Body as an Archive

It's an emotional rollercoaster. Junru's story expresses vulnerability. She's very courageous for sharing her story. From the beginning, those who don't know, would have no idea the journeys, the hardships she went through and endured to get to where she at today. Overall, the show is incredible and inspiring.... full review

The best one-person show I've ever seen.... full review

I cannot recommend Junru's extraordinary one-woman show more highly. As someone who writes and makes films about Chinese contemporary circus artists, I was astonished to see how she evoked both the cost of the grueling training that made her into a world-class hand balancer and her own journey towards using those skills as her artistic medium. Watching Junru embody the ghosts of her past--her father and mother and coaches and even her younger self--made me laugh first, then cry. In allowing them to possess her body, it seems she was able to exorcise them. A soulful show with multi-generational appeal. Six of us went together, three adults and three 13-year-olds. Another adult writes: "I was grateful to see the artist find her own voice after... full review

Some performances entertain. Others stay with you long after the lights come up. Body as an Archive, Junru Wang's one woman show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, belongs firmly in the second category. This is a deeply personal and remarkably courageous work. Wang invites the audience into the defining moments of her life, tracing her journey from a young girl in China with dreams of performing to years of rigorous military circus training, where technical perfection was expected and individuality was often secondary. Her story is not simply about becoming an elite performer. It is about discovering her own voice after years of being taught only discipline and obedience. What makes the performance so compelling is its honesty. Wang ... full review

Amazing talent. So beautiful. Really moving story that made me cry a lot and we are all celebrating her triumph as an artist! ... full review

This show was absolutely mesmerizing. Seeing this young woman embody the energy of her child self...reliving these complex childhood moments with such an innocent lens, and then seeing her grow and reflect and actually hold in her body the truth of what happened to her....it moved me to tears. To see her reclaim her body onstage in a brilliantly choreographed and performed closing piece flooded me with feelings of hope and possibility for all of the repressed artists out there searching for the permission to become fully embodied in their authenticity, in whatever form that might take. This show needs to be SEEN. It was my extreme pleasure to witness Junru's journey.... full review

Absolutely incredible. Junru’s talent is of course, very impressive but the way she navigated her very deep seated trauma, with raw emotion, and yet grace and even humor.. was really something!!... full review

This was an amazing performance! It was at the level of Cirque du Soleil! I have never seen such a hard-working and dedicated actor and performer! ... full review

Jun did an excellent job telling her story from a childs perspective and as she grew older. I had tears in my eyes when she discovered the art of acrobatics and not just the mechanics as was ingrained in her from childhood. What a beautiful transition! She was able to express the hardships and cruelty without dwelling on the trauma. ... full review

Wonderful... full review