Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (KYL/D), a leading contemporary Asian American dance company based in Philadelphia, has announced it will sunset the company after a celebratory fall fundraiser on November 8, 2025, at the Performance Garage and a final home season, Echo and Flame: Phoenix Awakening, on March 27 and 28, 2026, at Drexel University’s Mandell Theater.
After years of innovative choreography, global performances, and community engagement, the company is embracing a period of reflection prompted by evolving family obligations among its members and shifts in the cultural, political, and economic landscape, leading to the decision to sunset the ensemble in spring 2026.
“This is not the end of dance. Not yours. Not ours. This is a transformation. We will close this chapter with power and integrity,” said founder/artistic director Kun-Yang Lin. “We know that you will bring your gifts and your best selves to this celebratory, fire-lit final season.”
Renowned for its superbly trained dancers and inventive works, KYL/D has captivated audiences worldwide with Lin’s Zen-inspired choreography, which The New York Times praised for “creating and inhabiting worlds of their own.” Drawing on Eastern philosophies and ongoing research across Asia, Lin’s movement language blends spiritual depth with contemporary dance innovation.
The company’s dancers are trained in the unique CHI Awareness Practice, rooted in Asian art forms and contemplative traditions, resulting in lush, poetic works that explore themes of identity and spirituality. KYL/D has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including Germany’s Tanzmesse International Dance Festival, South Korea’s Busan International Dance Festival, Indonesia’s Jogia International and AsiaTri festivals, Mexico’s Festival Internacional de Danza in Queretaro, Singapore’s Victoria Theatre, and Taiwan’s HsinChu Performing Arts Center.
At its Philadelphia home, the CHI Movement Arts Center (CHI MAC), KYL/D fosters community through dance classes, subsidized space rentals, and the Inhale Performance Series, which spotlights emerging artists.
As KYL/D prepares to close this chapter, it invites audiences to celebrate its legacy of artistry and connection. For more information or to join the final season events, visit www.kyld.org
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