Pravaha Dance Festival 2026 – Sàng Tsáu

<strong>An NCPA Presentation</strong>

A Taiwanese Ritual Dance

By Hsu Chen Wei Dance Company

The Hsu Chen Wei Dance Company was founded by choreographer Chen-Wei Hsu, whose work explores the relationship between the body, ritual, and the cycles of life and death. Influenced by his upbringing in a funeral family, Hsu's choreography often draws from themes of spirituality, mortality, and aesthetics, using the body as a vessel for emotional and symbolic expression. The company's productions have toured across Europe and Asia and are described as being known for their quiet intensity and choreographic precision. Rooted in cultural context and bodily narrative, the company also engages in community-based projects, expanding dance into education and healing.

Sàng Tsáu is inspired by a Taoist ritual in Taiwan called “Sending off the Gods.” In this tradition, people offer food and incense to thank the gods for their protection and send them back to heaven before the New Year, as a way to let go of the past and welcome a fresh beginning.

The dance does not directly copy the ritual but transforms its spirit into movement. Seven dancers represent seven deities, guiding the audience through five chapters: Gathering, Facing human struggles, Cleansing, Blessing, Farewell. The audience is not only watching a performance but also sharing the feeling of a modern collective ritual.

Free Entry.