TAIWAN CULTURE FESTIVAL
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!
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.
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.
Travel Video Screening
Taiwanese Travel Video Screening