The Seas Between Us
Polymer DMT / Fang Yun Lo (Essen / Dresden / Taichung)
World premiere presented in cooperation with HELLERAU – European Centre for the Arts | Taiwanese Mandarin / Huayu and English | with German surtitles | ages 12 and up
THE SEAS BETWEEN US is a choreographic duet by Taiwanese choreographer Lo Fang-Yun, who lives in Dresden, developed in collaboration with Taiwanese dancer Chou Shu-Yi and Singaporean dancer Lee Mun Wai, who lives in Berlin. The starting point for this artistic collaboration is the unresolved China-Taiwan question – as well as the fundamental topic of how political systems and cultural influences shape our biographies, our thoughts and our actions.
The result is a lively dialogue, putting personal experiences in relation to social and political contexts. Chou and Lee bring their individual dance biographies to the stage. In their choreographic exploration, they reveal differences, similarities and frictions. This allows them to negotiate questions of respect and mutual understanding beyond national, cultural and historic boundaries.
How does Taiwanese society deal with its Chinese heritage today? And how do other societies with a Chinese background position themselves in times of global tension? THE SEAS BETWEEN US approaches these questions through the language of the body – and creates a multi-layered space for reflection, encounter and exchange.
Credits
Artistic Direction Lo Fang-Yun Dance + Co-creation Chou Shu-Yi, Lee Mun Wai Artistic Support Chang Chu-Zhi Dramaturgy + Surtitles Chen Cheng-Ting Stage + Lighting Design Michele Piazzi Music David Le Thai Costume Cristina Lelli Technical Direction + Sound Marius Kirch Production Management Sabina Stücker, Tsai Ya-Ting
Production Polymer DMT Co-Produktion HELLERAU Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Dresden, PACT Zollverein Essen Research National Theater & Concert Hall Taipeh Funding Kunststiftung NRW, Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen KdFS, National Culture and Arts Foundation Taiwan, Landeshauptstadt Dresden – Amt für Kultur und Denkmalschutz. Polymer DMT is supported by the Performing Arts Fund from funds provided by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the City of Essen / Cultural Office.
Guest Performance Support Ministry of Culture of Taiwan | Supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK Guest Performance Funding for Dance, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Ministries of Culture and the Arts of the German states.
Creation Hellerau – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste, Dresden, 31 October 2025
Guest Performance Support
Ministry of Culture of Taiwan. Supported by the NATIONAL PERFORMANCE NETWORK Guest Performance Funding for Dance, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Ministries of Culture and the Arts of the German states.
Main Supporters
euro-scene leipzig is institutionally supported by the City of Leipzig and the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Culture and Tourism. Co-financed by tax revenue on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.