Supported by the Ministry of Culture (MOC), the Taipei Cultural Center (TCC) in New York is collaborating with Japan Society to feature Taiwanese choreographer Liu I-ling (劉奕伶)’s dance piece “…and, or… (而且或者…)” at the 20th Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia, scheduled for Jan. 10 and 11.
Based in the U.S., Liu is a former dancer with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Her creation “…and, or…” is performed by two dancers whose relationship rapidly shifts through delicate and sharp movements in a non-music/sound environment.
“…and, or…” has garnered international acclaim, winning the 2022 Yokohama Dance Collection Jury Award in Japan and being showcased at the Avignon Off Festival in France in 2023.
Liu highlighted that the non-music/sound environment allows viewers to focus entirely on the dancer’s movements, breathing, and weight shifts, as well as capturing the tensions and exchange of energy between the dancers.
Contemporary Dance Festival: Japan + East Asia serves as a vital platform to showcase contemporary dance in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea in the U.S. every two years. This year’s program also includes “Where We Were Born,” choreographed by Ruri Mito and performed by ensemble Co. Ruri Mito from Japan; and “Trivial Perfection,” choreographed and performed by Dae-ho Lee with ensemble C.Sense from South Korea.
The TCC noted that Taiwan has collaborated with Japan Society since 2008 to organize the festival, consistently bringing outstanding Taiwanese dancers and choreography to the global stage. Taiwan’s 2022 representatives, HORSE (驫舞劇場) and Incandescence Dance (告白熾造), received high praise from The New York Times. In 2023, the MOC awarded the festival’s artistic director, Yoko Shioya, the Taiwanese Cultural Collaboration Medal in recognition of her contributions to Taiwan-U.S. cultural exchange.
For more information, visit the festival website.
(Photo credit: Terry Lin)