The reinvention of tradition: Transformation of Chinese water sleeve dance and Tai Ji in contemporary performer training and performance making
type: CreativeWork
description: The aim of this practice-led research was to investigate the nature and characteristics of the notion of reinvented tradition in China through the examination of dance practices. First, this research focused on the continuity of tradition demonstrated in the development of Chinese classical dance. Second, it concentrated on the malleability and applicability of two representative Chinese cultural dance practices, water sleeve dance and Tai Ji, in contemporary performance and performer training. The central concept behind this research was the commonly held perception in China that “tradition is a river” (P. Huang, 1990) in the context of the Chinese dance community. The overarching research methodology of this practice-led research involved critical analyses of Chinese classical dance works, 16 workshops with dance and Performance Making students, interviews, focus groups, critical reflection on my dance-making practice and the making of two new performance works: Penanegra and Hunger. Central to this entire research process is a discussion of the tension between tradition and modernity in the phenomenon of reinventing tradition in contemporary Chinese classical dance making, contemporary performance training and in the making of what I identify as contemporary performance influenced by Chinese cultural traditions. During the practice phase of the research, I investigated what traditional insights and techniques could offer contemporary performers and performance makers. In particular, the philosophy and practice of Tai Ji was analysed in relation to contemporary movement training and performance making. The research has culminated in an evaluation of how the changes and ramifications of tradition can be embodied in the current performance context. This research makes two significant contributions to knowledge in terms of understanding tradition and its reinvention. First, this thesis proposes the idea of reinventing tradition to interpret the development of Chinese…
abstract: The aim of this practice-led research was to investigate the nature and characteristics of the notion of reinvented tradition in China through the examination of dance practices. First, this research focused on the continuity of tradition demonstrated in the development of Chinese classical dance. Second, it concentrated on the malleability and applicability of two representative Chinese cultural dance practices, water sleeve dance and Tai Ji, in contemporary performance and performer training. The central concept behind this research was the commonly held perception in China that “tradition is a river” (P. Huang, 1990) in the context of the Chinese dance community. The overarching research methodology of this practice-led research involved critical analyses of Chinese classical dance works, 16 workshops with dance and Performance Making students, interviews, focus groups, critical reflection on my dance-making practice and the making of two new performance works: Penanegra and Hunger. Central to this entire research process is a discussion of the tension between tradition and modernity in the phenomenon of reinventing tradition in contemporary Chinese classical dance making, contemporary performance training and in the making of what I identify as contemporary performance influenced by Chinese cultural traditions. During the practice phase of the research, I investigated what traditional insights and techniques could offer contemporary performers and performance makers. In particular, the philosophy and practice of Tai Ji was analysed in relation to contemporary movement training and performance making. The research has culminated in an evaluation of how the changes and ramifications of tradition can be embodied in the current performance context. This research makes two significant contributions to knowledge in terms of understanding tradition and its reinvention. First, this thesis proposes the idea of reinventing tradition to interpret the development of Chinese…
author: Zhu, Min
keywords: Tradition, Chinese Dance, Modernity, Chineseness, Movement Training, Contemporary Performance, Tai Ji, Dance
date published: 2017-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:23:00Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia