The Odd Volume
Dumb Instrument Dance / Ziyian Kwan
Project Description
THE ODD VOLUME is an autobiographical solo created and performed by Ziyian Kwan. The piece unfolds as a series of poignant and sometimes irreverent vignettes that explore one womyn’s experience of cultural displacement. Ziyian sources childhood memories from 70’s Vancouver to subvert a lifetime of racism and racialization, offering life stories and kinetic imagery that have the potential to resonate with people, regardless of where they come from or the values they live with. The content is personal but the container gives room for inquiry and reflection: how does a person reconcile with being shaped by learning to fit in, never arriving yet always yearning to belong? By unsilencing the odd volume of her cultural identity, Ziyian shares with audiences, a vulnerability that is at once dissonant and poetic.
Company Profile
Ziyian Kwan / Dumb Instrument Dance
Ziyian Kwan has worked as a Vancouver based dance artist since 1988. As an interprète, she has performed close to 100 original creations by an eclectic range of choreographers on international stages and in 2014, received the Isadora Award for excellence in performance. In 2013, Ziyian formed Dumb Instrument Dance, a collage of activities that comprise her creative life. With Dumb Instrument, Ziyian creates work that promotes collaboration across dance, literature, music and visual art. She has been commissioned to create by Richmond and Surrey Art Galleries, Simon Fraser University SCA and by author P.W. Bridgman. Her choreography has been presented in across Canada by The Dance Centre, Dance Victoria, Crimson Coast Dance Society, Vancouver International Dance Festival, The Firehall Arts Centre, NewWorks, Dancing On The Edge Festival, Tangente, CanAsian Dance Festival, Quartiers Danse and Studio 303.
‘ I am my heart’s dumb instrument ’, Denton Welch.
dumbinstrumentdance.com/
www.facebook.com/Dumb-Instrument-Dance-166117003881739/
www.instagram.com/explore/tags/dumbinstrumentdance/
Choreographer and Key Collaborators
Choreographer(s)/Creator(s) Name(s):
Ziyian Kwan
Additional Key Artistic Collaborators:
Creative Consultant: Tedd Robinson
Lighting Design: James Proudfoot
Research Collaborators: Francesca Frewer, Alexa Mardon, Emmalena Fredriksson, Deanna Peters, Rianne Svelnis, Erika Mitsuhashi, Kelly McInnes
Community Engagement Activities
COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS. Ziyian has a strong interest in facilitating and learning from discussions around POC immigrant experience and ways to subvert racialization and racism. This could be done post-show or in a workshop situation adjunct to performances. The objective is to create space to talk, listen and share with others who are like and unlike ourselves.
EMBODIED WORKSHOPS: Suitable for adults and youth. Dance experience not required.
1) Somatic Workshop - The Itcush Method of The Mitzvah Technique
Exercises for alignment and release taught by Ziyian Kwan who is a certified teacher of the Itcush Method.
2) Improvisation - 1.5 hr workshop
A series of improvisational scores that create space for play and imagination.
Suitable for dance students or to community dancers. For all ages and bodies.
Past and
Upcoming performances
November 21, 2019
The Dance Centre's Biennial Dance In Vancouver: Presenter Showcase
Oct 29, 2020
The National Arts Centre NAC Dance/Danse A Danse Forth
FULL LENGTH
Video password:
password for full-length video: cat
Media Credits:
Photos: David Cooper of Ziyian Kwan
Project Details
Title of Work:
The Odd Volume
Premiere Date and Venue/Location:
July 12 - 13, 2019 Dancing On The Edge Festival, Vancouver
This project is a:
Full evening/Mainstage, Short Work
Length in Minutes (including intermission):
30 - 45 minutes
Number of performers
1
Number of Performers on Tour:
1
Number of Support Staff on Tour:
1
Per-Performance Fee Range:
$2500-$5000
Available to Tour:
2021-22
2022-23
Basic Tech Requirements:
The performance has basic tech requirements. Lighting design is adaptable to theatre plots. A sound system with channels for microphone and music are required. The piece tours with an assembled digital piano, which is played live on stage by the performer. The piece also tours with a small piano bench, cordless microphone and a a number of small props. The piece can be performed in a studio setting or in theatre.
Audience:
General Audience
More Information:
THE ODD VOLUME is intended for general audiences. It is suitable for adults and youth. The piece has educational content in terms of potential for educators to talk with youth and young adults about cultural identity, racism and perceptions of racialization. There is 1 minute of non-frontal nudity and a few swear words, neither of which are related to sexual or violent context and both of which can be adjusted to be appropriate for young audiences.
Agent/Manager
Ziyian Kwan
6048622912
ziyiankwan@gmail.com
Address
202 - 234 East 5th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5T 1H3
6048622912
Website and Social Media
dumbinstrumentdance.com/
www.facebook.com/Dumb-Instrument-Dance-166117003881739/
www.instagram.com/explore/tags/dumbinstrumentdance/