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“Weiwuying Master Talk— Dancing with Gustav Mahler” Lin Hwai-min and Martin Schläpfer: A Conversation on the Relationship between Dance and Music
Today (28th February), the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) presented the “Opera House Masterclass,” inviting Lin Hwai-min, founder and artistic director of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, and Martin Schläpfer, artistic director and chief choreographer of Ballett am Rhein, to engage in conversation with Weiwuying artistic director Chien Wen-pin. The three shared their understanding of the role of music in dance. Lin and Schläpfer, master choreographers of the East and West, believe that dance should maintain a sense of independence and keep a nuanced distance from music.
Chien Wen-pin stated that Lin and Schläpfer are unique choreographers in their keen intuition regarding music. A musician’s interpretation of musical works often involves analysis on the trajectory of the melody and requires a learning curve that is similar to the different stages of a musical piece. Therefore, Chien is curious about the outstanding, instinctual perception of music of the two masters and how music and dance should be balanced.
Lin believes that the appreciation of music originates in everyday life; we sense the rhythm of the breeze and the passing of cars while walking on the street. One who opens the senses to these phenomena will naturally be able to sense the flow of music. As for his experience as a choreographer, Lin believes that there should be a nuanced distance between music and dance. Dance should remain an independent development and should not be overshadowed by music.
Schläpfer stated that he used to analyze and deconstruct dance music when he was young but realized that this method makes dance lose its mystery and independence. Since dance is not an auxiliary to music, Schläpfer no longer attempts to deconstruct the music but instead asks dancers to experience the flow of music and dance accordingly.
Regarding the performance of 7 with Ballett am Rhein, Schläpfer recalled how he was mesmerized by the energy and intense emotions of the work when he first heard it on the radio. Schläpfer was inspired to choreograph for the piece when his research revealed that the work entails contemplations and struggles on the minority ethnicity of the Jewish community.