Shen Wei To Choreograph Olympic Ceremony

The New York-based choreographer Shen Wei has been tapped to serve as a lead creative consultant and the principal choreographer for the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Prior to the announcement, Mr. Shen had worked with the dancers in his own company — Shen Wei Dance Arts — to develop material for the ceremonies. Olympic dancers in Beijing will perform the works.

Mr. Shen, who was born in Hunan, China, and is now an American citizen, often combines multiple artistic elements in his choreography. His 2007 work, "Second Visit to the Empress," re-imagined a traditional Chinese opera through modern dance. "Connect Transfer" (2004) featured dancers with paint-soaked socks and mittens dancing in ways that turned the floor into a canvas full of sweeping strokes of paint.

Mr. Shen's choreography is based on a technique that focuses on specialized, slow movement led by breath. Whether or not the Olympic dancers will be able to incorporate his Natural Body Development Technique is unclear. But his appointment as choreographer at least suggests that the Opening Ceremonies will be well worth watching.