Our bodies retain muscle memory. Each experience is deeply carved in our skin, flesh and blood. Womanhood by the Hong Kong Dance Company will bring five female dancers together to present with "herstory" with the theme of "memory."
Five dancers from different cities and at different stages of life will cross paths with their former selves. Light and darkness are used to show this dichotomy - referencing the dance's Chinese name of "shadows living with the shape."
"The other is that shape is reminiscent of the dancer's body, implying that the choreographer and the dancer need to consider how to use the body's movement to interpret those unspeakably rich emotions."
Apart from light and darkness, various other imagery can be seen from the performance - such as black and white, twisted red ropes and intertwined body curves. "The red ropes wrapping the dancers represent the restrain to females but also the blood vessels of our body," explained Xie.Sound elements are used to bring conversation between artists and the audience.
Xie said the inspiration for the performance came from a workshop which the choreographer attended two years ago where she heard more than 20 mothers tell their life stories.Citing herself as an example, Xie recalled going through childhood, youth and motherhood and menopause.
She felt more empathetic to her identity as a woman with her changing roles. And as a mother of a teenager, Xie found herself experiencing the changes again.This is something all the five dancers are exploring.
"We also looked back on ourselves during the creation process," said Xie. "We want the audience to get to know themselves and, most importantly, embrace themselves."A lot of time in our life journey we were looking outwards and exploring our identities from external sides rather than focusing on our own self-images," she said. "What's your story? Do you understand yourself?"
Womanhood will be performed from May 12 to 14 at the Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui.
