Why it matters: Tjimur Dance Theatre's performance of bulabulay mun? at the Jerwood DanceHouse on Friday, 24 October at 19:30 marks the first UK tour by any mid-scale dance company from Taiwan, representing a significant international cultural milestone.
The big picture: The visually arresting and deeply moving production tells the story of a community suddenly confronted by the immense power of wind and waves, awakening a heightened awareness of how far they have drifted from nature.
Choreographed by Baru Madiljin, bulabulay mun? – which translates as "How are you?" – draws on the historic Mudan shipwreck incident of 1874, a traumatic chapter in Taiwanese history, to reflect on the relationship between human actions and their unforeseen consequences.
Through an interplay of traditional Mudan songs and dance, bulabulay mun? seeks to heal historical wounds and revive ancestral memory, embodying the resilience and spirit of the Paiwan people.
The details: Tjimur Dance Theatre was founded in 2006 in Timur, a Paiwan community in Sandimen Township, Pingtung. It is the first professional contemporary dance company in Taiwan dedicated to exploring and expressing the identity of the indigenous Paiwan people through movement.
Recognised as one of Taiwan's top performing arts groups for fifteen consecutive years, the company is led by artistic director Ljuzem Madiljin and dance director Baru Madiljin.
The company has developed a unique movement methodology known as Tjimur Physical Skills, which transforms Paiwan cultural memory into contemporary body language.
Over the past nineteen years, Tjimur has staged more than 150 performances across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, appearing at renowned platforms including the Cervantino International Festival in Mexico, GUIdance Festival in Portugal, and TANZ – Munich International Dance Festival in Germany.
What they're saying: Baru Madiljin, the choreographer director, said: "Many people think this is a work about war, but for me, bulabulay mun? is not about recreating a battle. Its starting point is a simple yet profound greeting from the Paiwan people: 'How are you?' Through this work, I want to ask this question on a broader scale to greet the world itself. To reach out to countries that have been wounded, and to places still enduring pain today."
"I don't expect every audience member to fully understand the historical or cultural context. But I hope they can listen with their bodies and voices, to sense that our greeting comes from the land itself, carried by the breath of memory," he added.
For context: At its heart is a poetic meditation on our elemental connection to the world, an invitation to attune our senses and rediscover our place within nature. The production contains haze and reference to a traumatic historical event, the Mudan incident of 1874. The running time is approximately 60 minutes with no interval.
The bottom line: This emotionally powerful production offers Ipswich audiences a rare opportunity to experience the unique artistic voice of Taiwan's indigenous Paiwan people through contemporary dance.
Tickets are available from £18, with concessions from £14. The show is suitable for ages seven and above.
