reviewvancouver, Birdy- Michael Pink

Hung Dance, from Taiwan, presented BIRDY at the Playhouse Theatre November 29th to a sold out audience. The performance was spectacular and energetic. Choreographer and Artistic Director Lai Hung –Chung has experimental and colorful dance acumen and assembled a top level ensemble of colorful and talented dancers.

The piece, BIRDY, was danced with bravado by energetic dancers Cheng L-han, Lee Kuan-ling, Lu Ying –chieh, Wu Shin-jie, Ho Tzu-wen, Chen Ting-yu, Huang Li-chieh, Xia Zhen –wei, and Chiu Po –sheng. The pleasing and fitting music score was composed by Hsu Chia- wei. The eight dancers in BIRDY had highly precise and energetic movement that were at times acrobatic. The dance was captivating and entertaining.

Hung dance was founded in 2017 by Lai Hung-Chung. He graduated from Taiwan National University. At the highly competitive Creative Dance Competition in Taiwan in 2016 Hung-Chung won a gold medal and three awards. This was the impetus to launch HUNG dance in 2017 which has enthralled audiences for 8 years.

Hung-Dance's Birdy Photo: Luk Hunag

Hung-Chung is known to push dance boundaries and blend acrobatics, tai chi and experimental dance in his crowd pleasing dance repertoire. At the 2023 OFF Dance festival in Avignon all 20 performances of Birdy sold out.

Particularly notable dancers included Lu Ying- Chieh, an elegant dancer and native of Kaohsiung and graduate of National Taiwan University dance program. She joined HUNG dance in 2020. Dancer Chiu Po –sheng is very expressive and a rising choreographer. He is pursuing a Masters degree in Choreography and Dance at Taiwan National University. His original dance work, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, in collaboration withChen Ting-yu won a national award.

Dancer Xia Zhen-wei, is a highly energetic and expressive dancer who captures audience attention. A native of Taichung, he joined HUNG dance in 2025. Zhen-wei is also a dance choreographer of superb talent with applauded dance works including Ocean and I Believe in Time.

Outstanding dance transcends cultural and geographic boundaries with fabulous motion, entertainment and thought. Hung dance is part of that impressive tradition.