12 & 14

For a choreographer like Tao Ye from China, who repeatedly focuses on the body and its physical expression as the core of a system that expresses itself through movement, it is essential to understand that external arguments, fictions, stories, and narratives are not employed to elaborate his pieces. Instead, concrete descriptions should be used to access a piece like 14.

The numeral in question already indicates the concept of abstraction. The number 14 is referenced, namely the numerical sequence on which Ye has based his recent creations, namely the Numerical series, which is successively called Weight x 3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. However, this has not limited his creative output. He has also been developing the Non-numerical series: Contrast, and the Arts live series:12 Hours and Infinite walking.

Secondly, we propose a minimalist approach to movement. The principle of "less is more," as espoused by the renowned architect Mies van der Rohe, can be applied. The objective is to eliminate superfluous elements to identify and focus on the core elements. If we consider the concept of musical minimalism, we can see that repetition (and its minimal but perceptible variations) is once again the essence of the matter.

Thirdly, Tao Ye's approach to choreography is characterised by a focus on the body in motion. He encourages his dancers to concentrate on the natural curves of the spine, eliminating any unnecessary limb movements. Additionally, he replaces the original music with the dancers' voices, which become an integral part of the piece's soundscape.

In 14, he remained faithful to the idea of minimalist variation, renouncing the idea of repetition and exploring the concepts of rhythm and change, movement and stillness. The music appears to originate from the metronome's oscillating tone or the sound of the seconds hand. The combination of “music” and movement, along with minimalism and abstraction, is the result of Tao Ye's innovative approach to dance, which he developed based on Eastern philosophies. This method, known as the Circular Movement System, has been integrated into the creative process of TAO Dance Theater, a company he founded in 2008 at the age of 23. He established the company with the dancer and artistic director Duan Ni and the managing director Wang Hao and has since made a significant impact on the dance industry in China.

From the outset, he was acutely aware of the fundamental aspect of his creation: the body. He states that it is the source of our existence and can also be the temple of our spirit. Ye maintains that a body transformed into art “can provide a powerful driving force in life.” It is evident to viewers from across the globe who have viewed the Numerical Series projects that this is the case. Over 40 countries and more than 100 festivals have hosted performances by TAO Dance Theatre, one of China's most in-demand dance companies on the international stage.