TAO Dance Theater

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Image courtesy of Grec Festival de Barcelona.

Chinese dance experienced a revolution in 2008, when a company now sought out by theatres all over the world burst onto the scene. This double bill introduces audiences to unique choreographies where the titles are numbers, not names.

With a unique movement technique and an absolute commitment to abstraction, the dancers of TAO Dance Theater, a company founded in Beijing by Tao Ye, Duan Ni and Wang Hao, explore the human body and movement, considering them visual elements. It’s not about telling a story, but about offering the audience sensory experiences based on movement. Their titles use numbers (related to the number of dancers on stage) and not words because, without these words that allow us to guess at or imagine what the work is like, the audience arrives without expectations, ready to see it with an open mind. 

Present at the main international festivals and stages and the winner of the Silver Lion for dance at the 2023 Venice Festival, Tao Ye has created choreographies for Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (seen at the Grec Festival in Barcelona), the Netherlands Dance Theater 1 and Sadler’s Wells. In 2024, he premiered 16 and 17, two pieces in the form of a double bill that delve into the exploration of body movement in particular and are a good example of the richness of the Circular Movement Technique created by Tao Ye.

Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals

What are your plans for summer? If you’re staying in the city, you won’t be alone. Barcelona is becoming a go-to destination for festival lovers, given Catalunya’s covetable combination of culture, great weather and an increasingly diverse concert circuit. So if you’re looking to expand your horizons while staying put this season, check out our article Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals for a summary of the summer music events taking place in Barcelona, from big-name gatherings to boutique takeovers.

For more music events check our online events calendar.