Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Comments on the Finalist 

Turn Out is an experiment that challenges classification boundaries, featuring dancer LIU Yi-Ling performing solo and embodying captivating bodily expressions. Beginning with an exploration of the various interpretations of “turn out,” the piece delves into the dancer’s physical techniques, the differences between the perceptions of professional artists and those of the general audience, and the mental journey of career growth. LIU humorously dismantles common stereotypes, blurring the lines between dance, theater, and stand-up comedy, even incorporating elements of lecture performances, allowing mutual interpretations of bodily movements and language. This piece serves as both her personal revelation and a quest for the true essence of dance, inviting viewers to rediscover the potential of the performing arts through laughter and contemplation. (Commentator: ZHANG You-Sheng)

Artwork Introduction

Turn Out is a groundbreaking theatrical piece that merges dance with stand-up comedy, using humorous self-mockery, self-deprecation, and satire to gradually reveal the creator’s scars and experiences as a professional dancer. The title not only signifies the outward rotation of the hip joint in dance but also metaphorically relates to “unexpected turns” in life, alluding to the continuous development, openness, and adaptation in both dance and life. By intertwining narratives of body and language, LIU I-Ling enriches the connection between dance and stand-up comedy, exploring a dancer’s life from various perspectives and reflecting on the frustrations, absurdities, and growth encountered throughout her journey.

About the Artist

LIU I-Ling, a contemporary Taiwanese dancer based in the U.S., began her career in 2008 as a full-time dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Over the span of 11 years, she showcased her talents in numerous theaters across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., gaining extensive and valuable performance experience. Additionally, she has conducted masterclasses and workshops at various institutions. Her choreography explores themes of memory, trauma, social observation, and the redefinition of bodily techniques. In recent years, she has consistently performed in Japan, France, and the U.S.

Production Team

Creator & Performer: Liu I-Ling

Co-creator & Rehearsal Director: Lee Ming-Chen

Lighting Design: Shyue Joanne

Sound & Image Design: Fan Ching-Hung

Stage Design: Lin Shih-Lun

Stage Manager: Teng Hsiang-Ting

Rehearsal Assistant: Liu Yu-Ning

Commissioned by National Theater & Concert Hall

Producer(Premiere): Dynamo Management