LEE\VAKULYA, a dance group from Taiwan, will stage two performances of “Burnt [the eternal long now] (崩—無盡之下)” at the Mercat de les Flors in Barcelona, Spain, from Nov. 25 to 26. This choreography explores the burnout syndrome – an unescapable mental health issue in modern society – and its consequences as a collective, social phenomenon.
Founded by Taiwanese dancer Lee Chen-wei (李貞葳) and Hungarian/Belgian choreographer Vakulya Zoltan, LEE\VAKULYA focuses on how the body interacts with the social environment while expressing the current mental state. Previously touring in the U.S. and Europe, the troupe was recognized with various awards, including the Performing Arts Award of the 21st Taishin Arts Award, the Total Theatre Award in the Edinburgh Fringe 2017, and commended by The Jerusalem Post as “the standout performance of the year.”
Having performed at the Mercat de les Flors several times before, Lee said that she looks forward to returning to the stage to perform “Burnt [the eternal long now]” with her own dance group this time and is excited to meet the Barcelona audience.
Established over three decades ago, the Mercat de les Flor is currently one of the most important performance arts venues in Spain. It is also one of the members of the European Dancehouse Network. The organization partnered with the National Theater and Concert Hall (國家兩廳院) in 2021 to run a residency and exchange program for choreographers, which is aimed at the collaboration with international dance talents.
The Cultural Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain said that they have built a strong foundation with the Mercat de les Flors through a number of collaborations over recent years. Aspiring to bring more outstanding Taiwanese artists to the international stage, the division will work on strengthening ties between Taiwan and Spain through cultural exchanges.
For more information, please visit the Mercat de les Flors’ website.