This 75-minute performance explores immersive music performance and tea ceremony. Interweaving ambient-folk-pop music/sound, documentary, performance, and poetry, “Tea: Story of The Leaves” is a performance and an invitation to tea ceremony, cultural exchange, and an immersive tuning experience of mind and body. The work aims to create an embodied experience that creates an open, communal space for deep listening, meditation, and healing.

Three shows were premiered on Feb 9th and 10th, 2024 at The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center, Northwestern University. The piece is divided into 3 parts.

Part 1
A live ambient set with instrumentals, spoken-words, and folk-inspired singing. The 4 pieces explore an invitation to nature.
(Red River / Terrace Fields / Karst Cave / Border Town Fair)
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Part 2
A tea ceremony with documentary screening + tea serving for each participant.
(Songs of Seven Cups)
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Part 3
2nd live ambient set with 2 songs from Haotian’s album “The Bridge in The Mountain’s Hands (A Travelog) + 1 unreleased song.
(Halzeilpyu / Cabin / We Might)

Performers | Haotian Wang, Micah Simmons, Sophia Su
Producer, Graphics, Live Sound | Alicia Li
Lighting Design | Max Volpert, Peiran Zhao
Tea-makers | Shalong, Haotian Wang, Gracia Zhao
Documentation | Ivan Chen, Joshua Coverdale, Xinchi Wang
Special Thanks | Living Water Tea House
Video Editing | Joshua Coverdale