Hip-hop Moths in Macau

A company of street dancers plan to conquer the world with a stage performance

Mention moths and light springs to the minds of street dance company Alivewave Inc – which is why they named their latest show Arctian B-Boy and Hip Hop Warriors. Arctian is the botanical word for moth but while the insect cannot resist an ordinary street or house light, Alivewave are drawn to another kind of flame – that of a ‘world-class dancing masterpiece performance’.

When I ask Mike Lee, the company’s production director, what that means, he tells me Arctian is all about positive messages focused on harmony and love. ‘To express this, the show has a storyline within the structure of introduction, development, turn and conclusion of conflict, be it between friends or lovers, or about class distinction and competitiveness, or betrayal and disappointment,’ he explains. And then almost undercuts that wide-ranging chronicle with the comment that most of all the show is about enjoying the various elements of world-class hip-hop.

Alivewave Inc are street as well as stage dancers and I wonder about the difference between their highway performances and those closeted in an auditorium. For themselves, Lee says, ‘as long as there is music and an audience standing or on seats there really isn’t much difference, although on stage there is the added pressure of being in time with light changes as well as acting. Controlling the level of emotion displayed when on stage is probably the biggest challenge.’

He admits, though, that theatre audiences need more than what they would get in street competitions and so the company have added holographics, water effects, gala dresses and costumes to original music scores – and that, Lee says, in what sounds rather like an understatement, should ‘exhilarate the world audiences’. As if the dance itself wouldn’t! Lee says it embraces all four elements of hip-hop – rap, break dance, DJing and graffiti, while within break dance you can expect b-boying, locking, poppin’, style moves, freeze, house… ‘It is one of the most varied dance genres in the world,’ he says.

In the global village it may not be surprising that an Asian company has picked up on what is essentially a dance form that grew out of the shadows of Western cities but Lee thinks that Asians have distinct advantages over their occidental competitors. ‘Korean dancers are small and fast compared to Western dancers,’ he says, and then adds, ‘No one in the world is as fast and skilled as Asians and especially Korean dancers. The competition results are proof.’ In 2007, Arctian won first prize in front of more than 20,000 people at the UK B-boy Championships. ‘This event was the greatest moment of my life,’ says Lee.

But they don’t win every time. Thankfully ‘hip-hop dancers respect other hip-hop dancers and they dance for their own satisfaction. So I don’t really think that there are many hard feelings. But when you lose in huge competitions, the feelings might last for some days, since we are only human.’ And competition is not difficult to find. ‘Hip-hop skills are evolving every moment, thanks to the crews and the individual dancers who are creating their own moves,’ Lee insists. When I ask what kind of music selection they need to make the moves, Lee’s answer is simple: ‘Where the ‘beat’ exists, we are all fine. No more is needed. We have a score director who creates the music while working closely with the director, choreographer and production director.’

Dancing to Lee is all about ‘sacrifice, pain, and challenging the limits to find real freedom. I know one performance may not change anyone’s life but I really think this piece has the effect of making people want to make their lives more energetic.’

Arctian B-Boy and Hip Hop Warriors will be challenging limits at the Sands Arena on May 29 at 8pm, on May 30 at 4pm and 8pm and on May 31 at 6pm. Tickets are MOP$405, MOP$205. Tel: (853) 2882 8818, (852) 6333 6660.

Ennio Marchetto

Comedian Ennio Marchetto brings his comedic genius to Macau’s Arts Festival and we imagine he will be carrying a big suitcase. The man known as the living cartoon has taken on some of the most diverse characters imaginable: Marilyn Monroe, Celine Dion, Boy George and Fidel Castro among 300 others. His show Ennio encompasses mime, dance, music and something like 50 costume changes in one action-packed hour. The costumes come thanks to designer Sosthen Hennekam who is constantly on the lookout for new characters and ways of dressing them. Don’t look for meaning in the madness, it isn’t there. This show is all about cheekily sending up everyone and anyone. Who would have thought a middle-aged man in a cardboard dress could impress people the world over? But he does, so get your ticket before you miss out!

Ennio will be performed at 8pm on May 28 and 29 at the Macao Cultural Centre’s Small Auditorium. Tickets are MOP$100 and MOP$60. Tel: (853) 2855 5555, (852) 2380 5083