Hung Dance’s "Push and Pull" receives widespread acclaim at UK premiere with rousing applause from the audience.

With the support of the Ministry of Culture Tawian, The Coronet Theatre invited Hung Dance to stage the UK premiere of their duet piece Push and Pull on the evening of March 12. The event not only saw Taiwan’s national flag raised outside the theatre, but also received unceasing applause from the audience during the curtain call. Rep. Vincent Yao from Taipei Representative Office in the UK attended the performance in person to show his support.

Choreographed by Lai Hung-chung, the Artistic Director of Hung Dance, and performed by Lu Ying-chieh and Lee Kuan-ling, Push and Pull distills the everyday actions of "pushing" and "pulling" into a dance. The dancers embody the everyday individuals we all are, portraying the series of subtle push-and-pull dynamics that follow when two people meet and interact. At times repelling each other like magnets, and at others acting like lovers holding hands, every movement precisely captures the indescribable, delicate connections between people.

The piece won four major awards at the 2025 Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition (RIDCC) in the Netherlands. The success of this work has also made Lai Hung-chung the first Taiwanese choreographer ever invited to choreograph for the world-renowned Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT).

Hung Dance’s Push and Pull runs for four performances at The Coronet Theatre from March 12 to 14, marking the company's return to the venue following their 2024 performance of Birdy. Anda Winters, Artistic Director of The Coronet Theatre, has personally visited Taiwan multiple times. She has been deeply inspired by the diversity and innovation of its arts scene, and developed a fondness for the bold creativity found in Taiwanese art. Winters stated that inviting three Taiwanese groups to perform at The Coronet Theatre this year—showcasing their bold creativity and profound cultural reflections—not only provides British audiences with a glimpse into the richness and diversity of Taiwanese contemporary art, but also serves as a bridge to promote contemporary arts exchange between Taiwan and the UK.

The Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK noted that this event marks another collaboration with The Coronet Theatre to invite Taiwanese performing groups, following the successful partnership on the "Taiwan Festival" in 2024. The Coronet Theatre is well-known for presenting new works and commissioned pieces from around the world to London audiences, frequently hosting UK premieres. This renewed partnership this year is expected to allow even more Londoners to appreciate Taiwan's vibrant and diverse performing arts.

Photo © Hung Dance. Photo by Liu Ren-haur