The TAO Dance Theater will soon present “4” and “5,” two dance shows of its “Numerical Series,” in Shenzhen. The works are a continuation of choreographer Tao Ye’s minimalist experimentation, exploring the potential of the human body as a visual element, devoid of story-telling or representation. In “4,” the bodies seem to look for each other while being separated by an invisible but tangible force. In “5,” conversely, an invisible force holds the bodies together in an indistinguishable, kaleidoscopic mass. Tao believes a single word or phrase as a title is insufficient to encapsulate the meaning in a work of contemporary dance theater. Titles can set preconceptions in the audience and limit creative direction. His numbered series of minimalist experimentations explore the potential of the human body as a visual element, freed from the limitations of representation or narrative. Thus freed from the strictures of storytelling, these works can give free rein to the imagination, and can inspire interpretations. By using numerals instead of words in his works, Tao hopes to transcend the duality of abstract and concrete thoughts. These pieces are accompanied by the music of Chinese indie folk/rock composer Xiao He, whose music seems to spring from a similar, unspecified, but no less insistent power. Since its founding in 2008, the TAO Dance Theater has taken China’s dance world by storm. The company has performed in every modern dance festival throughout the country and has collaborated with leading Chinese artists across genres including theater, experimental music, film, installation and visual arts. TAO has been featured in performances as well as in choreography and teaching residencies in festivals worldwide, from New York’s Lincoln Center to the Sydney Opera House, and has always devoted itself to dance education. Time: 3 p.m., March 27-28 Tickets: 100-380 yuan Booking: WeChat account “PingShanTheatre” Venue: Pingshan Theater, Hekang Road, Pingshan District (坪山区荷康路坪山大剧院) Transport: Take the high-speed rail from Shenzhen North Station to Pingshan Station and then take a taxi(SD News) | 