We learn new things every day, often the best kind happens through self discovery. The group of 23 dancers have differences; nationality, background, anatomy, physicality and dissimilar thought patterns, to name a few. However, somehow one still needs to learn how to arrive at the same finish line, even when the journey is different for each dancer. Solid technique, physicality and musical awareness are foundations from where one can build exciting work. They are the minimum

Today was our third public encounter in Shanghai. It took place in the spectacular Power Station of Art. Housed in a former power station, the museum is China’s first state run contemporary art museum and was established in 2012. The museum is huge to say the least, which meant that the dancers had to explode out of their skins and dance beyond their extremities to fill the expansive spaces. Similar to the Long Museum, a tour for the dancers through the various art areas and

We are almost entering the third week here in Shanghai. Lots has happened in the past 14 days and lots more to be done in the remaining two weeks. The project has come to the point where everyone needs to concentrate on putting in extra personal work to take things to the next level. Studio homework! In the same way as students in school get daily math problems to solve, dancers should spend good time on their own for further development. This element is often encouraged in t

In general the topic “masks” can generate interesting discussions - for example people can perhaps feel they can hide; it could be a manner or expression that hides our true identity or feelings, literally or figuratively. White face masks made their debut in the studio today. These particular masks give a monster-like quality to the work. To me this monster face doesn't invoke typical spine-chilling feelings, rather an emotional response of allure and intrigue. Humans usuall

What is hard is to go deeper and deeper into movement vocabulary every day without repeating what you did the day before. Pushing harder than yesterday is the way to progress further tomorrow. We are working on this in the studio. To enter this deep work you need to be organised. “Organised with your mind, limbs, yourself in the studio, and yourself with other dancers you interact with.” The dancers are learning that they need to be organised from the beginning or else you ca

We were at the Long Museum, West Bund today. Sometimes, experiences are hard to capture with words - today was one of them. Chinese sculptor Zhan Wang’s exhibition “Forms in Flux” together with the spectacular architecture of the Long Museum was the backdrop and trigger for great inspiration. Wang’s sculptures draw from Chinese traditional cultural elements, using innovative techniques and methods to craft his work. He gives us the opportunity to address various issues develo

Another scorcher this morning, but luckily later in the day gallons of welcoming torrential rain cooled the air. Today is the last day of rehearsal and preparation before the performance at the Long Museum tomorrow. The first public appearance for the dancers in Shanghai. A long, good day ahead. I have often heard Igor and Iratxe say, “kill it from the beginning, then there is something to work from. You don't have time to waist. Go all out from the beginning.” This is the ai

We rehearsed in Shanghai Dance Theatre’s studios (Shanghai International Dance Centre) for the first week. Yesterday we moved to some of their bigger studios, the floor above Shanghai Ballet. The weather outside reached 41 degrees (apparently the hottest day of 2017 so far) and the hard work made translucent beads of sweat pour down with a force. In this encouraging environment the dancers are given time to research material by themselves. It is in these moments that they can

The day in the studio starts with the dancers sitting down, talking about thoughts and observations from the previous day’s work. Some volunteer to share, others are a little less eager to expose their thoughts through words. In general, dancers find it hard to verbalise, so we prefer to just dance. Usually we would rather be silent with our tongues, soundless. The danger is that we then appear to be uncommunicative through movement which reduces the strength and intensity of

Metamorphosis has brought along its own in house photographer that will be in Shanghai for the next few weeks. He is taking video footage and photographing the rehearsal process as well as photoshoots with individual dancers all around the city. Johnatan Molina Arroyo was born in Mexico City and his grandmother (Tita Ortega) has her own classical ballet school. Here is his story and how he got into photography. (Pictures by Lee Wai Leung) I learned photography pretty young in