Glanced Crack is choreographer LAI Hung-chung’s homage to the mythology of his homeland, with "cracks" as a symbol exploring life's resilience and the beauty of struggle.

Choreographer LAI Hung-chung, hailing from a Hakka family in Pingtung, Taiwan, grew up listening to his mother tell stories of the Hakka myth of Nuwa repairing the sky—a narrative tied to the "Sky Mending Day." On this day, people set down their tools to let the heavens and earth recuperate while expressing gratitude for Nuwa's restoration. He also recalls his mother's teachings of the Hakka "unyielding spirit": "Do whatever needs to be done. Keep working at it, and things will get better." This philosophy of labor and restoration forms the core of “Glanced Crack”.

As its aesthetic foundation, the piece draws inspiration from the meandering cracks of "roof leak traces" in ink wash painting. Through the dancers' movements, these cracks take on symbolic form, reflecting the multifaceted relationships between humanity and nature, individuals and collectives. The cold, gray lighting design creates a desolate, apocalyptic atmosphere, with dancers moving like tectonic plates—converging and diverging—to portray natural evolution and societal tension.

The opening scene features rectangular boards swinging precariously, hinting at humanity's fragile balance amidst the forces of nature and symbolizing the struggle and reflection brought on by environmental crises.

Using his signature mastery of group choreography, LAI illustrates the individual's push-and-pull, rejection, and reintegration within the collective, capturing the tension between loneliness and belonging in modern society. The recurring themes of crack formation and repair throughout the performance echo the interconnectedness of nature and society, ultimately reflecting humanity's pursuit of hope and renewal in life.