TAIWANESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Ribbon Dance
Traditional Chinese characters showcase beauty in many forms—the flow of lines, the arrangement of shapes, and the richness of cultural meaning. Taiwan is one of the few countries that continues to use these beautiful characters, refined through thousands of years of cultural heritage.
Dance Name - “Calligraphy imagery ”The dancer uses her hands, body and the long ribbon to symbolize the beautiful strokes of calligraphy in the dance.
Choreographer/Dancer Ya Chih Chuang
Ya Chih Chuang is from Taiwan. She started dancing at the age of five, and dance has been her lifelong passion. She studied from Taiwan to Hong Kong, and then to the U.S. She has worked in New York City with dance companies and choreographers, and has also toured all over the world. In 2000, she collaborated with a well-known New York City company, and participated in the countdown to the New Year's Eve performance at New York City's Times Square.
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre "Cursive" Video Screening
The Cursive Trilogy is a series of three dance works created by Taiwan's contemporary choreographer and founding artistic director of Cloud Gate Dance Theater, Lin Hwai-min. Inspired by Chinese calligraphy, Lin created the pieces "Cursive" (2001), "Pine Smoke" (2003), and "Wild Cursive" (2005) at different times. In September 2009, the trilogy was performed in succession in Taipei. While choreographing the trilogy, Lin incorporated the dancers' practices in calligraphy, meditation, internal martial arts, and Tai Chi over time. This resulted in the creation of "Cursive," "Pine Smoke," and "Wild Cursive." The dances express the inner strength of the dancers, embodying the different artistic dimensions of Chinese calligraphy. Lin first introduced the trilogy's opening piece, Cursive, in 2001, where dance movements reflect the forms and spirit of Chinese calligraphy.
Taiwanese Aboriginal Dance
Taiwan's earliest inhabitants expressed their cultural traditions through dance, embodying reverence for the heavens, gratitude for the land, longing for loved ones, and the cherishing of friendships.
Calligraphy Demonstration
Calligraphy showcases the beauty of Chinese characters; its flowing brushstrokes combine softness with sudden strength. In the lightness of its strokes lies a striking solidity. We are honored to have Mr. Lin Chih-Cheng, a calligraphy expert with years of experience, perform live demonstrations.
Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
Due to its climate, terrain, and soil, Taiwan's tea holds a significant place not just within the island's history, but also in today's global tea market. Yes, the popular drink bubble tea originated from Taiwan!
At the Taiwan Cultural Festival, professional tea artist Ms. Liu Pei-Ju will showcase the art of Taiwanese tea culture!
Taiwanese Choir Performance
Early Taiwanese folk songs conveyed the hardships of ancestors, the oppression during the Japanese occupation, the disillusionment after the war, and the freedom of campus folk rock in the 1970s!
For this event, we are pleased to have the choir led by Ms. Lin Ru-Yin guide our guests through Taiwan’s historical culture and emotional tumults.
Ms. Ju-In Lin is piano instructor and accompanist working in the Twin Cities Metro area. She received Diplomas in Piano Education and Piano Performance from the the Universität fűr Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Graz, Austria; and studied piano at the National Taiwan Academy of Arts (currently National Taiwan University of Arts). She has extensive experience performing both solo piano and small ensemble concerts, as well as playing as an accompanist for a diverse range of musicians.
Singing has been Shanshan's passion since childhood. Growing up in Taiwan, she sang harmony with families together in a worship team. After moving to the United States, she continues to pursue my love of singing through various choirs. Currently, she performs with a chapter of Sweet Adelines International.
Taiwanese Rap
Taiwanese Rap
Niho 我的家鄉 里賀my sweet hometown We got back mountain pride 噢名流青史forever twice Welcome to my hometown 代表後山榮耀 穿梭林間芬多精是免費空調 漫步沙灘 繁星高掛相隨 越過柵欄鬱金香是專屬香水 是金子總會發光 原創不該漂他鄉 Shout out奮鬥孩子俯身插秧 偏鄉有天將會開闢成為天堂 不曾看見過夕陽的山前 自由盤旋 快如閃電 半夜三點 出發探險蔓延山間 浪花礁石創作無限內容不曾刪減 乘著雲朵悠然飛向那片未知藍天 坐騎不是山豬 講話不會含糊 自然調色旦暮 足跡遍佈灘土 秀姑巒在大理石上刻下戰書 對家鄉的愛不會隨手丟在半路 Niho 我的家鄉 里賀my sweet hometown We got back mountain pride 噢名流青史forever twice Niho niho 我的家鄉 里賀里賀My hometown 戴上花帽是來自部落的公主 這裡是室外桃園的國度 沒有夕陽 但有燦爛日出 好山好水好無聊但玉石磨於立霧 休閒午後 隨手雙拼海陸 極致奢華 連天龍都嫉妒 光芒照耀山上偏鄉總是烈日艷陽 與身俱來骨子堅強不需藉使偏方 霍格華茲列車廣播是花蓮站站長 探索秘境步履蹣跚將是一條漫漫長路 踏上這段旅途 白鞋沾上泥土 心被這裡黏住 遠離喧囂塵霧 So stay with me 穿梭秘密基地 誕生這片土地創造生命無限奇蹟 Niho 我的家鄉 里賀my sweet hometown We got back mountain pride 噢名流青史forever twice 仰望星空時常繁星點點 山峰海面是我們連接線 刻板印象沒什麼好彰顯 出生之地我們註定耀眼 感謝命運讓我誕生這裡 璀璨生命中最美好奇蹟 別把瘴氣烏煙帶入這裡 山的勇者舉起獵槍射擊 Niho 我的家鄉 里賀my sweet hometown We got back mountain pride 噢名流青史forever twice
Travel Video Screening
Taiwanese Travel Video Screening