Chun Dance will bring poetic movement to Adelaide Fringe with 'Quand le Corps S'exprime: The Body's Narrative'.
The spellbinding, contemporary dance production is heading down under following a completely sold-out season at the 2025 Off Avignon Festival in France. The Australian premiere will offer a mesmerising exploration of physical poetry, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.
Directed by Chun Dance Artistic Director Yi-Chun Hsieh, 'Quand le Corps S'exprime: The Body's Narrative' stars a group of dancers moving with water-like fluidity and weaving a living tapestry of individuality and grace.
Here, we speak to Yi-Chun Hsieh about the production and how she hopes Adelaide Fringe audiences respond to it.
Tell us a bit about ‘Quand le Corps S'exprime: The Body's Narrative’.
This work treats the human body as its own primary language. We use textiles and props to transform the imagery of water – rivers, oceans, flow, and expansion – into a visceral visual and physical experience on stage. Instead of a pre-defined story, we invite the audience to enter the performance at their own pace. It is much like walking into a gallery; some works you simply observe, while others spark an instinctive connection to your own life experiences. Often, the body remembers more than we realise.
Image © Yu-Quan Lin
This show is guided by the principle that 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication'. Tell us a bit about this principle and how it applies to the show.
To me, 'simplicity' isn't about subtraction; it’s about trusting the body. I believe the body is inherently capable of communication – it reveals our deepest feelings with total sincerity. It doesn't edit or hide; it often presents our true state before we even have the words to describe it. In this production, the stage remains minimalist to allow the five dancers’ bodies to be the primary focus. I want the stage to be a quiet space where the subtle, often overlooked states of being can finally be seen and felt.
And what inspired you to craft this performance?
The inspiration comes from my long journey as a dancer. Having worked in many different creative systems, I reached a stage where I felt a powerful urge to return to the core: the body itself. For this piece, I moved away from heavy concepts or narratives. Instead, I asked the five dancers to place their own histories, physical states, and raw feelings for dance directly onto the stage. It’s a return to the origin – to rediscover the most authentic relationship between myself and the art of dance.
Who is Chun Dance?
Founded in 2012, Chun Dance evolved from dance education into a contemporary company focused on creation and performance. We believe in the philosophy: "Dance to Live, Live to Dance". Dance isn't detached from the everyday; it springs from the sensations, labor, and emotions of daily life. As we’ve toured internationally, we’ve realised that our specific physical experiences have a unique, delicate texture, which we bring to the global stage.
Image © Yu-Quan Lin
It was founded out of your love for your fellow dancers. How did you go about forming Chun Dance?
Chun Dance was a natural evolution of long-term relationships. Many of our members have been with me since they were students. We’ve studied, worked, and faced the physical changes of life together. More than just students or dancers, they are partners I trust implicitly. Chun Dance isn’t built around a single person; it’s a space where people at different stages of their lives can grow and move forward together.
What does dance mean to you?
To me, dance is as essential as eating or drinking; it is a part of life. It has been with me since I first became conscious of my existence. It has occupied most of my life, but it’s not a routine job. It is how I inhabit the world, understand myself, and connect with others. Often, it is through the process of dancing that I confirm my direction and rediscover why I am willing to keep standing on this stage.
Why does ‘Quand le Corps S'exprime: The Body's Narrative’ belong as part of Adelaide Fringe? And how are you hoping audiences respond to this performance?
Adelaide Fringe has a wonderfully open and relaxed energy. This show isn't something that needs to be 'decoded' quickly; it’s an invitation to slow down and simply breathe with the bodies on stage. My hope is that the audience finds beauty, stillness, or healing. If someone leaves the theatre feeling even a slight shift in how they perceive themselves or their daily life, then this work has achieved its purpose.
'Quand le Corps S'exprime: The Body's Narrative' plays The Garage International @ Dom Polski (Adelaide Fringe) 26 February-7 March.
