KYL/D Digital Press Kit

“beautiful, stunning, and evocative”

Dance Journal

Knight Arts Foundation

- City Paper

“Outstanding, groundbreaking, and original”

- World Journal

“inventive choreography pushes the limits of national identity”

- Philadelphia Free Press

Dance Magazine

" deeply spiritual, remarkable"

“brilliantly gifted movers and makers”

“at the pinnacle of Philadelphia’s outstanding dance community”

- Philadelphia Inquirer

Virtuosic artistry…hypnotic energy”

- Ballet UK

“exquisite dance…when even delicate moments hold sublime, rolling energy”

“Lin’s dances, simultaneously abstract and specific, create and inhabit worlds of their ow n” – New York Times

ABOUT THE COMPANY

KUN-YANG LIN/DANCERS (KYL/D): Hailed for its superbly trained dancers and inventive choreography, the internationally-active KYL/D probes at the limits of national identity. Drawing upon Eastern philosophies while expanding the perimeter of contemporary dance, Artistic Director Lin's zen- inspired practice of dance manifests in lush works of poetic sensibility that The New York Times says "create and inhabit worlds of their own." Lin draws upon multicultural insights from his ongoing research throughout Asia, creating a personal movement language that is an unexpected hybrid between Western and Eastern cultures, suffused with strong spiritual underpinnings.

KYL/D has performed around the world, including at the Tanzmesse International Dance Festival (Dusseldorf), Busan International Dance Festival (Korea), Jogia International and AsiaTri festivals (Indonesia), Festival Internacional de Danza in Queretaro (Mexico), Victoria Theatre (Singapore), HsinChu Performing Arts Center (Taiwan).

In the U.S., KYL/D has performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, Interlochen Festival, Columbia Festival, Kaatsbaan International Dance, Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out, Dancing in the Streets Festival, the Painted Bride Art Center, the Annenberg Center, the Kimmel Center, the Forrest Theater, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation Museum, and Philadelphia's City Hall. KYL/D has been supported by numerous funders including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Jerome Robbins Foundation, the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the William Penn Foundation and a USArtists International grant from MidAtlantic Arts Foundation, as well as support from the U.S. Department of State.

Back Stage

"Mr. Lin is a master of form and balance." -

KUN-YANG LIN is founding Artistic Director of Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (“KYLD”) & Co-Founder of KYL/D’s CHI Movement Arts Center in Philadelphia. Taiwan-born Lin is an artist-educator who dances in the spaces between East and West, the visible and invisible, innovation and tradition, the individual and collective. Among the primary impulses nourishing his artistry are Buddhist and Taoist world views and the internal energetic flows of many Eastern arts he has practiced over the years including tai chi, chi gong, calligraphy, meditation and Chinese opera movement. These experiences are filtered through extensive training and performance experience across a broad range of contemporary dance techniques and improvisation practices, framed by ongoing crosscultural research in dance as a medium for the integration of body, spirit and mind. Lin’s journey as an immigrant navigates tensions between his traditional roots, his contemporary interests and his embodied research, which informs his view of dance as a calling that transcends labels, shapes and movement.

Before moving to the U.S in 1994, Lin toured internationally with London’s Transitions Dance Company, working with numerous post-modernist choreographers. In the U.S., Lin performed in iconic American modern dance companies including the Martha Graham Company and worked with post-modernist choreographers including Bill T. Jones, Trisha Brown, Lynn Shapiro & Paula JosaJones. He has been called “an extraordinary dancer” (New York Times), “theatrical visionary…outstanding choreographer and compelling performer” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Lin has been on the faculty of The Yard on Martha’s Vineyard, H.B. Actor’s Studio, Peridance International Dance Center and the Limon Institute and he offers master classes and workshops throughout the U.S. and abroad including Mexico, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Korea, Cambodia, and Taiwan. Currently, Lin is Professor of Dance at Temple University. Lin received his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School and his BFA from Taiwan National University of the Arts.

“[Lin is] a dance and choreographic legend unto himself”- The Strait Times

Singapore

KYLD TOURING PROGRAMS

*All choreography by Kun-Yang Lin

FAITH PROJECT/THE DOOR

(Available Spring 2020 and Fall 2020)

Faith Project/THE DOOR is a contemporary dance work that contemplates the relationship between religious practice and contemporary dance. An important part of the eight-month long project consisted of story circle encounters with community participants from various faith persp ectives, dance artists and other artistic collaborators that integrated fruitful dialogue with simple movement practices. Engaging with practitioners of various religions, Lin and his dance artists consider the role movement plays in religious rituals and actions, and how the artistic process can provide both artists and audience members with a space for exploring religious differences and spiritual commonalities.

For more information on the project, please visit the Faith Project Blog

Major support for the original creation of Faith Project/The Door was provided by The Pew Center or Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Temple University.

Premiere: 2018 Time: 75:00 Dancers: 10 Sound Design: Cory Neale Costume Design: Jill Peterson

“doesn't back away from tackling complex social themes...an ever expansive and inspired choreographic journey" – Dance Journal WORK

KYL/D TOURING REPERTORY

*All choreography by Kun-Yang Lin

PROGRAM: ENVIRONMENT & HUMANKIND

(Available Spring 2020 and Fall 2020)

EMPTINESS OF SNOW

2005 Time: 23:00 Dancers: 5

Kenneth Kirschner, Tibetan bell Meditation music. Emptiness of Snow is inspired by the notion of emptiness in Zen Buddhism as well as the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia a shocking station of the unpredictable, unseen forces of nature constantly at work in the universe. WORK SAMPLE

ISH & GIRL (NEW)

Premiere: 2020 Time: 20:00 Dancers: 10

Bill Ryan, Arvo Part, Cory Neale

Fish & Girl is an exploration of an unfinished poem by renowned Singaporean poet, Pan Cheng Lui. T hrough the metaphors of a fish and a girl, the work suggests the longing for what is lost in our environment as society marches “forward,” emphasizing our collective awareness of caring for one another and our traditions.

SANTUARIO

Premiere: 2017 Time: 38:00 Dancers: 10

Music: Arvo Part, Cory Neale, Club Mix (Wake Up, Safe & Sound), Excerpts “Poem for Pulse” by Jameson Fitzpatrick

Santuario was developed in 2016 in response to the tragic shootings at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. The work explores themes of alienation, violence and demonization of “the other” culminating in an embodied cry for our common humanity. WORK SAMPLE

KYL/D TOURING REPERTORY

*All choreography by Kun-Yang Lin PROGRAM:

JOURNEY OF EAST/WEST

Available Fall 2020

CHI

Premiere: 2002 Time: 9:00 Dancers: 9 Music: Glen Velez

CHI is a group piece inspired by the ancient art forms of tai chi and calligraphy, Chi, which means breath, energy or life’s source, which is a central element in KYL/D’s outreach initiatives. The New York Times described it as “a buoyant, radiant dance.” WORK SAMPLE

1994 Time: 6:00 Dancers: 1 Music: Dead Can Dance is a signature solo work of Kun-Yang Lin considered “a powerful piece of choreography." - Knight Foundation. The highly technical solo contrasts moments of lush dynamism with captivating stillness. VIEW WORK

EMPTINESS OF SNOW

Premiere: 2005 Time: 23:00 Dancers: 5

Music: Kenneth Kirschner, Tibetan bell Meditation music. Emptiness of Snow was inspired by the notion of emptiness in Zen Buddhism as well as the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia a shocking manifestation of the unpredictable, unseen forces of nature constantly at work in the universe. WORK SAMPLE

SPRING101

Premiere: 2019 Time: 37:00 Dancers: 10

Music: Telemann, Bach, Stolzel, Handel, Sammartini, Purcell, Vivaldi, Sound Design: Cory Neale

Spring101 premiered in 2019 at the Annenberg Center, breathing new life into Baroque music through a pairing of contemporary movement and sound design. Evoking the joy of Spring and the excitement of new beginnings, Spring 101, marked Lin’s 101st choreographic work in his creative journey. WORK SAMPLE

SELECT AUDIENCE COMMENTS

Presenters

"The work is some of the most deep, interesting and provocative work we have done here. " - Director at Live at Rose Lehrman (HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College)

“Kun-Yang Lin Dancers presented a beautiful program at Annenberg Center Live...Thanks for sharing your amazing work with our audiences!” – Exec. Artistic Dir. at the Annenberg Center

“...great, oversold shows...they are absolutely phenomenal… a truly transformative experience…” Program Director at Painted Bride Art Center

Press:

“...his distinctive blend of traditional and Western dance has the dark, bold force of a woodcut print.”New York Times

"Superbly trained dancers… thrilling… theatrical magic…" - Philadelphia Inquirer

“doesn't back away from tackling complex social themes...an ever expansive and inspired choreographic journey" - The Dance Journal

“Stunning...profoundly moving” - HuffPost

“Lin draws from strong spiritual underpinnings in both Eastern and Western cultures; the results are dance routines that are direct, fluid, colorful, tranquil, thought-provoking and massively entertaining.” - Metro

Education Institutions:

“The program brought a contemporary sensibility... in a way that was dynamic, thoughtful and simply gorgeous to experience.” - Curator of Education and Public Programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

“KYLD is the only professional Asian-American dance company in Philadelphia that provides a masterful hybrid of Eastern and Western cultures” - Director of International Student Programs, University of the Arts

"provoked a profound emotional, spiritual and mental journey. His choreography and performance presentation were effective in their ability to move the audience and forge a powerful connection between the audience members and his company's art." Concordiensis Newspaper, Union College

Audience:

“I have been a subscriber of the Annenberg Center for over 30 years, your show is one of the best I have seen... Thank you!!” -Anonymous

“Truly World Class Performance and company.” - Anonymous

“Flawless! Great to have such quality company in Phi ladelphia.” – Anonymous

For additional audience feedback from click HERE

PROGRAMS & PRICING

Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers is flexible in crafting residencies and other methods of engagement. Presenting organizations are welcomed to suggest formats and combinations of activities that best suit their communities and needs. Below are some possible options:

*Minimum Fee does not include accommodations or airfare, where required. KYL/D will absorb travel expenses within a 6 hour drive of Philadelphia. Comprehensive Fee will depend on the number of master classes, community engagement activities, length of residency, and whether the presenter is commissioning a new work.

GENERAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

KYL/D is adaptable to most performance situations. To minimize our costs to presenters, we do not tour with sound gear, lighting equipment, lighting accessories or flooring. The presenter is expected to provide the following technical equipment and set-up, although we can usually adapt to what is available and prepare a program appropriate to the presenter’s facilities, if given sufficient notice. The following technical requirements are an integral part of the contract agreement. Any deviations from this Rider must be agreed to in writing by the Company.

STAGE DIMENSIONS: The most desirable stage size has a dancing space between 35' – 42’ wide and 25’ – 35’ deep, with no obstructions.

STAGE FLOOR REQUIREMENTS: Performance area (stage floor) must be a wood sprung stage floor, clean and free of dirt and debris. Black marley or comparable dance floor product to cover entire performance area, black cloth or vinyl floor tape. Floor must be laid and taped prior to Company's arrival.

REHEARSAL SPACE NEEDS: The company must have access to a rehearsal room (temperature controlled) with a sprung floor and boombox w/ CD player or AUX input

LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS: Presenter will provide the company with detailed technical specifications of the theater at least 60 days prior to the first performance, which includes light plots, lighting inventory, lighting circuit diagram, dimmer specifications, etc. The Company’s light plot must be hung, circuited, gelled and troubleshot before the Company’s arrival.

IDEAL LIGHTING SYSTEM

• 1 approved industry standard, computerized light board

• 8, 8-foot booms

• Adequate work light for on-stage classes, rehearsals, and work calls

• Running lights for the offstage and crossover areas. Lights should be either low-wattage or dimmable. All running lights, including board, rail, and safety lights, should be masked to prevent light spill on stage.

SOUND REQUIREMENTS:

• Q-lab preferred or professional CD player/ AUX port with matching backup

• Front of House speakers

• On-stage monitors

• Amplifier and mixer

• Head set communication between PSM’s position & all running crew locations

• Microphones: One at tech table for the director, routed to monitors (tech only). One backstage mic for preshow and/or intermission announcements. Dependent on repertoire, microphone may also be used during performance. This mic should have enough cable to reach downstage center (or wireless).

SOFT GOODS: Set & Rigging/Fly System Needs

• Main curtain, manual guillotine preferred, traveler and/or motorized acceptable (if available). If you cannot provide a main curtain, you must contact KYL/D.

• Full stage black back-drop

• Full stage white cyclorama or filled scrim

• Full stage black scrim hung downstage of cyclorama (if available)

• At least three (3) sets of black legs and borders to create wings and provide complete masking of all electrics and the sides of the cyclorama.

Inventory Specific Requirements: dependent on repertoire, please note rep. for each item

• Standard projector w/ dissolve function: Mandala Project, The Land, Faith Project/The Door (to be determined w/ presenter), HOME/S. 9th St. (to be determined w/ presenter)

• Fog Machine: Santuario (to be determined w/ presenter)

DRESSING ROOM(S): Must be able to be locked and should have tables, mirrors and make-up lights for 10-12 people, plus:

• Non-public showers and lavatory facilities with sinks

• One bath towel for each performer

• Paper towels

• An ironing board and iron

• Clothes steamer (if you cannot provide steamer, you must contact KYL/D)

• A washer and dryer

• Facial tissues

• 25 clothes hangers on a clothing rack (or some method of hanging costumes in dressing rooms), including at least 10 with clips for skirts.

• Page System: Dressing rooms carry program sound and calls from stage manager

• Crew ( depending on the repertory) at least 1 experienced dresser may be needed. This must be the same person throughout KYL/D’s residency, and must have basic wardrobe skills in addition to experience in quick changes

TEMPERATURE: Backstage, dressing room areas and onstage temperature no less than 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

VENUE TECHNICAL CREW: The presenter will provide a house technical director knowledgeable with all aspects of the theater, as well as an experienced technical crew. The crew at tech rehearsals must be the same crew called for the show.

LABOR REQUIREMENTS

Tech schedule is based on ALL of the below accomplished before KYL/D’s arrival:

• All electrics hung, colored and dimmer checked

• A Marley floor in place, tapped, swept and mopped

• Stage space clear and offstage space relatively clear

• The sound system in place and tested

• All soft goods hung according to the line set schedule

• Communication system set up and tested

• Headset intercom system with stations for the stage manager, light board operator, sound technician, and curtain operator.

If there are any problems with these reques ts please contact Kun-Yang Lin: kunyang@kyld.org and Katie Moore: katie@kyld.org with any questions or specifications.

BOOKING INFORMATION

KYL/D is available for single and multiple performances, residencies, commissions and setting current repertory. The company has performed in numerous settings including proscenium and black box theaters, museums, galleries, as well as outdoors.

Presenting organizations interested in working with KYLD please contact:

info@kmpartists.com

Phone: 512.888.9895

700 Milam Street, Suite 1300

Houston, Texas, 77002