In early 2020, on the sixth day as artistic director of Yunmen, Zheng led Yunmen dancers on a European tour for more than two months. The dance code "Thirteen Tones" of the performance was inspired by Mengga Street where Zheng grew up as a child. His mother told him that a long time ago, there was a legendary artist in Monga. He often stood on the street telling stories. He played many roles, regardless of gender, age and age, and played them vividly, which was called "Thirteen Tunes". Zheng turned this street legend into a colorful and intense dance. After the whole tour, the audience couldn't help standing up and clapping. "I was surprised by the enthusiastic response of the audience. They think it's a good way to learn about Taiwan Province culture, "Zheng said.
The dance "Thirteen Tones" led by Zheng won a full house in Europe. Cloud Gate Dance Collection provides
However, while capturing European audiences, The Cloud Gate Dance Collection was chased by COVID-19. While performing nonstop with the dancers, Zheng paid close attention to the development of the epidemic and carefully protected the health of every member. Finally, he successfully completed his trip to Europe in early March, but then he faced more uncertainty. Because of the epidemic, Yunmen canceled all performances before June, and it is uncertain whether the outdoor performances of the two-hall courtyard in July can be held as scheduled.
"Will feel depressed? Just took office ... "Facing the concern of tourists, Zheng relaxed.
I won't. At this time, we practice behind closed doors, and we can move forward at dawn.
Zheng is 44 years old, slender, fair-faced, gentle and delicate with a little street flavor, with his hair tied behind his head. He looks like a standard artist, but he is a little more intimate than an artist. He is very different from Lin Huaimin, the founder of Cloud Gate Dance Collection, who gave him a baton. He once said, "I came from a family of poets and scholars, but Zheng was born in the mud. I envy him very much." His mother asked him to listen to Schubert and Beethoven after class, while Zheng followed his parents to sell slippers. He has been observing life in the street since he was a child. The street stall may be surrounded by a courtyard, or it may be a strange place in the eyes of some children. Zheng's thoughtfulness could not understand the strangeness of the adult world, so he began to make up stories. These memories of street life have gradually become the nourishment of his creation.
Zheng turned past street memories into creative nutrients. Yang Huanshi photo
Zheng, who was born in the mud, did have absurd years in the mud. In junior high school, perhaps out of rebellion, curiosity, or simply like to make friends, he and a group of "good friends" learned to take amphetamine, became dissolute and bad, and finally got caught taking drugs. Fortunately, he met Lu Suwei, the juvenile guardian of the local court who was in charge of tutoring him at that time. It was Lv Suwei who pulled Zheng back from the hanging rock.
Unlike Zheng, who knew how to apply for an experimental dance class at the age of eight, Lu Suwei, an 8-year-old, had a hard time recognizing the number 1 to 9 because of brain burns. Later, I stumbled all the way and was admitted to the university five times in seven years. Lu Suwei finally met a professor who knew how to lead him in college. After the enlightenment, his achievements advanced by leaps and bounds, which also enabled him to give full play to his unique talent and embark on the road of counseling teenagers. As a juvenile guardian for more than 30 years, Lu Suwei has tutored more than 3,000 lost children, among whom Zheng is one of the most special children.
In childhood, Zheng and his mother took a group photo by the stream. Cloud Gate Dance Collection provides
At the beginning of April, Zheng just finished his isolation at home, sitting on a big stone outside the Danshui Yunmen Dance Collection, waiting for the arrival of the distinguished person in his life, Teacher Lu Suwei. The teachers and students who haven't seen each other for six years are all a little excited at the moment they meet. Sitting in front of the French window, they talked about their meeting 30 years ago. Zheng used to be a vagrant on the street, but now he is a "Taiwan compatriot" in the teacher's mind.
The following are the highlights of the dialogue:
Q (Zheng): You were confused for a period of time when you were a teenager, during which you met Mr. Lu Suwei. Can you tell me about this experience?
A (Zheng): When I graduated from primary school, my homework was still good. But once in junior high school, I don't know what happened. At that time, there were Class A and Class B in junior high school, and the dance class was sandwiched in the middle. Out of the classroom door, class B is on the right and class A is on the left. Strangely, no one in our class goes out after class. I may be a child who grew up in the street, so I like to go outside the classroom and talk to everyone. The place where most people gather after class is the toilet. I met many "good friends" in the toilet. During that time, I learned to take amphetamine from several "good friends". In the second year, it began to deteriorate, and I didn't take dance classes or ordinary classes. When I was caught taking drugs in the third grade, I met Teacher Lu. After that, I went to see him for counseling every weekend for about two years.
Q (Lu): How did you accompany through those lost years?
Answer (Lu): His situation is very special, because his family is sound and his parents care about him. At that time, I had to tutor 450 children by myself, so it was difficult to tutor them alone, so I took activities, divided them into several groups, and took them to nursing homes, nursing homes, vegetative centers and so on at weekends to let them do something. My idea is to learn while doing, and then share it when I'm done. Because teenagers don't care about you and don't teach you, I let them teach themselves. This is an experiential education.
Zong Long is special among these people, because most of the children who come to me have no interests or goals. But Zong Long knows very well that he just likes dancing. Such a child is easier for us to tutor, and we know how to help him and how to realize his wishes.