We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chieh Hsiung. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chieh below.

Chieh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

“Islanders” is a three-part live art experience created by a group of young Taiwanese artists to express their cultural identities through music, dance, audiovisual installation, and Taiwanese street food. This show was created by Taiwanese duo Chieh Hsiung and Yu-Wei Hsiao. By combining western culture with Taiwanese traditional music and folk dance, they hope to increase the visibility of their home country. Collaborating with other Taiwanese artists to merge their unique cultural elements, this dream has been made a reality.

The show begins with an immersive experience. Modeled after the Taiwanese Night Market with a sound installation, this sets the pace of mystery and anticipation. What follows is an intense and intimate film screening. A musical-dance performance follows with improvised jazz music reminiscent of the days of the Cotton Club. Throughout the show there is interactive narration with the feel of a live tv game show atmosphere. Besides, they will host three musical-dance workshops at three Taiwanese communities in New York City.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Chieh Hsiung, Winner of the Breaking Glass Project 2015: The Emerging Female Choreographer “Under the Dining Table”at Alvin Ailey Theater, Audience Favorite work. Chieh has presented her choreography all across NYC. Concert TV series Movement instructor in Taiwan 2019-2020. Chieh graduated from the National Taiwan University Of Physical Education and Sports with a major in Modern Dance/Choreography and minor in Ballet/Folk Dance/Ballroom Dance/Street Dance.

Chieh’s work demonstrates a variety of robust skills and training, though her priority is collaborating with visual artists and musicians from all backgrounds to create more compelling and immersive experiences.

Choreographer of the Netflix fantasy-comedy drama “The Magician on the Skywalk” was the top winner at 2022’s Golden Bell Awards, taking home six awards, including best television series and best directing. Also choreographed as part of the Fish Leng 2016 World Tour at Lincoln Center. In 2017, Chieh was invited to perform in the 92Y Harkness Dance Center Big Mouth Asian Choreographer Festival, “Stand Of The Closing Door” Invited by The Taipei Economic and Culture Office In New York. She also produced and performed in “Redolent-T Production” at The Secret Theatre, a 40-minute choreography process, which sold out and met with great success. Other than showcasing her choreography skills, she performed off-Broadway in Women on Fire, as part of Soloist for Jchen Project AAPI Festival . Chieh was also invited by multiple festivals such as Queensboro Dance Festival, Queens Pride, Broadway in Bryant Park, Survivor NYFW in MOMA.

Her latest work, titled “Islanders,” as resident artist at Cultural Lab, allowed freedom to produce and perform in a deep, Taiwanese cultural narrative around identity and longing.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

When I first moved to New York, I actually hated working with Asians. I think I’ve arrived in a new country and I should open my heart and break the boundaries of dancing. But after a few years, my own experience has grown a lot. I began to realize that I must know where gratitude comes from. When Covid happened, everything stopped. The only medium I could use was social media. I started thinking about how I could be unique in the media. I have always liked to cooperate with artists in different fields. By chance, I found a Taiwanese violinist, Ph.D.From the beginning, we used movements to connect, so that there are more possibilities between music and dance. We made several videos, and the sparks of cooperation became more and more interesting.
So last June, we did a show about Taiwan.
In the preparatory work of this show, we tried to understand the history of music, and in the creation of dance, I also began to look for inspiration from my previous Taiwanese dance.At the same time, we have also invited several outstanding Taiwanese artists, all of whom have performed well in different art fields. Our ultimate goal is to let everyone in New York know the beauty of Taiwan.
We prepare Taiwanese games, Taiwanese food, Taiwanese music, Taiwanese art, and the works of a group of outstanding Taiwanese artists.
After so many years of accumulation, I finally know what I really want is to let everyone know more about the stories of Taiwan, the people of Taiwan, the artists of Taiwan, and my home.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Participating in many art festivals is really helpful as a Taiwanese immigrant artist. And participating in some artists’ Eevents. It is really helpful to build a network through specific activities. As well as encountering artists you admire, taking the initiative to contact and open up a possible cooperative relationship are very helpful to your career, and it is easier to get to know ethnic groups in different fields.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @chieh.1990
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chiehsdanceinnyc5719

Image Credits
Grant Hao Wei Lin June Padilla Cathryn Lynne Josef Pinlac