“Happy Cola’s Friends” brings together interesting collaborators to perform and critique social phenomena with equality and joy. The collective believes in the motto: “Everyone can move, and everyone is free.” In addition, they co-initiated the “Work-Inspired Exercises” with Hsieh Chieh-Hua, integrating Taiwanese local workplace settings across various professions into creative spaces. This project transforms labor movements into health exercises, inviting the public to engage with dance and reflect on the potential meanings of bodily labor, fostering a sense of identity rooted in Taiwan’s daily life. Since 2021, CHANG has collaborated with Wang Yu-Cheng to explore “dance audio description” and “non-visual dance”, continuously experimenting with inclusive methods for broader participation in dance.
The principal creator, Chang Ko-Yang, was selected by the Ministry of Culture in 2024 to participate in a residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. He also has received notable recognition for past works, including the “Yung-Chen Future Star Award” and “Audience Award” at the 2015 Taipei Fringe Festival, and “Fringe Choice Award” at 2024 Taipei Fringe Festival, as well as a grant “Young Stars New Vision” from the National Culture and Arts Foundation in 2016. In 2023, CHANG was supported by the National Theater and Concert Hall’s Ideas Lab to premiere “Elephant in the…”. In 2024, he returned to challenge the Taipei Fringe Festival with the visually impaired dancer piece, “How can WE Perceive BODY with a Braille Typewriter?”, and received the Fringe Choice Award.
“Cola’s Happy Friends” focus on the interaction between the body, society, and politics, addressing serious issues through a meme-like approach. By embedding the chaotic texture of Taiwan’s daily life, their works evoke a bittersweet sense of absurdity, offering humor laced with a subtle sadness.
Ongoing Project
Memeography
Use memes as an inspiration to hide criticism and protest in the irony and parody of body movements.
Work Inspired Workouts
ransform the working bodies of different occupations into exercise routine to depict a sense of recognition captured from daily Taiwanese lives.
Non-visual Dance
Use senses other than vision to stimulate body movement; develop ways for everyone to participate in dance.
Audio Description for Dance
Transform dance into words so that everyone can enjoy the performance.
Past Works
2024 «How can WE Perceive BODY with a Braille Typewriter? », Taipei Fringe Festival
2023 Non-Visual Choreographic Exhibition
2023 National Theater and Concert Hall – “Ideas Lab” x CHANG, KO-YANG «Elephant in the__»
2023 NTU Center of the Arts x Happy Cola’s Friends «2047»
2023 «2047» Audio Description Version
2022 «2047»
2021 Memeography – «dragon.aloongtime.ago»
2021 National Taichung Theater – “Emerging Artists Project” «Teymu Ukah» (work in progress)
2021 «Awakening to ……and Endlessly Endless» Dance Audio Description Version
2021 Happy Cola’s Friends x Stella & Artists «Work Inspired Workouts – Macao Market Version», Macao City Fringe
2020 «Work Inspired Workouts – Huan-Nan Exercise»
2020 «Awakening to ……and Endlessly Endless» EVO. Ver., CoDance festival