ADMISSION: 
Admission is free and open to everyone. Reservations required. RSVP beginning Tuesday, September 1, at 10 a.m.

DESCRIPTION: 
Taiwanese dance company HUNG DANCE will make their L.A. debut with BIRDY, a captivating dance work by choreographer and artistic director LAI Hung-chung that explores the interplay of freedom and limitations within Taiwan's communities. Set to an eclectic mix of electronic and Chinese classical music, BIRDY seamlessly blends Tai Chi with contemporary dance. Drawing on imagery of birds, cages, and flight, BIRDY portrays the journey from tradition to modernity and conveys the powerful message that we can challenge limitations while seeking balance, freedom, and identity. 

Bios: 
HUNG DANCE is a Taiwanese contemporary dance company founded in 2017 by artistic director and choreographer LAI Hung-chung. Named after the Chinese character 翃 (Hung), meaning “to soar,” the company is dedicated to original productions, international collaboration, touring, and supporting emerging choreographers through its Stray Birds Dance Platform. HUNG DANCE has received international recognition and toured extensively across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Blending traditional and contemporary influences, LAI’s choreography explores human emotion and the relationship between culture and nature, drawing on Chinese opera, mythology, and Tai Chi to create a distinctive movement language. 

LAI Hung-chung is a Taiwanese choreographer and founder of HUNG DANCE. Known for blending Tai Chi, Chinese opera traditions, and contemporary movement, his work explores themes of freedom, identity, and human connection. His acclaimed productions have received international awards and toured worldwide, including sold-out performances at Festival OFF Avignon. LAI is also the founder of the Stray Birds Dance Platform, which supports emerging choreographers and international artistic exchange. 

"Taiwanese choreographer Lai Hung-chung continues to show he's a rising star."—Lucy Ribchester, The List 

Presented by USC Visions and Voices. Co-sponsored by the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. 

Photo: Ren-Haur Liu