Tiananmen Memorial: Tank Man Tango Dance Instructions (English)

4 June is the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. This video is an invitation to be part of a memorial made of dancing bodies in cities around the world. It teaches a a dance based on the steps of tank man, who faced off the tanks in 1989 and became a symbol of courage against tyranny. You can see documentation from the memorial in 20 or so cities here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4Jrhpzm084

For more info: www.forget2forget.net

It is an artwork by Deborah Kelly featuring Teik Kim Pok dancing choreography by Jane McKernan in a video made by Sven Simulacrum. With many thanks to May Ee Wong, Fiona Freiheit, Wei Lai, Celia White, Martin del Amo, Fei Wong, Lachlan Warner, Mark Mitchell, Lee Weng Choy, Estee Wah, Su Goldfish, Bec Dean, Katie Hepworth, Kernow Craig and David Teh.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• 4 June 1989
• urban dance
• memorial
• Tiananmen Square
• Sadler's
• wells
• dance
• contest

[tankmantango]

The tank, and what it represents, is invoked by the dancer/s. This memorial operates on the level of the symbolic- not the literal.

[PaulRFrank]

Tank Man is Man of the Twentieth Century, the century that humankind stood up to their oppressors.

[iean888999]

BOSAN !

[abkyou]

As a memorial to humanity's struggle against the machines of psychopathic oppression, armed only with the indomitable light of the people's spirit, it may be appropriate to have a lone dancer. However, despite the pleasing alliteration, it takes two to tango and therefore the machine needs to be present in the dance. A Bobcat loader; a shopping trolley to counter the hand-held bag; any other ideas on this?

[gbossley]

You are correct, in that we have treated aborigines terribly. I am ashamed of that.

Re East Timor, I'm also ashamed that those people who so faithfully supported Australia during World War II against the invading Japanese were abandoned for so many years to the intimidation and abuse meted out to them by Indonesia.

[thinktok]

While we are dreading the day, the Australians today are already interfering in the affairs of China like this TianAnMen shit, Free Tibet, Boycott Olympic etc.

You are only 20 million+ and you have an equally bad track record of denying human rights to your aborigines, racial discrimination, interfering in East Timor etc.

[gbossley]

China is saved from what? I'm very grateful that I live in a country where our government doesn't use tanks to run over peaceful protesters, and I have some ways of expressing disagreement with government policy.

I dread the day that the Chinese think Australians need "saving".

And yes, I and countless others do get heartburn over the bombing of Baghdad, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, London, Darwin, etc.

[pang5]

Dear, we were talking about Tiananmen. If you would keep to the subject at hand, your argument will go over far better. That is simple fact.

And how, pray, did it get out of control? They were unarmed and the army was armed. By the way, Tank Man was hustled away by other students. Are you privy to information that says otherwise?

[thinktok]

This video is sick just like the video of the arab throwing shoes at President Bush.

[thinktok]

Pang5

If that is what you believe, How about the bombing of Bagdad, Hiroshima and Nagasaki? The nuclear test in the South Seas. Did you get heartburn over it?

The students started with a a peaceful demonstration, the visit of the Soviet Leader gave them more time, the problem went out of control. Supremo Teng decided to disperse the crowd by force if necessary. The students chose to die by blocking the tank, that is history.

China is saved, a disaster is averted.