The Tao Dance Theater is highlighting the ongoing Dance Festival at the National Center for the Performing Arts. Famous Chinese contemporary dancer and choreographer Tao Ye has brought his latest work, “9” to the stage, concluding his Number Series.

In his new piece '9', you can see Tao Ye’s unique language, the repetition of the natural sequence of the body.

Through repetition, the variations in movements are reduced and progress toward a state that is pure and minimal in form.

"In previous works, I’ve explored all possibilities and pushed the limits of human movement. But as “9” marks the end of a circle, everything is back to the very basic. There’s no background music, just sound of the dancers’ movement and their breath," Tao, founder of the Tao Dance Theater explained.

Established in 2008, the Beijing-based group has gained worldwide fame after touring over 40 countries and regions. 

Most of Tao’s works were simply named after the number of dancers involved. He wanted to avoid suggestive names that might influence audiences when trying to appreciate his work.

"I want all my works to be unique and new, providing a broad space for everybody’s imagination. For me, it’s important to explore the potential of the human body as a purely visual form with no narrative or underlying emotional subtext at all. That’s why I named my works with numbers. We actually started from two, so 'One' stays vacant. Just like in Chinese paintings, you always leave a blank, something for the viewers to contemplate," Tao Ye said.

Tao Dance Theater’s performance is part of the Dance Festival at the NCPA which runs until December 12‍.