Taiwanese indigenous choreographer Bulareyaung Pagarlava, who won the National Award for Arts last year, will lead his troupe to tour in Malaysia for the first time in mid-July, bringing the premiere of their work "Luna (路吶)" to Southeast Asian audiences. After performing at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) from July 14 to 16, the Bulareyaung Dance Company will be on stage with indigenous singer Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw at the George Town Festival in Penang on July 22 and 23.
"Luna" is the fifth work of the dance company. Commissioned by National Taichung Theater, "Luna" was created and debuted in 2018. The dance piece was performed in 2019 at Fall for Dance North, the international dance festival in Canada. In 2022, the troupe presented “Luna” at the opening of the Yokohama Performing Arts Meeting (YPAM) in Japan.
Inspired by the traditional indigenous ballads when the troupe members visited Luluna Village, home to the largest Bunun indigenous tribe in central Taiwan, “Luna” incorporates Bunun’s music and culture into modern dance. Trying to characterize his dance troupe, leader Bulareyaung Pagarlava said they sing with their bodies and dance with their songs.
As the winner of the 17th Taishin Arts Award, "Luna" was commended by the judges as a significant milestone. The judges believe that this work manifests cross-tribal cultural learning and the essence of calmness and purity. Dancers find out the contemporary dance syntax and gesture from indigenous bodies and tribal rituals, enriching the performance of modern dance from the perspective of human existence.
The dance troupe's debut captured the attention of Malaysian local media outlets. Malaysia's largest English-language newspaper "The Star" and Chinese-language newspaper "Sin Chew Daily (星洲日報)" recently virtually interviewed Bulareyaung Pagarlava, and the troupe received widespread coverage. Asked what message he wants to convey to the Malaysian audience, Bulareyaung Pagarlava answered that the most important thing about watching the dance piece is your own feelings, listening to the dancers' singing, and following the dancers’ path into the forest of Bunun.” He added that the audience will not only be watching the performance by his dance troupe, but also the music and culture of the Bunun people from Taiwan.
More information can be found on the official websites of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and George Town Festival.