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Iungo – Around the World!

Iungo in Beijing and Hong Kong

In October 2024, the inclusive choreography Iungo by Adriaan Luteijn will travel to Beijing, China, initiated by the Dutch Embassy in China. On October 13, 2024, a performance will be held at 789CUBE. In this new version of Iungo, Adriaan Luteijn collaborates with four dancers from the Beijing 9 Contemporary Dance Theatre and four unique guest dancers from different backgrounds, each with their own physical reality, including an inspiring 72-year-old ballerina.

The creative process for this collaboration is truly unique. The rehearsals have already begun, but they are happening online! From the Introdans studio, with the guidance of our ballet master Marlena Wolfe, the dancers are preparing virtually. At the end of the week, choreographer Adriaan Luteijn will travel to Beijing in person to finalize and bring the choreography to life.

This project is co-organized by the Dutch Embassy in China, the Beijing Body On and On Cultural Exchange Center, and 798CUBE, with Beijing 9 Contemporary Dance Theatre, the China Disabled People’s Art Troupe, and Xin Wu Zi Dance Company as partners. This latest version of Iungo Beijing brings together eight professional and non-professional dancers from China, including four professional dancers, a senior dancer, a wheelchair dancer, a dancer with Down syndrome, and a deaf dancer. This combination of different physical and mental realities is rare, both on stage and in everyday life… yet each one shines in their own way, and together they form a new whole: Iungo Beijing.

Iungo is a choreographic format developed by Adriaan Luteijn. Previously, Luteijn presented versions of Iungo for dance companies in Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa. Recently, he created a new edition for Introdans in the Netherlands, with China as the next destination. After that, Luteijn will head to Hong Kong to create a new version of Iungo for the HKPAX (Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo), organized by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).

The artistic foundation of Iungo remains the same: 1- a bench where dancers meet, 2- the music, Chopin’s Larghetto from his first piano concerto, 3- a set of established dance combinations and patterns, and 4- a cast made up of modern dancers and performers from diverse backgrounds (physical, intellectual, socio-cultural, dance, or age-related). Luteijn crafts a new version of Iungo with new dancers for each performance.

‘Iungo,’ meaning ‘I connect’ in Latin, reflects what Introdans choreographer Adriaan Luteijn excels at. In his series “De Ontmoeting” (The Encounter), Luteijn has been bringing together people from different physical, social, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds with classically trained modern dancers for over 20 years. His goal is to show that dance is for everyone and that dancers who don’t fit the traditional image can deeply move and astonish audiences.

Dansers Iungo Beijing

Ma Zixiao
With ten years of B-boying experience, Ma Zixiao pursued formal dance training at the Sichuan Conservatory. He is now an independent modern dancer and a certified Brazilian war dance instructor, striving to promote Chinese culture.

Tang Yupei
Tang Yupei has been dancing for 26 years, starting with ballet before transitioning to modern dance during her choreography studies. As a founder of Beijing 9 Contemporary Dance Theater, she aims to promote modern dance internationally.

Zhan Li
Zhan Li began dancing at nine, initially focusing on ballet until discovering modern dance after an injury. She studied choreography at Nanjing University of the Arts and abroad at the University of Utah, and she now choreographs works at Beijing 9 Contemporary Dance Theater.

Yun Huanhuan
At 24, Huanhuan explores various artistic expressions. Although not a professional dancer, he believes that dance opens many future possibilities for him.

Bi Shengxuan
Bi Shengxuan started dancing at the age of six and developed a passion for it over more than ten years, focusing on balance and body control.

Zheng Yun
After retiring, Zheng Yun discovered her talent for dance and is now pursuing it professionally.

Long Yizhu
Long Yizhu has been dancing for 13 years and specializes in ballet and Latin dance. Growing up with a hearing impairment, she found self-expression through dance and continues to expand her skills.

Cai Quintao
He graduated from Shanghai Theatre Academy with a degree in Dance Performance (Chinese Dance). Since 2018, he has performed in major cultural festivals and international tours, including the Schrit_tmacher Dance Festival in Germany, the Cervantes International Art Festival in Mexico, and the 13th Macau Literary Festival.