Guangdong Modern Dance Company

Guangdong Modern Dance Company, City Hall Theatre August 6-7 Guangdong Modern Dance Company is noted for being the first professional modern dance company in China. Wind Spirit featured five pieces of dance, with styles and themes that captured the inspiration of the new-wave Chinese choreographers.

Choreographed by Gao Chengming, the first piece, Strong Wing, was derived from a traditional Chinese sword dance, and combined martial arts with flowing and sometimes acrobatic movements. The eight scantily clad male dancers emanated masculinity and great dexterity in their body movements. The dancer who held the sword killed himself at the end of the dance, adding a strong footnote of anti-violence.

The second piece, Comrades, was by far the most moving of the evening. The dance, a male pas de deux, built upon the relationship of two men who struggled to connect but were unable to acknowledge their feelings. Sang Jijia, the choreographer, handled Comrades with great originality, sensitivity and empathy. Defying social norms, the waltz between the two men, though brief, was both tender and dangerous.

Despite its name, Gao Chengming's The Original Sin was comparatively tame. Although inspired by the Bible story, the treatment of the piece was lightweight. The dance was pleasant to watch but failed to convey an emotion that impressed.

Li Hanzhong's Vivid Memory was a powerful interpretation using computerised music. Memory was like waves beating against the shore - shattering and unsettling.

The longest piece - Xing Liang's The Rite of Spring - tended to be repetitive in its movement and was the least inspiring. It has its moments in solo sequences but failed to be dynamic and imaginative when the dancers were in a group.

The pieces were, on the whole, riveting and the dancers displayed great mastery. Comrades is a dance of world stature. This recently established company is already an important regional force.