Dance Forum Taipei (DFT), one of Taiwan's iconic contemporary dance companies, is set to perform its dance piece "Orthopedica Corporatio," at the Tanzbiennale Heidelberg, a biannual festival in Germany, on Feb. 1. DFT, alongside world-renowned French choreographer Maguy Marin and international dance troupes, will be interpreting the theme of the biennale "Dance Breaking Free" with their performances.
"Orthopedica Corporatio," co-created by the Taipei Performing Arts Center, Spain's Mercat de les Flors – Dancehouse, and the Netherlands' Korzo Theater, made its debut at the Mercat de les Flors – Dancehouse in 2021. However, the version that was first presented was later replaced by the Taiwanese version. Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell said that the soundscape generated by the dancers in the Taiwanese version not only creates a rich and unique variation, it also acts as a communication language, successfully creating an ideal world of mutual support in a heterotopia.
Ping Heng, DFT founder and artistic director, held a panel discussion during the festival to introduce Taiwan's dance education environment and the development of the troupe on Jan. 30. Responding to questions raised by German audiences about the process of converting on-spot dance performances into videos during the pandemic, she shared that the dancers have learned new ways of expressing themselves in dance, showing freedom from any constraints and restrictions.
Ping also mentioned that Taiwanese dancers learn several dance styles such as ballet, modern, folk and indigenous. Due to the frequent collaboration with different choreographers, the dancers interact with them through different styles. With Taiwan's rich dance scene, she thinks "Orthopedica Corporatio" is the best fit for the festival theme.
Since its inception in 1989, DFT has presented 88 productions collaborating with 56 choreographers and 170 designers. Through engaging different choreographers, the company acts as an open forum for these artists to come together to present and to study their ideas firsthand.
(Photo courtesy of Dance Forum Taipei. Photographer: Chen Chang-chih and Paul Chao)