Stepping into forests and folklore: the movements of TAI Body Theatre ft. Chih-yu

For Taiwan Uncovered's first episode of 2024, I am joined by TAI Body Theatre's (TAI 身體劇場) Producer Lin Chih-yu. If you haven't come across TAI Body Theatre yet - you're missing out. Made up of around ten dancers from Taiwan's Indigenous tribes, the dance group explores the relationships between modernity, traditions, and Indigenous culture. Recent performances include 'Forest' and 'Flying Betel Nut,' with the former drawing on the group's founder Watan Tusi's own childhood experiences, and the latter inspired by folklore from the Pinuyumayan people.  In this episode, we discuss how TAI Body Theatre started, the meaning behind its name, and the inspirations behind some of the recent performances. This episode was recorded at the end of 2023, so any references to 'this year' by the guest, refers to 2023.  You can stay up to date with TAI Body Theatre on Facebook.