Krystal Tsai

Taiwanese emerging Dance artist, based in Vancouver

Krystal is an emerging dance artist born and raised in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. She is engaged in world-building artwork that often includes audience interaction, storytelling, and spoken words—exploring her culture and religious-related practice in her creation. Krystal relates her active practice in contact improvisation and sensation-driven somatic movement in her movement language. She continues to train and create with different styles and artists from all around the world.

→ About Krystal

Another glass of wine away

We talk; we laugh; we cheers. three languages, two disco balls, one couch.

Where is home? What is home? What makes it home? The dissonant experience we share with those living here and there; disorientating words with unsettled bodies; the place of our origin - a distorted place in space and in hearts.

Creator/performer: Krystal Tsai

Collaborator/performer: Max Hanic

Production management/lighting designer: Czarina Agustines

First version premiered at WhatLab through Exquisite Pressure X All Bodies Dance Project residency.

Link to Performance: https://youtu.be/fBURP2qS9jg

→ About the Artists

Reminiscent

I invite you to peek in, looping yourself into what I’m feeling; what I’m smelling; what I’m seeking. An answer? A prayer? A red light. A space where I can fit

Reminiscent is a dance work that references the ritual of lighting incense in Buddhism, symbolizing a profound and dynamic exchange. This practice is not merely a traditional act but a deeply significant one. Offering incense during prayer or worship serves multiple purposes— a quest for answers, a plea for a favor, a search for tranquillity, and a need for grounding. The act itself is rich with tradition and becomes a powerful, evocative experience through the interplay of scent and minimalist visual elements, which together ignite the imagination. This ritual transforms my memories of this cultural and spiritual practice onto the stage, hoping to capture the essence of those who left their homes at a young age in their journey to find stability and belonging.

Choreographer/Performer: Krystal Tsai

Light/stage designer: Catelyn Lin

First version premiered at Live Act Festival 2024.

Link to Performance: https://youtu.be/ttCzzi22Wls?si=-ZoinLTLKyWovflv

Photo by Colleen Bayati

Photo by Zach Walde

Photo by Emily Lee

Photo by Zach Walde

Photo by Colleen Bayati

S.I.L.K

paSsive

embodyIng

refLecting

acKnowledging

This piece of work is inspired by the sensation of the material “silk”. We work with the constant change of emotions and embodiment. Characterizing the fabric, using the individual relationship the dancer had with the sheets of silk. Incorporating the image, temperature, pattern and movements of the fabric into moving bodies.

Choreographer: Krystal Tsai

Dancers: Kaitlyn La Vigne, Beatrice Keller, Abby Blanchard, Claire Duhamel, Gaby Galindo.

Light/stage designer: Lulan Huang

Composer: Conor Day

Work shown at SFU Ascension 2022.

Photos by Mikela Vuorensive