Biggest ever Taiwan representation set for Festival Internacional Cervantino

2016/10/11

Taiwan is sending its largest number of performance groups to Festival Internacional Cervantino, one of the biggest and most influential artistic events of its kind in Latin America, running Oct. 2-23 in the central Mexican city of Guanajuato—a U.N.-designated World Heritage Site.

Music outfits A Moving Sound and Sizhukong, as well as Tjimur Dance Theatre, are set to showcase Taiwan’s finest cultural traditions alongside an estimated 3,500-plus artists from 38 countries and territories staging around 700 shows at the annual event named after the Spanish playwright and author of the novel “Don Quixote.”

According to the Ministry of Culture, the groups were chosen to fly the flag for Taiwan at the festival on the strength of their unique and innovative styles. They also encapsulate distinct Taiwan cultural aesthetics and traditions, the MOC said.

A Moving Sound and Sizhukong use traditional instruments like the erhu—a two-stringed bowed instrument—to perform locally themed music infused with Eastern and Western influences. Tjimur Dance Theatre from southern Taiwan draws on the rich culture of Taiwan indigenous Paiwan communities, adapting tribal art elements to modern dance scenarios.

Sizhukong will deliver its latest work “Hand in Hand” Oct. 8, followed by A Moving Sound the next day and Tjimur Oct. 14-15. The three outfits are following in the footsteps of high-profile groups from Taiwan like Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Legend Lin Dance Theatre and U-Theatre, all of which performed to high acclaim at the festival.

Cloud Gate’s “Moon Water,” a poetic rendering of Eastern spiritual philosophy, was featured on a Mexican postage stamp in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the festival. The dance troupe performed the piece two years earlier at the event before being invited to stage additional shows across Mexico.

Following Cervantino, the groups will perform at the Festival Internacional de las Artes Julio Torri in northern Mexico. The two-event tour is expected to heighten awareness of Taiwan performance groups and the nation’s vibrant artistic culture among the people of Mexico, according to the MOC.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=248441&ctNode=2194&mp=9)