Featured Events & Other

Farewell

a fantastical contemplation on America’s relationship with China
In partnership with Seattle Theater Group

Panoramic view of the Farewell set at the Moore Theatre.
Click Here for Full Size


Set Design by Jack Mehler.
Panorama created by Gabe Bienczycki, Zebra Visual


About this performance

FAREWELL: A fantastical contemplation on America’s relationship with China will be a full-length original dance theater production that explores key human rights and economic issues involving the United States and China.

FAREWELL represents Year II of Spectrum’s ground-breaking three-year Initiative, Beyond Dance: Promoting Awareness and Mutual Understanding (PAMU).PAMU brings collaborators from across the nation and world to create dance theater pieces that examine issues relating to personal liberty, freedom, security and social justice.

Through text, music, highly personal movement, and choreography created by Spectrum’s artistic director Donald Byrd -- in collaboration with Spectrum’s world-class company dancers -- FAREWELL will be a feverish, dreamlike theatrical meditation.

FAREWELL will explore the impact of the tragic events of 9/11 and Tiananmen Square on the collective psyches of the United States and China, respectively, and will be developed and presented in two parts. Part I, entitled CONSIDERING BEIJING COMA, takes the writing of exiled Chinese author Ma Jian (whose work is banned in China) as inspiration. Ma Jian’s most recent novel BEIJING COMA, is about a young man who has lain in a waking coma, conscious but paralyzed, since he was shot leaving Tiananmen Square. In this state the protagonist recalls horrific stories of Chinese’s Cultural Revolution, as well as his traumatic experiences growing up the son of a “rightist.” Using Ma Jian’s literature as a jumping off point, Byrd’s CONSIDERING BEIJING COMA creates a parallel American hero. Injured and comatose from the attacks of 9/11, this figure also reflects on his personal past as well as his country’s recent historic and political events.

Part II, WITH BEGGING BOWLS IN HAND, will use the quote “Foreigners come with begging bowls in hand. This is the future,” (from a Chinese friend of Ma Jian), to look at the relationship between America and China in regards to their financial ties. 

Donald Byrd,  choreographer and project director for FAREWELL, brings thirty years of experience in the dance field, not only as one of the most original dance makers/thinkers of his generation, but also as a choreographer not afraid of tackling complex and sometimes controversial subject matters.  

FAREWELL’s music will be created by the Seattle-based, second generation Chinese-American composer, Byron Au Yong.  Au Yong will bring his cultural heritage and multi-faceted musical expertise to the project.

Funding for this project includes The Boeing Company, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, The Norcliffe Foundation, Glenn H. Kawasaki Foundation

Commissioners: Russ and Tricia Stromberg

Videoblog

View a video preview of FAREWELL

For More Information

Contact us at: 206.325.4161
or email

News
 OUR NEW WEBSITE IS ON ITS WAY.  VERY SOON, NOW!  HIP HIP HOORAY!!! 

JULY 21 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DONALD BYRD!!! 

OKLAHOMA! plays at the 5th Avenue Feb 3-Mar 4, 2012. Read More.

Despite some of the info on this site, OKLAHOMA! plays at the 5th Avenue Feb 3-Mar 4, 2012. That's one of the reasons we're looking forward to our all new website!  For ticket info about the 5th's OK!,  Read More.

Donald Byrd wins Mayor's Arts Award! Read More.

Spectrum Dancers - and Donald Byrd himself! - dance at the Seattle International Dance Festival June 10-19 Read More.
Only 4 more chances to catch The Variety Show.  It returns to Spectrum's Studio Theatre May 6&7.   Seating is limited, so buy your tickets here now! 
Read More.
Donald Byrd wows Cincinnati:
Read More.
A nice review of Donald Byrd and Spectrum's recent work with Early Music Guild
. Read More.
Donald Byrd in an intimate conversation at the Sorrento Hotel on April 25.  Sandra Jackson-Dumont and Roy McMakin join him in a talk about art, dance and Nick Cave's Meet Me at the Center of the Earth. Read More.  
Early Music Guild offers Spectrum fans AWESOME price on balcony tickets for A Day on the Town, A Night in Hell.  This weekend only!  Click below for this online only offer.  At the Buy Tickets page entr promotional code "Dance" and validate it.  Then click Balcony C level (it will say $38 until you enter the next page)  Then buy your $23 tickets (additional fees do apply). Click here.  
Calendar
February 2012
S M T W T F S
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/content/s/p/e/spectrum22/html/company/featured-25.php on line 193

Warning: include(http://www.spectrumdance.org/company/includes/season.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/content/s/p/e/spectrum22/html/company/featured-25.php on line 193

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.spectrumdance.org/company/includes/season.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/php5/lib/php') in /home/content/s/p/e/spectrum22/html/company/featured-25.php on line 193
Support Spectrum Dance
Graphic Header
800 Lake Washington Blvd. Seattle, WA 98122 » Click for Directions
PH 206.325.4161 | F 206.325.3056 | E staff@spectrumdance.org
VBT Footer