42 dance groups from 15 countries will present a total of 74 shows at the three-day Want to Dance Festival (艋舺國際舞蹈節) from April 21 to 23, bringing vitality to Wanhua District, a historical region of Taipei City. The performances will be simultaneously presented at Wan Theater and 16 non-traditional theaters.
Organized by Shinehouse Theatre (曉劇場), the Festival is an annual dance exchange platform based in Southwestern Taipei for choreographers and dance troupes. Curated by artistic director Chung Po-yuan (鍾伯淵) and theatre scholar Keng Yi-wei (耿一偉), the 2023 edition will feature a diverse range of performances, such as circus, acrobatics, contemporary dance, and physical theater, under the theme of "Connection (連結)."
The dance festival is divided into three segments. The "Open Call" segment features 13 teams from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Italy, Mexico, Germany and more, who will be showcasing their latest dance concepts. The "International Exchange" segment invites dancers from both Taiwan and abroad to launch new works, in addition to the return of the piece "Ice Age (冰河時期)" by Resident Island Dance Theatre (滯留島舞蹈劇場) which was previously performed during the 2020 edition as well as in the UK and the US. The "Curator" segment will include French-Laotian curator and choreographer Olé Khamchanla performing a solo dance titled "CERCLE," and Chung Po-yuan presenting "The Rodin Project (羅丹計畫)."
During his speech at the press conference, Minister of Culture Shih Che emphasized that the close connection between local spaces and art groups is the key to a flourishing culture and art. Minister Shih also added that Taiwan has the appropriate spaces for exceptional cultural and arts professionals in Taiwan to collaborate with international talents while establishing close relationships with communities. He expressed his hope that the three-day event will bring about a profound impact on Wanhua District.
(Photo courtesy of Shinehouse Theatre)