This visually arresting and deeply moving production tells the story of a community suddenly confronted by the immense power of wind and waves, awakening a heightened awareness of how far they have drifted from nature. 

Tjimur Dance Theatre, Taiwan’s premier contemporary dance company, is dedicated to exploring and expressing the identity of the indigenous Paiwan people. 

Choreographed by Baru Madiljin, bulabulay mun? / how are you? draws on the historic Mudan shipwreck incident of 1874 – a traumatic chapter in Taiwanese history, to reflect on the relationship between human actions and their unforeseen consequences. 

Through an interplay of traditional Mudan songs and dance, bulabulay mun? seeks to heal historical wounds and revive ancestral memory, embodying the resilience and spirit of the Paiwan people. At its heart is a poetic meditation on our elemental connection to the world, an invitation to attune our senses and rediscover our place within nature. 

A specially filmed of bulabulay mun? shot on location in South Taiwan will screened Barbican Cinema on Sunday 12 October as part of Dance Umbrella Film Series: Sunday Shorts, and will be available to watch via the Digital Pass.

Photo: Lin Jung-yon