Biennale Danza 2023: Wayne McGregor's Alchemists of Movement
Curated by Wayne McGregor, the 2023 Biennale Danza highlighted dancers as "alchemists of movement." The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to 88-year-old Simone Forti, recognizing her significant impact on postmodern dance and minimalism. An exhibition displayed her creations from the 1960s, featuring live renditions of her Dance Constructions. The Tao Dance Theater's presentation of '11' combined classical Chinese dance with ethnic styles, steering clear of narrative. 'Pendulum', an installation-performance by Lucy Guerin and Matthias Schack-Arnott, incorporated 39 Tibetan bells. Pontus Lidberg's 'On the Nature of Rabbits' was praised for its deep symbolism, though coherence was questioned. The Biennale College showcased 16 emerging dancers performing pieces by Forti, William Forsythe, and Xie Xin.
Key facts
- Wayne McGregor curated the 2023 Biennale Danza.
- Simone Forti received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
- Forti was born in Florence in 1935 and fled racial laws in 1938.
- Tao Dance Theater performed '11' using the Circular Movement System.
- Lucy Guerin and Matthias Schack-Arnott created 'Pendulum' with 39 Tibetan bells.
- Pontus Lidberg's 'On the Nature of Rabbits' was inspired by a couple during the AIDS epidemic.
- Biennale College involved 16 dancers in a three-month residency.
- Xie Xin choreographed 'When I Am Facing U' with costumes by Matthieu Blazy for Bottega Veneta.
Entities
Artists
- Wayne McGregor
- Simone Forti
- Tao Ye
- Duan Ni
- Lucy Guerin
- Matthias Schack-Arnott
- Pontus Lidberg
- William Forsythe
- Brigel Gjoka
- Riley Watts
- Xie Xin
- Sylvian Wang
- Matthieu Blazy
Institutions
- Biennale Danza
- Tao Dance Theater
- Biennale College
- Bottega Veneta
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Switzerland
- United States
- Beijing
- China
- Paris
- France
- East Germany
- Germany