Shen Wei

For the Chinese photographer, see Shen Wei (photographer).

Shen Wei

Shen Wei (simplified Chinese: 沈伟; traditional Chinese: 沈偉; pinyin: shěn wěi) is a Chinese-American choreographer, painter, and director who resides in New York City. Widely recognized for his defining vision of an intercultural and interdisciplinary mode of movement-based performance, Shen Wei creates original works that employ an assortment of media elements, including dance, painting, sound, sculpture, theater and video.[1] Critics have commented on his innovative blend of Asian and Western sensibilities, as well as his syncretic approach to performance art.[2]

In 2000, he founded a Shen Wei Dance Arts and became the artistic director of the contemporary dance company. The works he has created for the company is based on his own dance technique created over the past 12 years, a movement language he calls "natural body development".[3] In recent years, Shen Wei has expanded his artistry to include large-scale multimedia works showcasing original art installations,[4] and original video and animation material.[5] Shen Wei's 13 major movement-based works has toured in 30 countries in 130 cities.[6]

Shen Wei has been commissioned by the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony,[7] the Park Avenue Armory,[8][9] the Metropolitan Museum of Art,[10] and the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City,[2] and the TeatroDell'Opera di Roma, as well as contemporary ballet companies such as Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal. For each new work he choreographs, Shen Wei typically designs all the visual elements including the sets, costumes and make-up, film projection and lighting as well. In addition to creating works for the proscenium, Shen Wei has also created works for fashion shows, art exhibition openings, and other cultural productions for international companies. In July 2008, he choreographed a fashion show at Paris Haute Couture for the label WUYONG, by the Chinese designer Ma Ke.[11]

In 2004, Shen Wei received the Nijinsky Award for Emerging Choreographer. In 2007 he received a MacArthur Award, in 2022 he received the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement in Choreography and the ISPA Distinguished Artist Award.[12]

  1. ^ "Fall for Dance Festival: Shen Wei Dance Arts: Map (excerpts)". New York City Center. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Kisselgoff, Anna (July 25, 2003). "LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL REVIEW; A Breakout For the 'Rite'". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Shen Wei's Natural Body Development Technique". Shen Wei Dance Arts. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  4. ^ Seibert, Brian (November 30, 2011). "Undaunted by a Great Canvas, Filling It With Spectacles". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  5. ^ Upchurch, Michael (July 26, 2012). "Shen Wei evening shimmers with variety". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  6. ^ "About the Company". Shen Wei Dance Arts. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  7. ^ Fowler, Geoffrey (August 9, 2008). "A New Yorker Exalts China". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "Shen Wei Dance Arts". Park Avenue Armory. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Zongker, Brett (April 19, 2008). "US choreographer Shen Wei to help direct Olympic ceremony". USA Today. AP. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  10. ^ Catton, Pia (June 3, 2011). "At the Met, the Art Moves". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  11. ^ Leong, Karen (August 9, 2008). "Oriental haute couture". Financial Times. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  12. ^ "Shen Wei". World Economic Forum. Retrieved March 21, 2012.