“In his life and work, Chungliang Al Huang exemplifies the essence of ‘Be Here Now’!”
Ram Dass
Spiritual Teacher, Guru of Modern Yoga, Psychologist, & Author
Photographer: Si Chi Ko
After completing his studies to become an architect, Master Huang chose to follow a different path.
A path that opened multi-various opportunities in the theater arts, as an actor, entertainer, dancer and choreographer, and professor of dance.
He was chosen by Sammy Davis, Jr. to be part of the multi-ethnic cast supporting Davis’ one-man show on tour, and at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel performance with the “Rat Pack”. He performed with the German American dancer and mime, Lotte Goslar. He was a featured dancer in the film Flower Drum Song and landed an acting role in The Green Hornet starring Bruce Lee.
With this broad spectrum of performance experience, Master Huang capitalized on the rich creative expression of his East / West life experience and founded his own theater dance company and through a Ford Foundation grant pioneered modern dance in the Republic of China 1966-67. He performed at Jacob’s Pillow and the American Dance Festival, and toured, performed, and choreographed worldwide. In 1985 he was commissioned to direct the Hong Kong Dance Company, where he was instrumental in providing the impetus for the growth of modern dance as a performing art there.
Through this creative journey, Master Huang returned to his roots, establishing the Living Tao Foundation, an international cultural arts network for lifelong learning, and the International Lan Ting Institute, a cross-cultural study and conference center at the sacred and historic Wu Yi Mountain, China.
One of Master Huang’s signature accomplishments is his ability to collaborate in performances with musicians from Classical to Jazz to New Age to Pop and Folk. Some of his collaborators include pianist Lorin Hollander and Robert Levin; jazz musician Paul Horn, Paul Winter and Charles Lloyd; cellists David Darling and Michael Fitzpatrick; flutists Alexander Murray, Lorna McGhee, and Michael Faust; singers John Denver and Joan Baez; harpist Andreas Vollenweider; trombonist Stuart Dempster; and trumpeter Guy Few.
Of special note is the 1980’s concert series: The Tao of Bach: A Tai Ji Musical Offering co-created with the Paul Winter Consort, performed at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City and the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Additional concert collaborations include several appearances at the Oregon Bach Festival, the 2012 The Tao of Bach: A Tai Ji Musical Offering, and the 2019 Jupiter String Quartet with Chungliang Al Huang,Tai Ji Master both at the Krannert Center for Performing arts, the University of Illinois.