BIRDY | HUNG DANCE (Taiwan)

Presented by Springboard Performance

BIRDY

HUNG DANCE (Taiwan)

November 26th, The GRAND in Calgary

Presented with community partner Asian Heritage Foundation

In collaboration with Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, November 28th in Banff

Springboard Performance presents HUNG DANCE’s BIRDY in Calgary on November 26, with a subsequent presentation at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity on November 28, as part of a regional collaboration connecting audiences and artists across Southern Alberta.

 

BIRDY, a captivating dance piece by 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 “rattan pole," symbolizes life's constraints. Incorporating the "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.

 

Hung Dance: Founded in 2017 by Artistic Director Lai Hung-Chung, Hung Dance takes its name from the Chinese character 翃—meaning "to fly." The Taiwanese contemporary dance company translates everyday life, internal emotions, and physical states into a unique movement vocabulary that integrates Tai Chi principles with modern thought. Known for acclaimed feature-length works like Boundless and the Taishin Arts Award-nominated See You, the company explores the delicate relationship between humanity and nature, bringing a distinct, evocative vision to stages across the globe