Abstract

Lee Chen Lin, the artistic director and founder of Legend Lin Dance Theatre in Taiwan, has created innovative works and toured in many international dance festivals. Lin’s “walking aesthetics” is the most significant feature in her choreographies. It signifies her conceptualization of the dancing body and her philosophy of life and human beings. This paper analyzes the choreographic approaches and strategies that characterize her first three works: Mirror of Life, Anthem to the Fading Flowers, and Song of Pensive Beholding. With the emphasis on a kinesthetic way to understand Lin’s Huan aesthetics, it focuses on how Lin’s works may awaken the audiences’ sensations by her various choreographic strategies. In conclusion, this paper suggests that Lee Chen Lin’s choreographic strategies involve managing ritual efficacy into liminal status, arranging physical encounters synchronically and diachronically, and interweaving various tribal elements into new interpretations. Through the kinesthetic empathy, the audiences are likely to feel and resonate with all moving bodies involved in Lin’s performances. This experience may pave the way for development of reflective insights and enables the unison of one’s sensations and awareness to appreciate these extremely beautiful dance works.