[ENG] [中] Triumphant Return of an Iconic Project to Taiwan

Text: Allen Lam

The 2024 International Young Choreographer Project (IYCP) at the Tsoying Senior High School Dance Theater in Kaohsiung, Taiwan was a triumphant return for the project, which has a history dating back to 1999. Over the years, the programme has attracted more than 70 young choreographers from around the world, who have contributed to creating an impressive repertoire of over 70 dance pieces, showcasing the creativity and talent of the participants.

In 2005, the project underwent a significant transition when it moved its operations to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, under the leadership of Wang Yunyu, Executive Director of ChinLin Foundation for Culture and Arts, and Chou Su-ling, Secretary General of Tso's Dance Association. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the project to close down temporarily from 2020 to 2023.

The 2024 IYCP kicked off on 30th June with an intensive three-week creative process for the choreographers, culminating in closing performances from 20th to 21st July that were a testament to the project’s enduring legacy and its ability to nurture and amplify the voices of emerging dance artists. The diverse lineup of choreographers, hailing from Taiwan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and Malaysia and representing different Asia Pacific regions of the World Dance Alliance, offered a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of the region.

《困獸之鬥》，由詹翔宇編舞 The Trapped Beasts choreographed by Hsiang-yu CHAN / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

The opening piece, The Trapped Beasts by Taiwanese choreographer Chan Hsiang-Yu, explored the fleeting nature of time and how it shapes our experiences. Chan’s command of space and the seamless integration of the five dancers created a cohesive work that set the tone for the evening.

《Innocence Lost》，由Anandita Khan編舞 Innocence Lost choreographed by Anandita Khan / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

Next, Bangladeshi choreographer Anandita Khan presented Innocence Lost, a vibrant, thought-provoking piece that recognised the resilience and strength of the Palestinian people. Khan’s ability to blend tradition and modernity resulted in a work that felt grounded in cultural heritage yet distinctly contemporary.

《存在的緩慢》，由陸雪綺編舞 The Slowness of Being choreographed by Maybelle Lek Shue-Qi / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

Singaporean choreographer Maybelle Lek Shue-Qi’s The Slowness of Being unfolded at a deliberate pace, allowing the dancers’ bodies to unfurl and expand through space with a sense of unhurried grace. This tender and delicate piece drew the audience into the intimacy and fragility of the work.

《烏》，由馬師雅編舞 Wu choreographed by Alice MA / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

Hong Kong choreographer Alice Ma’s Wu fearlessly explored the complexities of identity and belonging in an ever-globalising world. Ma’s choreography embraced a distinct theatrical quality, as the dancers moved with a raw, almost primal energy, engaging in tense, confrontational interactions.

《平衡》，由Callum Mooney編舞 equilibrium choreographed by Callum Mooney / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

The second half of the programme opened with Australian choreographer Callum Mooney’s equilibrium, which juxtaposed moments of graceful, weightless movement with strong, grounded gestures, mirroring the dualities inherent in the human experience.

《無處》，由許東鈞編舞 Nowhere choreographed by Tung-chun HSU / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

《往復的迴響》，由陳郁錡編舞 Echoes of Back and Forth choreographed by Yu-chi CHEN / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

The programme continued with works by two Taiwanese choreographers, Hsu Tung-Chun and Chen Yu-Chi, that delved into the universal themes of the human journey and the cyclical nature of existence. Hsu’s choreography Nowhere unfolded with a sense of restlessness and longing, while Chen’s Echoes of Back and Forth explored the themes of rebirth and the interconnectedness of all things.

《Nǐ shì shéi? 你是誰?》，由Mohd Nuriqram編舞 Nǐ shì shéi? Who are you? choreographed by Mohd Nuriqram/ 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

Closing out the programme was a lighthearted and humorous work by Malaysian choreographer Mohd Nuriqram, titled Nǐ shì shéi? Who are you?. Drawing inspiration from true stories and anecdotes from his own life, the choreographer crafted a dance piece that was brimming with dramatic flair and unapologetic silliness.

The enthusiastic response from the packed house was a tribute to the project’s ability to inspire, cementing its status as a must-see event for dance enthusiasts. Immediately following the performance, the audience had the opportunity to engage in a lively dialogue with the choreographers themselves, gaining a deeper understanding of the creative processes and the personal experiences that inspired these unique works.

The choreographers spoke candidly about the challenges and triumphs they faced throughout the intensive three-week creative process, highlighting the immense support that had developed among the ensemble of dancers. They shared stories of rehearsals, creative breakthroughs, and the bonds that had formed as they navigated the complexities of bringing their visions to life.

As the curtain fell on the 2024 showcase, it was clear that the IYCP has not only survived the challenges of the past few years, but has emerged stronger than ever, poised to continue its vital role in nurturing the next generation of dance artists and shaping the future of the art form. The 2024 edition had once again demonstrated the boundless potential of the next generation of dance artists, offering a glimpse into the future of the art form while also shining a spotlight on Taiwan’s growing influence as a hub for innovative and culturally-rich dance.

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Allen Lam

Allen Lam is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, director and movement educator. He is a graduate of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and holds an MFA from the Tisch School of the Arts. He has worked with major dance companies in Hong Kong and the United States and has choreographed numerous works since 1988. In 1995 he was a co-founder of DanceArt and in 2005 founded Muse Motion. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Hong Kong Dance Alliance.

台灣復辦「2024國際青春編舞營」圓滿成功

文：林偉源

翻譯：Eva Kan

2024「國際青春編舞營」（International Youth Choreographer Project，下稱IYCP）於台灣高雄市左營高中舞蹈劇場舉辦，獲得圓滿成功。計劃可追溯至 1999 年，多年來吸引來自世界各地、逾70位年輕編舞參與，累計創作超過70齣令人深刻的舞作，充分展現參與者的創意及才華。

2005 年，計劃經歷重大轉變，在菁霖文化藝術基金會執行長王雲幼和左派舞蹈協會秘書長周素玲的領導下，由台北市遷至高雄市運作。受2019冠狀病毒疫情影響，計劃於 2020 至 2023 年間被迫暫時停辦。

2024 IYCP於 6 月 30 日揭開序幕，八位編舞進行為期三周的密集創作，最後於 7 月 20至21 日進行成果展演，展現計劃的傳承，證明其提攜舞蹈新秀的能力。編舞來自台灣、孟加拉、新加坡、香港、澳洲和馬來西亞，分別代表世界舞蹈聯盟不同亞太地區，多元化的陣容讓人一睹豐富的舞蹈文化脈絡。

開場作品《困獸之鬥》由台灣編舞詹翔宇創作，探索時間易逝的本質，以及其如何塑造「我們」的經驗。詹對空間的掌控，加上五位舞者無縫合作，形成具凝聚力的作品，為當晚奠下基調。

接著，孟加拉編舞 Anandita Khan 呈現充滿生命力、發人深省的作品《Innocence Lost》，展現巴勒斯坦人的韌性和力量。Khan 結合傳統與現代，使作品既扎根文化傳統，又富有當代感。

新加坡編舞陸雪綺創作的《存在的緩慢》以緩緩沉穩的節奏開展，舞者的身體在空間裡優雅從容地張開與伸展，這部溫柔纖細的作品將觀眾帶進親密與脆弱之中。

香港編舞馬師雅以作品《烏》大膽探索在全球化發展不息的世界裡，身份和歸屬感的複雜性。編創具明顯戲劇元素，舞者粗獷、接近原始地移動，呈現緊張、對抗式的互動。

節目下半場以澳洲編舞 Callum Mooney 的《平衡》開場，優雅、輕盈無重的姿態與強而有力、扎根下沉的動作並置，映照人類經驗中固有的二元性。

《無處》，由許東鈞編舞 Nowhere choreographed by Tung-chun HSU / 攝 Photo: Su-ling CHOU, Tsun-Yang TSUI, Chih-Tsung YEH（照片由2024國際青春編舞營提供 Photo provided by 2024 International Young Choreographer's Project）

接下來是台灣編舞許東鈞和陳郁錡的作品，兩支舞作深入探討有關人類旅程和萬物周而復始的永恆主題。許編創的《無處》帶著躁動不安與渴望，而陳的《往復的迴響》則探討重生與萬物互聯。

演出以馬來西亞編舞 Mohd Nuriqram 輕鬆幽默的作品《Nǐ shì shéi? 你是誰？》作結。編舞從自身經歷和軼聞趣事中汲取靈感，舞作洋溢戲劇氣息，並毫不忌諱地表現滑稽的面貌。

節目座無虛席，觀眾反應熱烈，反映演出喚發人心，實為舞蹈愛好者必看的節目。演出結束後，觀眾隨即與編舞展開生動對談，更深入了解作品的創作過程，以及編舞如何受個人經驗激發，繼而創作出獨一無二的作品。

編舞坦誠談到在三周密集創作歷程中遇到的挑戰和成就，當中強調舞者在此過程給予的大力支持。編舞分享排練的經歷、創作上的突破，以及在創作探索過程中與舞者建立的情誼。

隨著2024年展演落幕， IYCP顯然已成功克服過去幾年的困境，而且超越以往，以更強大的姿態繼續發揮其重要角色——培育新一代舞蹈藝術家，塑造舞蹈的未來。2024年的展演再次展示新一代舞蹈藝術家的無限潛力，讓人一窺舞蹈藝術的未來，同時讓人注意到台灣作為創新與文化豐盛的舞蹈中心日益增長的影響力。

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林偉源

林偉源是一位資深舞者、編舞家、導演和形體教育工作者。他是香港演藝學院的畢業生，其後於紐約帝勢藝術學院修畢碩士課程。他曾與香港和美國的主要舞團合作，自1988年以來編創無數作品。林氏於1995年與友人攜手創立「動藝」，2005年創立「妙思舞動」，為現任香港舞蹈聯盟主席。

[ENG] [中] Triumphant Return of an Iconic Project to Taiwan

台灣復辦「2024國際青春編舞營」圓滿成功

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