Wu Wei Arts
The Lion's Roar
Premiere: June 2, 2026 at Midtown Arts and Theatre Center Houston
Before the statues and beyond the legend, there was a man—Siddhartha, a prince who renounced his royal life in search of an answer to human suffering. In this solo dance theatre production by Wu Wei Company, choreographer and performer Emilie Anne brings this 2,500-year-old story into contemporary light through dance, mime, and poetry. A rich musical score and immersive visual projections, created in collaboration with local and international artists, transform the stage into a landscape of inner and outer journeys. The production features visual art by Jack Hanna, Elsa Klingeberg, and Lena Young, with commissioned music by Amod Kulkarni, Chihsuan, and Goma.
This performance takes the audience through pivotal moments of Siddhartha’s journey from his birth to his enlightenment as the Buddha, unfolding across a series of five episodic vignettes. Along the way, a vivid gallery of characters emerge, including a queen who dreams of a snowy-silver elephant, a swan soaring above the Himalayan mountains, a horse whose stride spans rivers, and a tree with heart-shaped leaves...
We invite audiences of all ages to discover this timeless story and awaken their inner “lion’s roar” of fearlessness!
THE LION'S ROAR
in the footsteps of the prince who became Buddha
Credits:
Director / Choreographer / Performer Emilie Anne
Poetry / Text Emilie Anne (based on Lalitavistara Sutra from 84000 Translation)
Music Concept / Visual Design Emilie Anne
Costume Sheetal Oak, Mandy Liu
Lighting Design Emilie Anne
Lighting Technician Jon Forsch
Photography Eric Burnod, Lynn Lane
Videography Eric Burnod, Drew Kloss
I. Snowy-Silver Elephant
Music Jon Adamich, Emilie Anne
Voiceover Emilie Anne
Multimedia Jack Hanna, Emilie Anne
II. Voice of the Swan
Music Amod Kulkarni
Musicians Tabla: Charudatta Phadke; Sitar: Aniruddha Joshi; Vocals: Namrata Mahabal; Padhant (Recitation): Isha Kulkarni
Mixing & Mastering Magic Note Studio (Pune, India)
Voiceover Emilie Anne, Eric Burnod
Multimedia Jack Hanna, Emilie Anne
Story inspired by Old Path White Clouds by Thich Nhat Hanh.
III. The Great Departure
Intro Soundscape Emilie Anne
Music Chihsuan
Voiceover Chen Yi-Rhe, Emilie Anne
Multimedia Jack Hanna, Emilie Anne
IV. The Lion's Roar
Music Goma, Emilie Anne, Bjorn Lynne
Voiceover Emilie Anne
Multimedia Jack Hanna, Elsa Klingeberg
V. Flower Rain
Music Jon Adamich
Painting "Liberation" by Lena Young
Supported by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Special thanks to Dance Source Houston's studio Rental Support Program.
Development of this work included presentations through Dance Source Houston's Mind The Gap showcase (2022, 2023, and 2025), presented in partnership with Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston.
Special thanks to Lorin Eric Salm, mime and movement coach, and Madhu Nataraj and the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography.