Hung Dance

Hung Dance is a contemporary dance company based in Taiwan. Artistic director and choreographer Lai Hung-Chung founded the company in 2017 and named it using the word “hung (翃),” which suggests the aspiration to fly.

The company develops its work through three main areas: annual productions, international collaborations, and international touring. Each year it also organizes the Stray Birds Dance Platform, which aims not only to encourage young choreographers to create but also to connect them with international resources.

At the center of its annual productions are the works of its artistic director, Lai Hung-Chung. In his choreography, Lai seeks responses to the deepest aspects of human existence as well as to the earth, the world, and the present moment, channeling inner emotions and physical states into movement.

Lai is particularly attentive to the subtle relationship between people and nature. By expanding elements of Tai Chi and integrating contemporary thinking, he cultivates a new dance vocabulary and develops a unique training system.

Birdy

In Birdy, Lai Hung-Chung explores the complex dynamics of freedom and oppression, delving into the connection between social context and communities in Taiwan: how seemingly trivial events—such as emotions, social interactions, or the lingering effects of history—consciously or unconsciously permeate society with fear, conflict, or balance.

Through dancers who embody the image of a cage and a dreamer, Lai skillfully extends the boundaries between an individual’s most intimate feelings, the dynamics of relationships, and the broader context of individuals within the society, culture, and world we inhabit.

Lai also incorporates a powerful symbolic element in this piece: Ling Zi, traditionally used as a headdress in Chinese opera. Its long pheasant tail feathers represent the power of warriors and resemble an extension of the human spine. This image evokes the essence of a bird, its cage, and its dreams, suggesting a delicate balance of life. The element enriches the performance, creating a profound exploration of freedom, power, and resilience.
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Tech Rider

Country  
Taiwan

Artistic Direction & Choreography
Lai Hung-Chung

Dancers

CHENG I-han, LEE Kuan-ling

Lighting Design

TSAI Chao-Yu

Costume

HSU Chia-wei

In addition to its performance, the company facilitated a masterclass for festival participants.