Hung Dance (Taiwan)
November 14 + 15 | 7:30 pm
Royal Theatre
Since 2017, Hung Dance‘s BIRDY has soared across the globe, evolving from a duet into a full-length ensemble work for eight dancers. Drawing from Taiwan’s rich cultural history, Artistic Director and choreographer Lai Hung-Chung contemplates how the tension between the individual, community, and nation shapes the pursuit of freedom. Along the way, BIRDY has earned nine five-star reviews at the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and a sold-out run of twenty performances at Festival OFF Avignon. In a week from now, BIRDY‘s Canadian debut will kick off Dance Victoria’s 2025/26 season.
Why Critics Worldwide Love BIRDY
“The ability to choreograph movements that have both sharp and fluid textures is quite difficult, and to be able to dance them seamlessly is even more of a feat. They blended so smoothly that it was hard to tell the difference. The dancers’ technique was impressive and had me locked in from the first moment of movement.” – Alana Bleinmann, Culture Voice of North Carolina
“…a sense of muscular structure unfolds in wonderful contrast with the spinal, liquid ripples of the feather; a bird in flight. The considered, visual spectacle of BIRDY is to be appreciated.” – Georgia Howlett, Springback Magazine
“BIRDY, a sublime choreography.” – Youness Bousenna, La Provence
Lai Hung-chung Discusses BIRDY
Curator’s Note
“Lai Hung-chung is the choreographer to watch. Among a growing list of accolades, the young Artistic Director was recently recognized at the world’s biggest choreographic duet competition with a prestigious Partner Award from Nederlands Dans Theater for his work Push and Pull. I had the pleasure of seeing the North American premiere of BIRDY at the American Dance Festival last summer. The precision, originality, and gorgeous visual references (pheasant feathers!) are going to stun on the Royal Theatre stage.” – Gillian Jones, Executive Director, Dance Victoria
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