Edwaard Liang (USA/Taiwan)

Born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in Marin County, California, Edwaard Liang began his ballet training at the age of five at Marin Ballet. In 1989, Liang entered the School of American Ballet. He joined New York City Ballet (NYCB) in the spring of 1993, and that same year he was a medal winner at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition and the Mae L. Wien Awards, the first of many distinguished accolades to come. He was promoted to soloist in 1998. Liang later became a member of acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater I, where he danced, choreographed and staged ballets, before returning to NYCB in 2004. The premiere of Liang’s Distant Cries for NYCB in 2005 earned high praise and he was soon hailed by critics as a choreographer with great promise. His new ballet, Age of Innocence, “has all the hallmarks of a newly minted masterpiece", notes Chicago Tribune. Named one of the "Top 25 to Watch" in 2006 by Dance Magazine for choreography, he has also created works for many companies and projects such as the Hamburg Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Shanghai Ballet, the Washington Ballet. Liang is working mainly as a freelance choreographer.

Personally Speaking..

How would you describe your philosophy or approach in art making?
I don't know if I have formulated any one approach or philosophy. But I do believe that artists are so lucky to be able to speak and express themselves. Especially if you have found a medium in which to truly speak and have a voice. And I believe that as a choreographer, I am and will be a constant student. Ever growing, learning and changing.

Who or what was the biggest influence on your artistic development?
I've had so many people that have been huge influences in my development. Stanley Williams, Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Hans Van Manen, Baryshikov, Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, New York City Ballet, the list goes on the choreographers and dancers in Nederlands Dans Theater for opening my eyes to choreographing, and pushing me to try choreography.

What inspires or motivates you in your creative pursuits?
I think everything you come across inspires a thought or a feeling. What inspires me is music, movement, beautiful dancers, films, books, paintings, photos, etc.

What do you love most about creating art?
What I love most about creating art is feeling alive. The best part of choreographing is being in the studio with the dancers and creating moment to moment. You are in the Now... deciding movement, feelings, content for the piece. Probably equal to that is that I am able to touch, move, or inspire something... anything in someone.

What is your favourite quote or work of art that reflects your views on life?
I don't know if I have a favourite book, song, film, etc. But I do like this quote very much: In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer, from Albert Camus.

http://www.edwaardliang.com