Dai Jian's SILENT dialogue

Dancers rehearsing SILENT dialogue in gallery 354. All photos by Michele Xiaoyun Fan

«On Friday, June 26, dancer and choreographer Dai Jian will premiere his new work, SILENT dialogue, which will be staged across several of the Museum's galleries. On Friday, June 19, there will also be a special workshop performance where visitors in the galleries are invited to watch the open rehearsal beginning at 5:00 p.m.»

A captivating dance composition created in response to The Costume Institute's spring exhibition, China: Through the Looking Glass, Dai Jian was moved by the specific energy and the emotional narrative of the galleries he selected for SILENT dialogue. After spending time in each space to rehearse and improvise with the dancers, Jian has choreographed a suite of new site-specific dance works that will occur throughout the evening, both simultaneously and consecutively.

Dancers rehearsing SILENT dialogue in gallery 371 (left) and The Charles Engelhard Court (right)

Trained in contemporary dance, classical dance, and Wushu art, Dai Jian has danced with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and Shen Wei Dance Arts, and has created improvisations, performance installations, and a body of visual art. This will be an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in Jian's own experience of the Met.

A popular location for dance, The Charles Engelhard Court and its spacious layout have provided inspiration for past performances such as Twinned by John Heginbotham and a pop-up performance by the Trisha Brown Dance Comapny, and will be a platform for Jian to explore the relationship between bodies and movement. Performances of this work will also take place in the gallery for Melanesian art, gallery 354; the Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Arms and Armor Court, gallery 371; The Blanche and A. L. Levine Court, gallery 915; galleries 921–925 in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Robert Lehman Wing Court, gallery 963.

Dancers rehearsing SILENT dialogue in the Robert Lehman Court, gallery 963

SILENT dialogue will be performed from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, with an additional workshop performance taking place on Friday, June 19, at 5:00 p.m. Both events are free with Museum admission.

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Dancer rehearsing SILENT dialogue in gallery 915