Nine scorching suns fill the backdrop as colorful dancers leap across the stage and complete highly complicated flips and tumbles. In the midst of the depicted chaos, an old, bearded Taoist master slowly enters the scene. He captures the audiences’ attention with his humble grandeur.
It’s rare to come across someone who has stellar dance skills, and also a natural, majestic, elegance that can portray the character of a Taoist master, but Alex Chun possesses it all.
Mr. Chun, from Noisiel, France, arrived in New York in 2007 to attend Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, a chartered school specializing in the classical Chinese dance training and art form. After passing rigorous exams, Mr. Chun was chosen to participate in the practicum performances at Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance company whose mission is to revive 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture.
In addition to ethnic dances, Shen Yun also performs mini-dramas that retell ancient Chinese myths and legends, further incorporating the essence of Chinese culture.
For instance, the group dance, Lady of the Moon, tells a myth about the world being destroyed by the appearance of nine suns in the sky. In this myth, the lady of the moon’s husband, Hou Yi, is tasked with saving the world from boiling heat.
Mr. Chun’s Taoist role plays a critical part in the story.
Hou Yi would not have been able to defeat the suns without the help of the elderly Taoist master, who imparts him wisdom and a magical bow and arrow. Mr. Chun was able to capture the essence and air of an immortal transmitting truth to a follower.
“The choreographers like to have me perform these roles,” Mr. Chun said. “They say that I am able to portray the feelings and transmit them to the audience.”
Mr. Chun carries a Taoist whisk, a large horsetail brush that is also a well-known Chinese weapon often used in traditional Taoist martial arts. Proper handling of the whisk prop not only requires agility, but also a harmony of temperament and spirit, which Mr. Chun embraces.
Mr. Chun has also been chosen to portray multiple noble and wise figures from Chinese history and literature. He was chosen by choreographers to play Xuan Zang in the 2010 dance based on the classical Chinese literary text, Journey to the West.
The story is based on a historical monk, Xuan Zang, who is said to have journeyed from China to India to bring Buddhist scriptures to China during the Tang Dynasty. The attributes of this historical figure is said to have a majesty and solemnity of spiritual wisdom.
