Biography
- MFA, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, Dance Department, NYC
- Diploma in Dance Theatre, Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, London, U.K.
- BFA, National Institute of the Arts, Taipei
Kun-Yang Lin is Artistic Director of Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers & Founder of CHI Movement Arts Center and is acknowledged as one of Taiwan's finest choreographers. Lin has received numerous grants and awards in his native Taiwan and in the U.S., where he has been widely recognized for his dancing and choreography including, in 2002, by Back Stage, which selected him as “the year’s most promising choreographer in NYC.” Lin has performed the works of numerous, European post-modernist choreographers on tour worldwide with London-based Transitions Company and in the U.S. continued his body research in the sources of American modern dance including in the companies of Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Mary Anthony, Anna Sokolow, Jennifer Muller, Janis Brenner, Bill T. Jones, and improvisation projects with renown musician John Zorn and award-winning artist, Lynn Shapiro. Lin has been called “an extraordinary dancer” (New York Times), “theatrical visionary…outstanding choreographer and compelling performer.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Lin’s devotion to artistic excellence, movement research and commitment to education and community inspired him to found the CHI Movement Arts Center, described by Gov. Ed Rendell as “A place where the entire Philadelphia community can experience the art multicultural creative dance expression.” In 2009, Lin was named by the Painted Bride Art Center an “Artist of the City” for his outstanding contributions to the arts and culture of Philadelphia. In 2010, the Mayor of Hsin-Chu honored him as a “Pride of the City” for his cultivation of artistic excellence at the international level and in 2011 he was named one of Philadelphia's “Creative Connectors.” In Philadelphia, Lin and his company has been the recipient of grants from The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage through Dance Advance, the Philadelphia Foundation, the Samuel S. Fels Fund, the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation, Temple University, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the prestigious USArtists International grant from the MidAtlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to tour in Indonesia.
Lin’s choreography, described as “deeply spiritual, remarkable” (Dance Magazine), has been presented throughout the U.S. as well as in Asia, Southeast Asia, London, Vienna and Mexico. His company has performed across the United States and internationally including at the Jogja International Festival and Asia Tri Festival, Indonesia; Hsin Chu Cultural Center, Taiwan; Busan International Dance Festival, Korea; Festival Internacional de Danza in Queretaro, Mexico; Victoria Theatre in Singapore; Interlochen Arts Festival in Michigan; Kaatsbaan International Dance Center; Columbia Festival of the Arts in Maryland; Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and in New York City at The Japan Society, Queens Theatre In The Park and the Dancing in the Streets Festival. In 2011, WHYY/PBS honored Lin’s creative work with a nationally broadcast, 30-minute documentary in its award-winning On Canvas series and his dance company also was featured by MindTV in its celebrated broadcast series A World of Dance in Philadelphia.
Highly sought as a teacher, Lin regularly offers master classes and workshops throughout the U.S. and abroad. Lin joined the Temple faculty in 2003.
Works and Publications
Beyond the Bones revisited, 2012, 9 dancers, 9 singers and 4 visual artists, 75 min.
Angel’s Whisper, 2011, 8 dancers, 10 min. (commissioned work for NY Dance Task Force)
Sword Chess, 2011, commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore collaboration with artists
Dong Xinyu (China),Roh Hyun Sil (Korea), Jimmy Gueh Kai Jie (Singapore), 120 min.
La Sandunga, 2011, solo, 12 min.
Stravinsky Renard, 2011, 6 dancers, 19 min. (commissioned work for Center City Opera Theater for Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts)
Mandala Project,2011, 9 dancers, 40 min.
Ragtime, 2011, 2 dancers, 7 min (commissioned work for Center City Opera Theater for Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts)
Mandala II (Untitled) 2010, 11 dancers, 10 min. (commissioned work for University of Wisconsin, Madison)
Autumn Skin, 2010, 6 dancers, 40 min.
Untitled, 2009-2010, 8 dancers, 10 min. (commissioned work for Ohio University)
Discourse, 2009-2010, duet, 6 min.
FOUR SEASON (winter and Fall sections), 2009-2010, collaboration with Dance Ensemble Singapore and NYC choreographer Kevin Wynn, 7 dancers, 75 min.
BODY WORD , 2009, collaboration with psychotherapist Ellen Gayda and musician Chris Farrel, 2 dancers, 50 min
Body Writing Project IV (Site specific work at Queens Museum with musician/Singers -Bret Cohen and Donna Wang), 2009, 3 dancers, 30 min.
A-U-M, 2008-2009, 7 dancers, 22 min.
Writing II , 2009, 15 dancers, 9 min. (commissioned work for Drexel University)
Within/ Beyond, 2008-2009, solo, 9 min.
Body Writing Project I,II & III (Site specific work performed at different sites including CHI MAC , municipal parking lots, Philly’s Magic Gardens with Ritmo Collective band), 2008-2009,3 to 6 dancers, 30-40 min.
City I &II , 2007, & dancers, 15 min (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Crossing , 2007, 6 dancers, 30 min.
Yin-Yang tai Qi, 2007, 16 dancers, 8 min. (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Moment, 2006, solo, 5 min.
Delta , 2005, 12 dancers, 8 min. (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Spring Song, 2005, 6 dancers, 7 min. (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Garuda , 2005, Trio, 7 min. (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Emptiness of Snow, 2005, 5 dancers, 23 min.
Traces of Brush, 2005, 8 dancers, 25 min
Hors D'ouevres, 2004, Solo, 5 min
Tidal Stroke, 2004, 28 dancers, 9 min.
The Art of Chess, 2004, 7 dancers, 8 min. (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Love String, 2004, Duet, 6 min (commissioned work for Dance Ensemble Singapore)
Dido's Lament, 2004, 9 dancers, 9 min (Created for the renown Limon Institute in NYC)
Beyond the Bones, 2003, 8 dancers, 65 min
Flow of the Chi (Site specific work with 5 installation art works), 2002, Live Drummers, 8 dancers, 40 min
La Loba, 2002, 8 dancers, 25 min.(first version of Beyond the Bones)
Dedication, 2002, Solo, 6 min
Chi, 2002, 9 dancers, 9 min
Shall We...?, 2001, 7 dancers, 35 min.
Judas's Kiss (Co-choreographed with Tom Trimble), 2001, Duet, 6 min.
Night Safari (Commission), 2001, Solo, 11 min.
Glacier Cascades(Commission), 2001, 20 dancers, 7 min.
Women, 2001, 5 dancers, 5 min
Butterfly, 2000, Solo, 5 min.
Impulse, 2000, 15 dancers, 7 min.
From the Land of Lost Content, 2000, 6 dancers, 25 min.
Media
PBS/WHYY, Kun-Yang Lin solo, Mandala Offering, Painted Bride, 2011
PBS, Painted Bride, 2011