end so that the end product becomes clear

Creating a dance to me has many layers. I am a movement-oriented person when it calls for it i.e. my more abstract works. I like to construct dances that will allow audiences to take personalized ideas from my work and devise their own interpretations and thoughts. The storyline and skeleton is for my use and my vision is that the audience members will see bits and pieces of my process without it being literal.

Within this process, I want to take a step back to remember our audience. Who am I creating this for? What is the contribution I hope to bring to my dancers and the public who will view this. Candy, I think you have some very valid ideas, however, I really do think it is a bit too soon to jump into the structure of the piece. And please remember that although I am asking you for your input and ideas, it will be me doing the creating/choreographing of the piece with your aid in the knowledge of your city/country's history as well as your influence of your particular dance style. Think of me as the moderator, the person who puts all the ideas together for a final product. I appreciate very much your ideas and will most certainly see how they can be used later, but let's keep talking about emotions/storyline and what we are trying to convey. This is not clear enough to jump to structure yet. That for me is the very last thing I do. So, let's keep collecting ideas...and hold onto what you came up with for later.
Tell me, Stella and Candy, a story from your childhood. Something memorable about Macau, a place or event that was significant in your upbringing. Let's get to some personal roots I think these will have a very strong meaning or even emotion we can expand on. Your connection with your city isn't just how you view it now, you have a whole history there! Let's hear your history.
Best,
Amy

Re: structure

I agree with Amy, having a clear some what like a story line is important as a guideline in building up the structure. I do the same when I choreograph. In addition, I am a movement-oriented person. Images of the movement and ambience concerning the subject matter always come to my mind first. Thus, base upon the theme which we’ve discussed earlier, I’ve come up with some of the following idea.

Transition in time & space
- dancers scatter in different area of the stage, multi-focusing, different movements happening, solo/duet/trio. Feel like in a big open space.
- some entering the stage running / some disappearing / crisscrossing / constantly changing movement / shooting up across the air;
- suddenly empty stage / + video projection (i.e. images with an ambience of proceeding, entering into the odd);

Losing balance
- dance movement with contrasting quality, repeation.

Take a break
- dance ensemble, physical movement / dance movement with funs, kind of games, etc.
- video projection (i.e images of daily city life / scenes with special editing effect which make it looks unusual and with relish)

Appreciation of inner beauty
- dance movement with quality of serenity and subtlety.

Wait to hear.

- Candy

structure

Hi Candy and Stella,
Sorry I have been out of communication. I have been busy traveling, but I have been thinking about the project and talking about it to many people. I think what you wrote Candy about the motif is a great start. I think we certainly can begin talking about structure, but let's keep in mind that this is a process and we may change our ideas and/or structure as we go. I am sure the three of us have three different ways of creating a new work, so let's be open minded and hear everyone's ideas. I think we can throw out ideas about structure through the blog to get the ball rolling.....
From my end, I like to structure my work with an outline as if I am getting ready to write a story. I do this even if it is thematic material. It just provides a sort of loose structure from which I can keep on track and make sure I will be making sense with the end product.
You mention three themes so for me, I would think of them as opening section, middle section and final section. So let's perhaps agree to start with this idea and from that we can add a section if need be and/or subsections for each theme. Now we need to ask....what do we want the audience to take away after viewing this piece? I ask this question before I start and I continue to ask as I go so that I always have their perspective in mind. It is up to us to lead them through our story/theme. We must act as the guides. Movement is our medium.
Candy, I know you work with multimedia...do you have any ideas of what we could add without too much hassle? And Stella, I would really love to incorporate some classical Chinese dance into the piece as well.
I hope you both are doing well and look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Amy

Towards your dream - from Macao to New York

夢想的距離 - 從澳門到紐約　
(刊於澳門日報 14.05.2008 - 文化演藝 / Posted on Macao Daily News 15.05.2008)

　　月前，澳門文化中心主辦“跳躍·紐約——編舞精英交流計劃”，招募本地編舞者遠赴紐約，加入當今最具活力的當代舞蹈團之一——紐約艾美·瑪素舞蹈團 (Amy Marshall Dance Company)。其後，艾美·瑪素親來澳門主持甄選活動，結果，何雅詩及郭瑞萍兩位憑紮實舞技及創意，從衆多應徵者中脫穎而出。此次紐約之行，她們除了進行為期三周的編舞訓練之外，將與該舞團聯合創作一齣以“澳門”為題材的全新舞作，並於十月在澳首演。
　　

　　在兩人出發之前，文化中心特地請來香港知名編舞家伍宇烈，與即將啟程的這兩位本土編舞者來一席對談，共同分享大家的藝術與創作心得，本文為其節錄。

繼續閱讀：　http://www.macaodaily.com/html/2008-05/15/content_172531.htm

Motif

So by running through all our opinions and sharings, these words and ideas keep roaming in my mind, and I think they best describe the moment that we have now in Macau: transition in time and space / losing balance/take times to appreciate the inner beauty.

Do u think this is already a clear direction line to go for it ? Do u think we could move on to work on the structure.

-- Candy

How would you describe the Macanese?

Hong Kong people generally describe themselves as being energetic, pushy and always strive for good performance.

The Taiwanese generally describe themselves as being able to stand hard work, vivacious and generous.

How about the Macanese?

These few weeks, I am thinking over this topic, especially the characters of the Macanese amidst the rapid development of this place, and then I happened to see:

• A TV program showing a lot of images of Hong Kong around 30 years ago. Then I found that during the development stage of Hong Kong, quite a number of beautiful British or Victorian style buildings were pulled down so as to build the skyscrapers. Comparing the situation of Hong Kong with that of Macau, Macanese seemed to cherish much the Portuguese-style buildings constructed in the old days;
• A news article (http://www.macaodaily.com/html/2008-04/22/content_161575.htm) exploring the human touch (人情味) of Macau. In this article, two Hong Kong artists were interviewed and they thought that under the rapid development of Macau now, it is commendable that human touch can still be kept. Although many old buildings were pulled down and new huge buildings were built, if a person would pay attention, the distinguishing feature and good old things of this city could still be found, like the tri-cycles can still be driven on the busy-traffic roads of Macau.
  

Maybe before the rapid development and the so many changes of Macau, we could have the chance to really look into the characters of the Macanese. This also corresponds to Amy's idea of underlying beauty surrounded by a hard shell. I think somehow the beauty of Macau still exists, but with the new eye-catching constructions around, it may now take us more time, or maybe even the need to take a break, so as to aware of the inner beauty of Macau.

─ Stella Ho

Losing Balance

In the very first chapter, the second sentence in the book “Yoga Sutra” (瑜伽經) (which described as the Bible of Yoga), it says that “Yoga is the restraint or bounding of the fluctuations of the mind.” (約束心靈的變化就是瑜伽). Behind these words, it implies that we human beings are very easily affected / influenced by the surrounding external conditions and situations. (i.e. you’re very concentrated reading a book at home, then u smell something nice, so u take a deeper breath for sucking more nice smell into your nostrils. Now, u recognise this smell. Hmmm, it’s chicken wing……chicken wing in BBQ style, yummp...yummp, with very rich garlic too. You like it, so u go and search where this smell comes from, it’s near, not far. You look down from the window……yeah! u got it. It’s the hawker selling BBQ chicken wings in the street. The good smell reminds u about the funs you have in the BBQ gathering with your friends last time. In split second, you rush downstairs and buy yourself one delicious chicken wing. So where is your book now, how’s your reading?). We grow a habit of attaching ourselves to the outside world. Our thinking, attitude, behavior, emotions….etc,etc; always sway here and there, going right and left, jumping up and down. We never get to the equilibrium, we never rest and have peace of mind; Do u realize that we always find ourselves busy and we always complain there’s not enough time. We always want to have 36 hours a day instead of 24.

Thus, this is our life in the city. New buildings keep growing, more and more tourists coming, prices going up, the whole world is striking hard for expansion and development; when we keep moving forth, fighting for more, everything seems to be growing bigger and bigger, we seems to be gaining more and more. But we don’t know that at the same time, many of our much precious things are losing. We lost our time, our space, our mind and love. There are things which we see and encounter everyday, but you are blind to them; there are things which you think that they should be with you, and you take it for granted. The danger is--- when you realize that all these things are leaving away from you, you will fall into a stage of losing balance, not only you, object loses its weight, space loses its volume, time loses its duration as well. And finally the whole world is at lost. (I think this corresponds with Amy's idea of claustrophobia vs open space.)

Thus, take time to smell the roses is just the first layer, what is the most intimate and delicate thing that we miss smelling it?

--- Candy

Taking time to smell the roses

"Stop and smell the roses" is a cliche for saying, don't go so fast, slow down and take in what surrounds you. So much now people everywhere, particularly in cities, are frantically trying to make ends meet and continually looking for the next best thing to come along. Our need for more, our greed for success, has left us forgetting about the small things in life. Like taking the time to appreciate something as simple and beautiful as a rose. If we could take off the layers of time, and return to our roots, much of this craziness that surrounds us would no longer exist. I find myself taking a break for the moment to enjoy the beauty of one of life's most beautiful miracles. The ever growing, ever changing development of my twins. Watching them learn the most basic skills each day makes me appreciate so much more. So, how do we find these most basic layers again? How do we peel back the layers and see once again what made life so enriching? Taking a break is definitely an option, but will most people do this? I don't know. From an outsider's perspective, and based on a brief visit in March, I can see the beauty of the old Macao, the richness of it's mixed culture of Chinese and Portuguese. It does sadden me to see so many huge buildings going up around the smaller historical landmarks which have made Macao such a unique place. It's integrity must be saved. I think for a theme for the new work we can certainly start with the "taking a break" idea, and I also was thinking about :underlying beauty surrounded by a hard shell; peeling back the layers; claustrophobia vs. open space. Stella, Candy, does any of this sound like it would be good?

-Amy Marshall

Maybe all we need is to take a break

Before the discussion with Candy yesterday, I had been thinking over the direction of the dance piece about Macau. I observed, I read the popular blogs written by Macau writers, and I intentionally talked with my friends about how they see the Macau today. I found that somehow most of the Macau people have negative feelings towards the drastic change of Macau. They find life harder under the higher and higher inflation rate. Work pressure is increasing, construction sites and repair of roads are everywhere which make driving more and more unpleasant…life seems to be less enjoyable than before. With more and more grand and beautiful casinos launched, with more and more travelers coming, and with our GDP growing continuously in these few years, why aren't we enjoying?

During our meeting, Candy shared her idea of “Why not take a break?” Yes, maybe what Macau people need now is a break before they strive to cope with the rapid development and all the changes happening around, just like a swimmer may have to take a deep breath before swimming across a long distance. Especially as Macau people used to enjoy living leisurely, a break is maybe very much in need for reducing the pressure and recharging. So, it is really a practical but also interesting point to develop.

― Stella Ho

Take a break,why not ?

Today, Stella and I have a discussion about the preliminary direction and theme of the dance piece. Stella is saying that for most of the local people, even for her as well, the reaction/feeling towards Macao's nowadays changes is negative. I agree so, but then I told her about the idea of why not taking a break out of this rabidity, and this immediately becomes one of the interesting topics for both of us.

In this break, many crazy ideas and funs could be poped up.

- Candy Kuok

Re: Timely question

So globaliation is getting on its way..........this might mean that our places would be gradually losing its unique character and personality. Yesterday, I read about an interview from a local english magazine "Macau Closer", it's about a Malaysian girl who settled in Macau in 1982 and has worked in the garment industry as a designer and production manager for the last 26years. She now plans to open her cafe by June this year, and these following particular words enhance my thinking, it said, "I call this place Jabber, because I want to create a spot where people can sit around and chat.I realised that Macau's scenery is changing drastically with the indroduction of the new casinos. It is losing the old time lifestyle that has made Macau so special. I love this area of St. Lazarus, but life is changing too fast. By opening this cafe, I am encouraging Macau to " Take a Break." What really inspires me here is the idea of " taking a break". Fast-growing development are happening all around, no matter you like it or not, so why don't we take a break before we start off again.

-- Candy Kuok

Timely questions

Interestingly I happened to answer the phone tonight and found myself in the midst of a consumer survey. People call during all times of the day to give over the phone questionnaires about different subjects. Most of the time I simply say, "no thank you , I don't have a free moment", but something made me stop and re-evaluate. This evening's survey was to ask my views on the possibility of legalizing gambling in the state of New York. I think the timing is very odd and coincidental, I'm really not sure how I feel about this at all. Especially since I have heard so much about what is happening in Macao. This one simple phone call made me realize something huge: this is happening globally. What can this mean?

-Amy Marshall

Macau Sa Assi (Macao is like this) - by Tuna Macaense

When I was out of town, people asked me how's Macau, I usually answers like this : 'Macao used to be a portuguese colony for more than 450 years, though back to China, but it still has the feeling of a european city.' In other case, when there are friends visiting Macau, I usually bring them to have dinner in a Portuguese restaurant. I am happy that I grew up in a colonial environment,blending the east and west,but now,with all these tremendous changes (I should say distruction of the city), I feel sad and I missed the old days of Macao.

Tuna Macaense is a typical Macanese band, existing for longe than a century. In the lyric of this song,it describes the old days of Macau.....small streets,narrow alleys, name of the different districts, neighbours knowing each other well, there are men selling hot bread in the street, or calling out to buy in old home stuff........

I'm afraid only at Coloane now, we could still have a glimpse of the taste.

post by candy

home sweet home ?

Construction sites are everywhere, new buildings grow like weed. One month before, you might still able to see the next block of building in front of you, but one month after, a new building is already high up in front of you. When I am riding my bike in big road, I feel I am a stranger in the city, I am confused and scared in some degree, I feel secure only when I am riding in the small streets and between alleys. I remember a preacher told me that “a home is not just a physical shelter, it’s a place where love and peace nurtures, if u find being insecure and uncomfortable at home, it’s no longer a home for you”. So what can I say about my “homeland” at present condition… ……….

post by Candy

Can u tell ?

The video is titled “Can’t tell” , I shot this video by tiding a handy camera onto my roller-blades that I was wearing, traveling around the cultural heritage sites of Macau. The sceneries are passing by and fading away, just like the wheels of my roller-blades rolling down the streets. With the last shot of the monster-like construction, can u tell what will happen next?

I traveled to Lisbon twice because I miss the air of Macau’s old days. In Lisbon, I can find familiar alleys, architecture, culture and humanity; People speak Portuguese, though I don’t really understand, but I feel familiar with the tune of voice. Then in India, I traveled a long distance from north to south, just to visit Panjim (the state capital of Goa, also a former colony of Portugal). To my surprise, the colonial culture seems to be much well- preserved and alive in Panjim than that in Macau.

post by candy

AMDC e-newsletter (06.04.2008)

Part one of the cultural exchange between AMDC and the Macao Cultural Centre was a huge success. Amy Marshall visited Macau from March 6th-10th with the purpose of selecting two choreographers with whom would travel to NYC and study with Amy and the company this summer. During her brief stay, she had the opportunity to tour the city and adjoining towns soaking up its Macanese and Portuguese history and cultural delicacies. The selection process for these two candidates consisted of a modified class taught by Amy followed by a one on one interview. All applicants also performed a short improvisation showcasing their unique choreographic and dance abilities. Two dancers/choreographers immediately stood out. Candy Kuong Soi Peng incorporated multimedia and performs in alternative venues and Stella Ho Nga Sze is trained in classical Chinese dance. Both of these ladies demonstrated their desire to learn from Amy as well as share their ideas to help in the creation of Ms. Marshall's newest work about Macao and their culture. Amy, Candy, and Stella were invited post audition to speak at a press conference to publicize the cultural exchange project. The Macanese people showed great interest in this collaborative process and are looking forward to following its progress.

About Candy Kuok

Kuok Soi Peng, Candy has started learning dance since her early ages, primarily trained in ballet and then in modern dance. In 1998, Candy went to Paris and London for a 10-month dance study trip, during her stay, she was invited to join the repertoire performance of a local French dance company “Cie Exponentielle”.

Candy receives diverse training in contemporary technique, body works and various disciplines, of the East and West, traditional and contemporary, with the attempts to explore the unlimited possibility of the body and develop a unique body language of her own. She is a core member of “Comuna de Pedra Arts and Culture Association”, taking part in project curation,choreograph,performing and teaching, she has participated over 30 different productions of the company,both in Macao and overseas; in recent years, Candy starts engaging in creative work and choreography, collaborating with local and foreign artists of different media and talents. Candy’s first full-length creative work ＜The Reply of Mr. G＞ Dance Theater appeared in Macao Fringe Festival 2003, other of her works also appeared in Macao Arts Festival, Macao International Juvenile Dance Festival, Oxwarehouse Theatre Season. In 2004, Candy has been selected and be recommended as the second candidate by the Macao SAR Government to the UNESCO, for the application of UNESCO Fellowship Programme, with the subject on Choreography and Dance Education.

Since 1998, Candy has been travelling to different places for both short-term and long-term study trips, including London, Paris, India, Vienna, etc. So as to widen the field of vision, the accumulation of experiences, thus inspires imagination spaces. Candy attempts enthusiastically with works that blend with different elements and media. Candy, together with dance company "Comuna de Pedra", have been engaging in art education and promotional works. Supported by the Education Department of the Macao SAR Government and Macao Cultural Center, they launch different arts educational projects. These include bringing short pieces of contemporary work into the local schools and conducted discussion sections with the students; summer intensive course for young people and children. In 2005, Candy joined with Cult Loc and formed "Soda City Experimental Workshop", with the attemps ot explore together, the different possibility for live and creative spaces. Works include ＜Type M Syndrome＞,＜The Hundred Ghats Down The Ganges＞ Dance Theatre and DIY short video ＜Can't tell＞. Meanwhile, Candy gives regular dance classes and choreograph for Comuna de Pedra.

About Stella Ho

Stella Ho, now the vice president and amateur dance teacher of Violet Dance Company. She started to learn dancing since she was six years old, and had received training of basic techniques of classical Chinese dance and Chinese folk dance provided by the Cloud Dragon Dance Company of Macau, the Student Dance Troupe of Macao Education and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Macao Conservatory Dance School respectively. She has obtained the certificates of qualification to be the teacher for Grade 1 to 7 of Chinese Dance Graded Examination issued by Beijing Dance Academy. From 2001 to 2004, she took a 3-year choreography course provided by the Macao Conservatory Dance School.

Aside from taking part in local dance performances, she had performed in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Lisbon. In 2000, as one of the representatives of the Macao Conservatory Dance School, she had been to Shanghai to take part in Tao Li Bei Competition Group Dance Section.

Major choreographic works of Stella include Mother-Daughter which was a co-choreographic work performed in the program “Modern Dance – A Gala of New Choreographies” of the 15th Macao Arts Festival, Mask and Along with You. In 2005, she was invited to be the choreographer for the musical theatre “Our Life”, which was one of the programs of the 16th Macao Arts Festival. She also participated in choreography of the dance theatre “Waiting for What?”, “Women = Din!?” and “Did, Splendid” for Violet Dance Company to perform in 2004, 2005 and 2007 Macao Fringe Festival respectively.

About Amy Marshall

Amy Marshall was born in Kyoto, Japan, and raised in Sandwich, New Hampshire, U.S.A., where she began her formal training. In 1992 she received a B.A. in Dance and Theater with Honors in dance from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.. Moving to New York City shortly thereafter, Marshall has since performed in the companies of esteemed choreographers Paul Taylor and David Parsons. While a member of these companies, she taught master classes and residencies throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Marshall has also taught in New York City helping to develop a new program installing performing arts into the public school curriculum. She formed the Amy Marshall Dance Company in 2000. Marshall has set her repertoire on colleges around the United States, including Goucher College, Stockton University, Webster University, Plymouth State University, Winthrop University, The Hartt School, and Dartmouth College. In 2002, Winthrop University commissioned the creation of Marshall’s “Sentido de Mujer” for a gala honoring the venerated Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long. Marshall has served on the panel of adjudicators for the American College Dance Festival, Joyce SoHo Presents, DanzJam, and SCAPHERD, and has also served on the faculty at Hofstra University.

About "Dance to New York"

In 2008, the Macao Cultural Centre launches an initiative - Dance to New York: Choreographer Exchange Program. This is to recruit promising local choreographers and send them to train with the Amy Marshall Dance Company, a contemporary dance troupe widely known for its vibrancy. Candidates will train for three weeks with Artistic Director and Choreographer Amy Marshall, and work with the troupe on a brand new dance focused on Macao elements. The new work will be premiered in the CCM in October. The programme aims at enabling local dancers who intend to develop their choreographic skills to learn and share new ideas and experiences with overseas professionals. It is expected to be the beginning of a lasting process in which an increasing number of local choreographers will be encouraged to create more works revolving around local themes. Shortlisted candidates (Stella Ho and Candy Kuok) will travel to New York in August and enlist in a three-week choreographic training and composition programme, for which round-trip air tickets and meals expenses will be met by the Macao Cultural Centre.