Shanghai Beauty

China and Europe - two radically different conceptions of beauty, the body and nakedness. The Berlin Rubato dance company and the Chinese Jin Xing Dance Theatre have developed a new dance theatre concept based on the tension between different concepts of the body.

“In China,” star Chinese dancer Jin Xing tells us, “nakedness is considered superficial and unattractive” The covered, the concealed and the mystical quality of the clothed human body are the source of inspiration and fantasy. Conceptions of what is beautiful, writes the philosopher François Jullien in his much-discussed book Vom Wesen des Nackten, differ radically in Europe and Asia. Proceeding from these ideas, Jutta Hell, Dieter Baumann and Jin Xing have co-operated to create a choreography for fifteen dancers that traces the concept of beauty with the means of motion and the stage. In their composition, the aesthetics of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-tempered Clavier create a counterpoint to the dynamic movements of the body.

Choreography: Jutta Hell, Dieter Baumann (Tanzcompagnie Rubato) in collaboration with Jin Xing (Jin Xing Dance Theatre)
Music: Lutz Glandien, Johann Sebastian Bach (Pieces from “Wohltemperiertes Klavier,” played by Glenn Gould, Bai Kwong)
Costume: Jutta Hell und Jin Xing
Stage, Video: Jutta Hell, Dieter Baumann
Lights: Jochen Massar
Dance: Jin Xing Dance Theatre
Jin Xing, Chen Kai, Dai Jian, Duan Ni, Guo Ri, Han Bin, Lian Guo Ding, Li Ling Xi, Liu Minzi, Sun Zhu Zheng , Tan Zhi Wei, Tao Ye, Wang Tao, Wu Yan Dan , Zhao Yuan Hang, Zhou Niannian

A production commissioned by the House of World Cultures, Berlin, co-produced with the RUBATO dance company, Berlin and the Jin Xing Dance Theatre, Shanghai, with the friendly support of the Senate Administration for Science, Research and Culture, Berlin, the Schering Stiftung and Lufthansa, Shanghai.