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.
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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