FLOWING SLEEVES

FLOWING SLEEVES

In Chinese opera, water sleeves can be an essential part of different types of characters’ costumes. During performances, long flowing sleeves can be flicked and waved like water, to facilitate emotive body movements. My composition Flowing Sleeves is inspired by a 词 poem by 温庭筠 of the Tang Dynasty that depicts the women’s ritual of preparation in dressing, art of face makeup, and spiritual routine before the daily exposure to the public.

In Flowing Sleeves, the performer operates an eMotion Twist with the left hand and an eMotion Accelerate with the right hand. The choreographical movements as well as performative actions together shape the visual and musical experience in realtime.