Tao Dance Theater brings minimalist choreography to Spain

The Chinese contemporary dance company Tao Dance Theater is performing its minimalist numerical series, ‘13’ and ‘14’, at venues including the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao and the Auditórium de Palma.

Led by choreographer Tao Ye and artistic director Duan Ni, the company utilizes a radical approach that strips away narrative in favor of geometric precision, rigorous rhythm, and extreme physical discipline. The performances are characterized by circular movements and a focus on the body as a pure medium, often accompanied by minimalist music such as the piano works of Xiao He.

The works in this series earned the Silver Lion for Dance at the 2023 Venice Biennale. The performances emphasize simplicity in costume and lighting to highlight the dancers' movements and the philosophical connection between the body and art.