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California Institute of the Arts

Jiayin ‘Tokie’ Wang Featured in LA Times Story on New LA Choreography Residency

July 20, 2023
via: 24700

Written by Taya Zoormandan

LA Times logo above headline 'A new LA residency for AAPI dancers aims to dismantle what choreography looks like' above photo of four dancers laughing with each otherLA Times logo above headline 'A new LA residency for AAPI dancers aims to dismantle what choreography looks like' above photo of four dancers laughing with each otherLA Times logo above headline 'A new LA residency for AAPI dancers aims to dismantle what choreography looks like' above photo of four dancers laughing with each other

AAPI dance and culture takes center stage in a recent feature by the Los Angeles Times, following Blue13 Dance Company’s inaugural two-week Playdate residency at Stomping Ground LA. Reporter Steven Vargas chronicled the unique experiences of the four residents, including choreographer and recent CalArts graduate Jiayin “Tokie” Wang (Dance MFA 23).

A project a decade in the making, Playdate offers collaboration by partnering with local organizations—an addition beyond the customary space and funds offered by most other creative residencies. Blue13 Dance Company artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel sought to create a residency that puts AAPI stories and experiences at the forefront, enabling participants to work together immediately with a shared vocabulary. 

Wang was paired with Kathak dancer and choreographer Barkha Patel, and they worked together to create the piece KhaYin, inspired by deities in Buddhism and Hinduism. Wang related the Buddhist figure Guan Yin (Avalokiteśvara) to the Hindu goddess Kali, the subject of one of Patel’s pieces prior to Playdate. The collaboration was described by Wang as a “fun fusion of culture,” reflecting the cultural exchange emblematic of the Playmate residency.

Read the full article at the Los Angeles Times.

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