From the Ground up with Ma Shouze

Shouze Ma, founding member of the first modern dance company in China, Guangdong Modern Dance Company (GMDC), visited NYU Shanghai to guide students through a dance workshop. The artistic director of the Shouze Ma Arts Center in Beijing taught the group how to move through the “negative space” between and around each other. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

During the dance workshop, students paired up for warm up stretches, working with their partner in a balance of body weight exertion. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

Sweeping through the space in complex patterns, dancers lead their closed-eyed partners by the hand, using energy to convey location in a true exercise of trust. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

“When you are leading your partner, you have to lead them with your whole body. Really care. You have to really connect,” Shouze Ma instructs. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

Students gracefully move across the floor and use their own unique movements to fill in the negative space created by the shape their partner takes. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

“Have a relationship, collaborate with each other.” -Shouze Ma (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

Dancers were encouraged to abandon overthinking what form they should take, but instead let the shapes of their bodies be determined by spontaneous, fluid movements. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

Instructed to move as slow as possible, the dancers use the space around them to create a moving dialogue with each other. (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

“You may make mistakes, but you accept the mistakes you make and keep moving. I think this about daily life. Think about how in this society you collaborate with people, and be open minded and accepting.” -- Shouze Ma (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)

“Dance class is also about working with people in our daily lives and being inclusive. It’s really easy to become friends when you are working closely with people that you can share energy with.” - Shouze Ma (Photos by: NYU Shanghai)