Rethinking the Classical and Contemporary in Dance: Beijing, Taipei, London

A Shift of Balance is designed to further communication, understanding and collaboration between British and East Asian academics through subjecting to thorough analysis concepts of the classical and contemporary in dance, and by developing a collaborative doctoral programme. Acknowledging rich traditions and vibrant contemporary activities in dance in both Western and Eastern spheres, the project intends to establish the basis for an ongoing partnership built on shared dialogue and understanding. We propose that tradition is active in forming key aspects of the contemporary, and conversely that modern processes of reinterpretation and reconstruction inform the classical.

中国舞《国风》展示-1600-2
Research Presentation of Guo Feng choreographed by Wan Su, Dance Studies Forum 2015, Beijing Dance Academy. Photo: Beijing Dance Academy

A Shift of Balance core scholars

Prof. Chris Bannerman – Middlesex University
Dr. Jiang Dong – China National Academy of Arts Research

United Kingdom
Dr. Martin Welton – Queen Mary University of London
Dr. Rebecca Loukes – University of Exeter
Prof. Vida Midgelow – Middlesex University
Dr. Stefanie Sachsenmaier – Middlesex University

Mainland China
Prof. Xu Rui – Beijing Dance Academy, China
Dr. Zhang Lin – Shanghai Theatre Academy, China

Taiwan
Prof. Wang Yunyu – Taipei National University of the Arts
Prof. Lin Ya-tin – Taipei National University of the Arts
Prof. Chen Ya-ping – Taipei National University of the Arts
Prof. Tseng Ra-yuan – Taipei National University of the Arts
Dr. Chao Chifang – Taipei National University of the Arts

Shift of Balance research team. From left: Jiang Dong, Xu Rui, Lin Ya-tin, Wang Yunyu, Martin Welton, Chris Bannerman, Chen Ya-ping, Rebecca Loukes, Zhang Lin, 4 September 2017

List of related Publications

Bannerman, C. (2016), ‘Dancing transcultural dialogues’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 165–
95, doi:10.1386/chor.7.2.165_1

Chen, Y.P. (2016), ‘Putting Minzu into perspective: Dance and its relation to the concept of
“Nation”’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 219–28, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.219_1

Guo, L. (2016), ‘Mask – ArtsCross/Danscross London’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 213–18,
doi:10.1386/chor.7.2.213_1

Kolb, A., (2017). China in the throes of modernization: intercultural exchange, hybridity, and
ArtsCross. In Kowal, R., Siegmund, G, Randy, M., The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Politics. Oxford University Press.

Lin, Y. (2016), ‘Corporeal translation across borders: Indigenous choreographer Bulareyaung
Pagarlava and his Warriors’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 255–77, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.255_1

Lopez de la Nieta, R. (2016), ‘Beijing Bucket Blues: ArtsCross/Danscross’, Choreographic
Practices, 7: 2, pp. 279–89, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.279_1

Loukes, R. (2016), ‘Re-defining the “contact zone”: Translation, transformation and the space in-
between’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 351–69, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.351_1

Sachsenmaier, S. (2016), ‘Ways of doing, ways of thinking, ways of moving together:
Considerations for cross-cultural encounters and exchanges in and through dance practice’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 305–26, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.305_1

Wang, X. (2016), ‘Looking at different cultural contexts in the contemporary dance of
ArtsCross/Danscross’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 337–50, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.337_1

Wang, Y. (2016), ‘Analysing body centre weight use by dancers in ArtsCross/Danscross’,
Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 291–303, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.291_1

Warburton, E.C. (2017) Dance marking diplomacy: Rehearsing intercultural exchange. Journal of
Dance Education 17(4), 131-137.

Warburton, E.C. (2016) Resonance in dance: The art of blending bodies. Art Research Journal,
Special Issue, DANCE, ART OF THE BODY AND OTHER BODIES OF ARTS / Revista de Pesquisa em Arte, Especial Questão, DANÇA, ARTE DO CORPO E OUTROS CORPOS DAS ARTES, 3(2), 1-26.

Warburton, E.C. (2016) Becoming elsewhere: ArtsCross and the (re)location of performer cognition.
In R. Blair and A. Cook (eds.) Languages, bodies, and ecologies: Theatre, performance, and Cognition (pp. 93-106). London: Methuen Publishers, Ltd.

Welton, M. (2016), ‘Dancing with the sound of birds: Atmospheres and translation in
ArtsCross/Danscross’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 229–53, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.229_1

Wu, Y. (2016), ‘Depart: A journey of Light and Water’, Choreographic Practices, 7: 2, pp. 327–36,
doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.327_1

Xu, R. (2016), ‘Considering postmodern cultural disconnects and cultural paradigms in Chinese
dance creation through the lens of ArtsCross/Danscross’, Choreographic Practices, 7:2, pp. 197-212, doi: 10.1386/chor.7.2.197_1


For further information, please contact rescen@mdx.ac.uk