BIRDY, Credit LIU, Ren-Haur
On November 28, Banff Centre Presents brings bold contemporary dance to the mountains with BIRDY, an electrifying work from Taiwan’s acclaimed Hung Dance. Artistically rigorous and visually striking, BIRDY showcases the work of one of Taiwan’s most exciting choreographers in a performance that is both emotionally moving and visually stunning. Get tickets now for a night to remember.
“...dancers, each adorned with a long pheasant feather, form tableaux expressing a longing for flight. And the magic of Birdy takes hold.”— Ariane Bavelier, Le Figaro
Performance Description
BIRDY, a captivating dance piece by acclaimed Taiwanese choreographer Lai Hung-chung, explores the interplay of freedom and limitations within Taiwan's communities. Lai delves into the subtle influences of emotions and historical echoes on social harmony through a blend of societal dynamics and personal narratives.
Using a cage and dreamer metaphor, Lai bridges personal struggles with broader societal contexts. The deconstruction of traditional Peking opera props, like the spear transformed into a cage-like symbol using rattan poles, symbolizes life's constraints.
Incorporating "Ling Zi" pheasant feathers, traditionally signifying warrior might, Lai reinterprets their meaning to empower individuals to redefine their consciousness. This exploration of freedom and self-awareness is visually depicted through the imagery of the Ling Zi, subtly suggesting life's delicate balance between limitations and aspirations.
Set to an eclectic mix of electronic and Chinese classical music, BIRDY reinterprets percussion and seamlessly blends Tai-chi with contemporary dance. It portrays the journey from tradition to modernity and conveys a powerful message that in this era, we can redefine class, freedom, and limitations while seeking balance and identity.
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Learn more about HUNG Dance
LAI Hung-chung
"One of the best of the young choreographers working in Taiwan today."— Taipei Times, 2020
"Taiwanese choreographer Lai Hung-chung continues to show he’s a rising star." — Lucy Ribchester, The List.
Lai Hung-chung, a Taiwan National University of Arts graduate, founded Hung Dance in 2017, leaving a remarkable imprint on Taiwanese choreography. In 2016, he won gold and three awards at the Taiwan Creative Dance Competition, a record-setting feat. Lai's triumphs extended globally, garnering accolades in international choreography competitions.
Lai's creation, rooted in the theme of freedom, incorporates Tai Chi elements with contemporary concepts, fostering an inventive dance vocabulary and pushing creative boundaries. Noteworthy pieces like "Boundless" (2018), "See You" (2020), "Formless Erosion" (2022), and "Birdy" (2023) reflect this ethos. "See You" received Taishin Arts Award nomination and earned acclaim at prestigious festivals, including 9 five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival. "Birdy" sold out all its 20 shows at the Festival OFF Avignon in 2023.
Lai drives international collaboration and supports emerging talents. He founded the Stray Birds Dance Platform in 2019, spotlighting innovative, international choreography and offering production and touring opportunities. Lai's commitment to diversifying Taiwan's dance scene is evident in his cultural exchanges and connections.
In summary, Lai Hung-chung's Hung Dance legacy encompasses pioneering achievements, international recognition, and a commitment to enriching Taiwan's dance landscape through artistic exploration and global engagement.
Artistic Director
HUNG DANCE
Hung Dance is a Taiwanese contemporary dance company founded on May 5, 2017.Choreographer Lai Hung Chung serves as the artistic director, and the troupe's name comes from the Chinese character 翃 , meaning to fly. The company has adopted four core elements in its development: Annual productions, the International Collaboration Project (ICP) , International Tours, and the Stray Birds Dance Platform.
Currently, at the core of our annual productions are the works of Artistic Director, Lai Hung-Chung. His dances are inspired by daily life matters, taking internal emotions and physical states and putting them into dance movement. He is perceptive to the subtle relationship between people and nature, and extends elements of Tai Chi to integrate with contemporary thinking and cultivate a new dance vocabulary. In 2018, the short piece, Birdy, was developed into the dance company's first feature-length work, Boundless, which was invited to premiere in Madrid, Spain at the "Made in Taiwan-Taiwan en el C rculo", co-hosted by the Taiwan Embassy in Spain and the C rculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid. After premiering, the work then returned to Taiwan, to tour in Kaohsiung, Taipei and New Taipei City, and also toured in the Ivory Coast. The company's second feature-length work was 2020's See You, which premiered at Taipei's Wellspring Theater and was nominated for the 19th Taishin Arts Award.
The international tours began at the founding of Hung Dance. Lai Hung-Chung's short pieces, Watcher and Birdy, were submitted to international choreography competitions and art festivals, winning 13 international awards. Following this success, the company embarked on an international tour that saw them perform in Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, with a total of 70 performances.
The development of the ICP began as, from its establishment, the company has had the opportunity to meet many like-minded and unique dancers while touring in different countries. The ICP invites international choreographers to Taiwan to tailor-make new works for Hung Dance, allowing the dancers the opportunity to work with international choreographers and learn dance vocabulary from different cultural backgrounds. The first international collaboration project was Out of Elegant, a work co-produced with Spanish choreographer Mario Bermudez Gil and performed at the Experimental Theater of the National Theatre in 2020. This collaboration also opened up a different network for international tour opportunities.
The Stray Birds Dance Platform (Stray Birds) project was proposed in 2018, in hopes of creating a bridge and providing opportunities for young choreographers to publish works on the platform. Furthermore, Lai Hung-Chung hoped to utilize the international network of contacts accumulated in recent years to invite international choreography competitions and art festivals to present awards, select dance works by youth talents to compete, and create opportunities to connect with the world.With a platform that connects the like-minded, we can establish connections between young choreographers and the international market. It is hoped that in the future, Stray Birds will become a large-scale international dance platform. Starting in 2022, we will be pleased to open applications to international works, deepening our international connections and fostering a positive, competitive environment.