Will you join us for a... Tea for Two?

An interview with Tea for Two director Lindsey McAlister and dancer-choreographers Alex Grasic, Bethany Chan, Desiree Ho and Katie Flowers. Tea for Two was performed throughout the day on Sunday 19 May 2013 at The Peninsula’s lobby as part of their 85th Anniversary Celebrations.

Lindsey, tell us about Tea for Two! 

Lindsey: When we were invited to create a site specific piece for The Peninsula, the very first idea that popped into my head was Afternoon Tea… as it’s iconic… and delicious!! I had the idea of creating a piece which was a little bit flashmobby in concept… I wanted to surprise and delight the guests who where munching ‘The Pen’ yummy pastries by having dancers dotted around the lobby at tables also appearing to be guests! When the music began gradually the dancers would start their sequence filling the lobby with movement, all inspired by The Peninsula tea set!

How was the piece created?

Lindsey: The performers themselves devised movement collaboratively through rehearsal-workshops. During the rehearsal period, they were given a variety of different stimuli, such as music, visuals, words. Then using their own personal movement vocabulary, they created a physical response. After watching what everyone had created, I then pieced the individual segments together, rather like completing a jigsaw puzzle, to create a cohesive final piece which represented all the participants and their ideas.

It’s a great way of working as everyone involved feels a great sense of satisfaction and ownership!

Bethany, as one of the dancers, can you tell us a bit more about this devising process? What do you do when Lindsey gives you stimuli?

Bethany: Well, when Lindsey told us to lie on the floor and listen to the music we would be dancing to, I blocked everything out of my mind so I would be ready to make movements. While I was listening and feeling the music, I began to make up some movements that I thought went well with the sound and style of the music. I pictured in my head what scene this music could be found in, what kinds of clothes people would be wearing and how they would move. After that I just got up and started making 4×8 of dance movements that were inspired by the music Lindsey gave us and the images in my head.

How about you Alex? How did you help create the movements, say for the ‘Cake Walk’?

Alex: We were inspired by the German contemporary dance choreographer Pina Bausch and used cake-inspired words to individually create stationary and traveling movement phrases which were put together to make the piece!

And you Katie? How did you help create the ‘Tea Dance’?

Katie: We mocked up the table settings in the YAF studio, seated in fours we devised movement motifs in response to suggested cues in order to emulate typical behaviours of people having tea at The Peninsula, such as ‘choosing from the menu’, ‘calling the waiter’, ‘folding the napkin’ and then we threaded those moves together to compile a sequence and exaggerated them to give a dance-like quality.

How do you feel about this creative process?

Bethany: I feel that this creative process really helps with our creativity and learning because we learn how to use our creative juices and we also learn from others in the process. In addition, in these projects we get to meet amazing and talented people and work with them.

Alex, how has this differed from other performances you have been involved in?

Alex: This performance had the added difficulty of having to think on your feet because people were standing where you were positioned!

Lindsey, tell us about the dancers you recruited

Lindsey: I decided for the concept to work, that in addition to working with youth dancers, I needed ‘real people’ to perform and so recruited some of the fabulous teachers that have attended my workshops over the years! So we had dancers from 9-59 (not telling who the eldest was!!)

Katie, how did you feel about working with such a mixed aged performance group?

Katie: I really loved the opportunity to work with a mixed age group, it was amazing to work alongside the trained teenage soloists, just a pleasure and I was inspired to make my own moves more quirky and dramatic through watching the bold and very flexible 10-year-old Canaan.

Desiree, what was your favourite thing about creating a piece for the Peninsula?

Desiree: Firstly, it was very exciting to perform at such an iconic venue in Hong Kong for the Peninsula’s 85th anniversary. I loved how our choreography ‘Waiting for You’ brought back that old, nostalgic feel that was reminiscent of the hotel’s history. I also loved the creative process of working with dedicated performers from all walks of life… and of course, enjoying afternoon tea with my fellow YAFies at The Peninsula!

What has YAF given you over the years?

Desiree: Too much to put into words! Over the years, YAF has given me top-notch production and performing experiences that have helped me develop my passion, skills and understanding of the performing arts. YAF challenges me to stretch myself further, because there is always something different to learn with each new project. YAF also gives me something to look forward to each week – I LOVE going to rehearsals as I get to create exciting pieces and work with many talented and energetic people!

Come catch HKYAF’s next performance at The Peninsula on Sunday 23 June! Performances from 2.30pm – 5pm.