The American institute In Taiwan (AIT) announced that two Taiwan performing arts ensembles — "Resident Island Dance Theatre (滯留島舞蹈劇場)" from Pingtung County, and "Twincussion (雙子二重奏)" from Taipei — will participate in the Center Stage Season 6 U.S. Tour during the 2022 and 2023 performance season. This marks the first time that the United States Department of State has included Taiwanese groups in this program.
AIT issued a press release stating that the Center Stage is the cultural exchange program initiated by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and produced by New England Foundation for the Arts.
For its sixth edition, the program will host six contemporary music and dance theater and art assembles from Taiwan, Argentina, and Armenia. Each group will make an independent month-long tour across the country to promote international exchange of arts and cultural groups and enhance the interaction between groups and audiences.
AIT said that the invited performing arts groups will engage and meet with the communities across the United States through physical and online performances, workshops, post-show discussions, artist impromptu performances, and dinner parties to promote mutual understanding.
AIT added that since 2012, it has hosted 29 performing art groups and nearly 200 artists from nine countries to perform, meet and share experiences with communities in the United States.
Resident Island Dance Theatre, led by choreographer Chan Chung-an (張忠安), features emotionally charged and socially engaged works that disrupt limitations of mental, emotional, and physical integration.
Twincussion is formed by Yamaha artists Chien Jen-ting (簡任廷) and Chien Jen-yu (簡任佑), who are engaged advocates for Taiwanese folk music, arrangers of Western classical showpieces, and champions of contemporary composers.
(Photo courtesy of Huang Jyong-jhe and Twincussion)