Cross-cultural collaboration takes center stage

Swiss artist Alessandro Schiattarella and Chinese artist Liu Yan. [Photo by Li Xiaocao/For China Daily]

The dance theater production Handling Hands, a collaborative creation by Swiss disabled artist Alessandro Schiattarella and Chinese disabled artist Liu Yan, is set to debut at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 6 and 7. Produced by the Beijing Body On & On Cultural Exchange Center, the production is spearheaded by the center's founder, Ge Huichao, who serves as the producer and dance dramaturge, with special backing from the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.

As per the creative team, this joint production intertwines the unique cultural heritage and mutual life journeys of the two choreographers. Centered around the motif of "hands", it delves into inclusivity and innovation within the realm of dance, while exploring the dynamics between life's constraints and the quest for liberation.

Drawing inspiration from Schiattarella's prior works and Liu's research, the piece incorporates elements such as Schiattarella's incorporation of Neapolitan gestures and Liu's exploration of hand dance and mudras within classical Chinese dance. This fusion encapsulates the essence of both Chinese and Western classical and contemporary dance styles.