Presented with community partner Asian-Canadian Special Events Association
Birdy
November 28 & 29, 2025 | 8pm
Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street)
Running time: 60 minutes (no intermission)
Hung Dance (Taiwan)
Creatures of a feather dance together in Birdy, Hung Dance’s call to the wild.
Employing a head piece called “Ling Zi” that incorporates pheasant tail feathers worn in traditional Chinese opera to represent warrior’s power and skill, Birdy offers up a magpie creation, concretizing bright bursts of freedom against the weighted cage of history.
Founded in 2017 by choreographer Lai Hung-Chung, Hung Dance’s choreographic vocabulary is drawn from martial arts, Peking opera, and traditional cultural symbols. Through the prism of performance, Taiwan’s complex history and political status metamorphize into a thrilling new dance language.
The calligraphic eloquence of four-feet long feathers moves from gentleness to violence, transforming into spears, whips, and a blade drawn sharply across the throat. Whether extending the body into space, wriggling in earnest writing, or offering a gossamer caress, the feathers function as a form of punctuation, leading and echoing movement phrases with the expressive vitality of living things.
As the dancers flock together in rippling patterns of conformity and divergence, rituals of behaviour gleaned from the non-human world, find their choreographic counterparts. Group think meets the defiance of individual identity, as self-policing roots out any opposition. What emerges in the tightrope struggle is a universal cry for freedom.
“Birdy, a sublime choreography.” – Youness Bousenna, La Provence
“In Birdy, LAI Hung-chung explores the limits of our desires and our sense of freedom.” – Jade Enaud, Zone Critique
“...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
Hung Dance is a Taiwanese contemporary dance company founded in 2017 by artistic director and choreographer Lai Hung-chung. Inspired by the word “hung (翃),” the company’s name reflects its aspiration to soar. Focusing on annual productions, international collaboration, and tours, Hung Dance also organizes the Stray Birds Dance Platform to foster choreographers’ creativity and connect them to global resources.
The company has earned numerous awards for its exceptional choreographic pieces “Watcher” and “Birdy” in renowned competitions and festivals worldwide. It has also embarked on an extensive international tour, captivating audiences across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa with over two hundred mesmerizing performances.
Hung Dance’s performances are a unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements, inviting audiences to interpret, imagine, and embrace dance’s timeless beauty. Lai Hung-chung’s choreography delves into human emotions and the connection between culture and nature. By seamlessly blending elements of Chinese opera, mythology, and Tai Chi with contemporary concepts, he has created a unique dance vocabulary and training system that is sure to intrigue and captivate.
Lai Hung-chung
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.
Top image: Hung Dance, Birdy © ChrisART Studio.
