Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers premiere annual showcase next month

The Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D) have already made a name for themselves as one of the country’s only Asian-American contemporary dance companies, but it’s the bold choreography and showmanship that keeps people coming back to their annual performances. 

The Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers under Artistic Director Kun-Yang Lin’s zen-inspired guidance provide a showcase of new dances every year. Lin, a native of Taiwan, started the dance company here in Philly with the intent to create programs that focused on centering our chi, or “life force” in Mandarin. Through inspiration from Eastern philosophies along with contemporary dance, this critically acclaimed group has mixed the past with the present in a simply beautiful way for years. And 2024 will be no different. 

On April 19 and 20, the KYL/D dancers will produce their new work, titled ‘Breath into Air.’ The performances will take place at FringeArts (140 N Christopher Columbus Blvd), and will be put on in memory of board member, Marla Soffer. 

This world premiere from the company will investigate what opportunities death and loss can offer us, offer a space to ponder what remains and examine how to be thankful for the gift of every breath, the release notes. The concert also features an excerpt of ‘Mandala Project’ from 2011 alongside works by KYL/D senior dance artists.

The first from 2016, ‘Koyl’ by Evalina Carbonell is a “duet of two women who transform the coiled inner violence of the feminine experience into empathy and maturity.” The second, Weiwei Ma’s work ‘Dragon’ from 2023 was inspired by a sculpture by Yuyu Yang, and utilizes the mythological creature to explore Chinese philosophy and symbolism.

Lin spends his time crafting each routine, all of which are difficult in feat and meant to be intricate—and the result provides a showcase of dances that are that are direct, fluid, colorful, tranquil, thought-provoking and massively entertaining.

As the Artistic Director told Metro in 2021: “We hope audience members recognize the power of dance to transform and heal, that the arts have something to contribute during great challenges, the arts speak to universal experiences, and that the arts uplift our communities.”

Dancing in this year’s showcase will be an ensemble of nine talented dancers, including Evalina Carbonell, Weiwei Ma, Keila Pérez-Vega, Sophie Malin, Takashi Kanai, Robert Burden, Kendall Niblett, Abby Donnenfeld, Angelica Nieves-Merced.

Some Philadelphians had an early preview to the show earlier this month at the venue’s Open Studio event, but for those still looking to see the works, tickets ($25-$40) are currently on sale online.

Performances will take place on April 19 at 7:30 p.m., and April 20 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. (there will also be a Q&A after the afternoon show on that Saturday.) The shows will run for about 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission in between. For more information, visit kyld.org