Nancy Stark Smith & The Underscore

• The Underscore Studies: Investigated The Underscore under the direct tutelage of Nancy Stark Smith in both Taipei and Hong Kong (2013).

• Earthdance Intensives: Completed two intensive three-week residencies with Nancy Stark Smith at Earthdance (USA) (Jan 2016 & 2018).

• The Long Dance: Participated in The Long Dance research, gaining profound insights into the origins and evolution of Contact Improvisation and the core philosophy of "Life is Dance, Dance is Life"

In January 2021, Maru co-founded "++body"  with contemporary dancer Yijie Chen , initiating a deep inquiry into "Accessible Contact Improvisation Jams." Maru’s recent research focuses on Decentralization and Natural Embodiment, expanding the boundaries of accessibility through their innovative "Jam Grazing" methodology.

In response to the fast-paced modern world, Maru proposes a shift toward the Subtle and the Grounded:

Be  Slower ｜Be Lower (Be Under) ｜Be Weaker

This practice is a living realization of Steve Paxton and Lisa Nelson’s philosophy of "Independently Together"—fostering a collective field where individual autonomy and communal cohesion exist in a state of dynamic, non-hierarchical balance.

Maru firmly believes that dance and art are innate instincts and fundamental rights accessible to all. Maru advocates for "Non-immersion" and the Daoist principle of "Doing Not Doing", championing the vision that "Everyone can dance; Art is barrier-free."

Maru continues to explore Contact Improvisation (CI) through diverse praxis-based research:

• Investigating the dynamics of "Water CI Jams" and the intersection of CI with bondage in "Rope Jams."

• Influenced by Ecofeminism and their own Queer Identity, Maru utilizes the concept of "Gardening" as a metaphor to explore "Symbiotic CI"—investigating the reciprocal relationship and coexistence between human bodies and the ecological thiking.