is a somatic and improvisation practitioner, artist, and researcher whose work is deeply rooted in the Daoist philosophy of qi (Chinese internal energy). She earned an MA from the National Taiwan University of the Arts in 2006 and a PhD in Performing Arts from the University of Northampton, UK, in 2014. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Improvisation Studies Centre in the Faculty of Media, Art, and Performance, University of Regina, Canada.

I-Ying’s research and artistic practice reconceptualize improvisation as a spontaneous phenomenon emerging from a state of heightened consciousness in the present moment, guided by a Daoist understanding of qi-energy. Rather than perceiving improvisation as an art form, she approaches it as an inherent state of being, arising through subtle awareness that transcends the boundaries of specific artistic forms. Her practice integrates movement, mindful states, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, fostering deeper, holistic connections between the self, others, and the environment.

Her work has been presented internationally in Taiwan, the UK, and Canada, engaging with diverse cultural contexts. Based in Regina, she teaches, performs, and collaborates with artists across various disciplines while continuing to share Subtle Practice, a training approach she developed for interdisciplinary improvisation.