Welcome ChingI Chang to Bird in the World Blog! Her credits include opening cast of Sleep No More, NYC, and opening cast/rehearsal assistant to the Sleep No More, Shanghai. ChingI and I met while studying undergraduate dance at the University of Utah in 2005. Her quiet strength and peaceful demeanor always impressed me. After college she left for NYC where her career soared. In this interview, we have a glimpse into the unique mindset of a dancer who carved a niche in the Post-Modern dance world. Thank you so much for sharing, ChingI Chang!
歡迎來到張靜宜，我的部落格。她是紐約不眠之夜的原班人馬跟上海不眠之夜的舞蹈排練導演。我跟靜宜在2005年猶他大學唸書的時候認識的。她的安靜和和平的風度常常打動我。她大學畢業後搬到紐約，也是她的舞蹈生涯開始的地方。在這個訪問當中，我們將會看到一個後現代舞者的經歷。謝謝妳的分享，張靜宜！
Ok, let’s start with the basics, what age did you start to dance and after how many years of serious training were you offered your first job or professional opportunity?
好的，我們先從最基本的開始。妳什麼時候開始跳舞的跟在嚴格訓練幾年後妳得到第一個專業的機會？
CC: I started dancing when I was in my mom’s belly. After university, I was offered my first job. However, before that I took every performance and teaching opportunity professionally.
我從我在我媽媽肚子裡就開始跳舞了。在我大學畢業後就有了一份專業的舞蹈工作。然而，在那之前我把每個表演跟教書機會都當作專業的機會。
Dancer from the stars! Can you remember roughly how many auditions you went to? Did you have to take many rejections?
從星星來的舞者！妳記得妳大概甄選了幾個舞團？妳有被拒絕很多次嗎？
CC: Too many. I went to every audition when I first moved to NYC because I was curious about how people and the city functioned. I received so many rejections at the beginning, but good things came out of the failures. As time went on, I became friends with some of the people who I kept running into during auditions and became more familiar with my own sense of belongings. I tried to accept every job offer at first. Reason one is I really had no choice. I was an immigrant and needed to build up my resume’ experiences. The process of applying for Artist Visa (O-1 visa) in the States, required tons of professional experience to gain the visa. Another reason I accepted a wide variety of paid and unpaid work is, I wanted to put myself into many different scenarios so that I can get to know myself more- of how I transformed and flowed in different settings.
太多次了！我在剛開始在紐約的時候，我去每一個甄選因為我很好奇人們在城市如何運作。剛開始我收到很多拒絕，但是好事常常發生在很多的失敗過後。我甚至跟常常去甄選的人變成朋友，也越來越瞭解哪裡是屬於我的地方。為什麼去那麼多的甄選，原因之一也是因為我沒有太多的選擇。我是一個移民者，需要建立我在美國的履歷。那時為了拿到藝術家簽證，我需要無敵多的經驗才能拿到這個簽證。另外一個原因是，我想經由不同的經驗，不管是有薪水或沒有的舞蹈工作，來瞭解我在不同的經驗如何存活跟銳變。
Amazing and would you say your first job was your dream job?
很好，那妳會說妳第一個工作是妳的夢想工作嗎？
CC: Every single dance work was my dream even when sometimes the work is not challenging. I let the experience inform my growth.
我視每個舞蹈工作都是我的夢，即使有時候作品不是很有挑戰。所有的經驗都是我成長的養份。
If you cast your mind back, was there any point when you thought you might not make it as a dancer?
回想起來，妳有沒有一度覺得妳不會成為舞者。
CC: No.
沒有。
Of all the triumphs and successes in your career, can you pinpoint a “break-out” moment? Maybe a performance where everything seemed to change after that?
在那麼多的經驗裡，妳可以指出讓妳爆發的時候嗎？或許是某一個表演之後，所有的事情都改變了。
CC: One vivid break-out moment was during performing my thesis work where I was channeling my Taiwanese ancestors’ spirit and trauma. My sense of existence and art-making entirely changed after that making and performing experience.
一個經歷很深刻的印象是當我在表演我研究所的作品，那是一個有關台灣祖先跟歷史創傷的作品。在那個經驗之後，我對我生存意義跟藝術創作還有表演有很大的改變。
Can you describe that moment for us? Did you know it was a defining career moment at the time?
妳可以描寫那個經驗給我們聽聽嗎？妳那時知道這作品的創作會是妳對生涯的定義嗎？
CC: After that channeling ancestry time, I saw my role as an artist differently. I carry not only a responsibility to myself but a lineage of family’s blood, sweat, tears, and history; as well as what it means to be a Taiwanese female artist.
在我與祖先交流的那段時間，我對於作為藝術者看的角度完全不同。我不只對自己有責任，也對我家人歷史，血，汗，跟眼淚有責任。也更深刻的瞭解作為一個台灣女性藝術家的責任。
Absolutely. So are there any personal mantras or habits you could share that helped you to stay motivated through the tough times before you achieved success?
當然。妳有什麼個人的座右銘來跟我們分享嗎？尤其是當妳在度過難關的時候。
CC: If I decide to do one thing, I have to do it to the best capacity that I can with my whole heart and soul; or else, why do it.
當我決定做一件事情的時候，我需要做到我心裡跟靈魂的極限；不然為什麼要做？
Of course, so when did you finally feel secure and confident in your career as a performer? What contributed to those feelings of assurity?
當然，所以妳是什麼時候開始對妳當一個表演藝術者的工作生涯有自信的？有哪些因素是對這有貢獻的？
CC: I knew that I wanted to perform since senior in high school. I went to an extremely strict performing arts high school where we had to train, perform, and tour. I made up my mind during those years that I needed to dedicate myself to the performing arts.
我從高中就知道自己想表演。我念的高中是一個很嚴格的舞蹈班，重表演藝術，訓練與巡迴演出。我在那幾年就知道我想從事表演藝術工作。
And what would you say has been the high point of your career so far?
那妳能描述妳事業的高峰點是什麼嗎？
CC: To understand the concept of empathy as a human being.
為了瞭解人類的憐憫心。
On the flip side, can you tell us about at least one MAJOR set back in your early career?
那相反的問題，妳可以跟我們說妳早期主要的挫敗嗎？
CC: I have the ability to see things as encouragement and I can’t quite recall major set back.
我有能力把每件事看作鼓勵，我也不記得主要的挫敗。
Using just 3 words, describe the life of a professional dancer:
妳會用哪三個字來形容專業舞者？
CC: Ocean, transformation, and love.
海洋、銳變、跟愛。
Nice. What’s the one thing you are most proud of?
很好。妳最驕傲的事是什麼？
CC: Nothing in particular.
沒有的說。
What was necessary for you, personally, to achieve your career in dance?
妳個人主要舞蹈成就是什麼？
CC: To understand humanity a little.
更加了解人性。
The dance world is constantly changing as we know. What have you noticed has changed in dance in the last 5 to 10 years?
舞蹈界一直都在變化。妳在這近五到十年中，有看到什麼轉變？
CC: I appreciate how there is more awareness on social justice and critical race works.
我欣賞有更多有關社會跟種族意識的舞蹈作品。
Do you think there are more challenges facing dancers today? Are these challenges different to those you faced or do many remain the same?
妳覺得現正舞者有更多的挑戰嗎？這些現在的挑戰有跟妳以前的不同嗎或是許多保持一樣？
CC: Options and abundance of choices that dancers can encounter nowadays. There are always opportunities, but what is the one where your heart belongs and calls home.
現在的舞者可能面對更多的選項跟無限的選擇。機會常常會有，但是那一個選擇是妳心裡的歸屬跟稱為家。
So would you say you had an optimism about today’s dance opportunities and what the future of our industry holds?
所以妳會說妳對現今的舞蹈機會跟舞蹈界的未來保持樂觀嗎？
CC: People always need to dance, we were born that way.
人們都需要跳舞，我們是這樣出生的。
Out of all the things you've seen and dancers you've known, are there any secrets to making it? Be honest. We can keep a secret.
在妳看過那麼多的事情跟舞蹈家，妳有成功的秘密嗎？誠實的回答。我們會保密的。
CC: The practice of self-love is important.
學會如何花時間關愛自己是很重要的練習。
Connect with ChingI Chang at her website: www.chingichangbigelow.com
請到張靜宜的網站關注她的舞蹈作品。
Thank you Ching sharing our stories with other dancers, dance creators, dance students and dance admirersㄧ really knits our community tighter together. Wishing you all well, see you soon for more interviews and another dancer’s story!
謝謝妳靜宜分享我們的故事給其他舞者、編舞家、舞蹈學生與舞蹈喜好者讓我們的舞蹈界更加緊密。願妳一切都好，下次再跟大家分享更多訪談與其他舞者的故事。
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