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Taiwanese dance troupes invited to participate in Germany's Internationale Tanzmesse NRW

  • Date:2022-08-31~2022-09-03
Taiwanese dance troupes invited to participate in Germany's Internationale Tanzmesse NRW

Internationale Tanzmesse NRW, the world's largest showcase of contemporary dance, is back after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The 2022 edition will take place in Dusseldorf, Germany from August 31 to September 3. Under the theme of "TAIWAN ONLINE," the Ministry of Culture, together with the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, made recommendations for Taiwanese troupes to take part in the event to show Taiwan's creative energy and cultural heritage to the world through the art of dance.

Tjimur Dance Theatre (蒂摩爾古薪舞集), TAI Body Theatre (TAI身體劇場) and EkosDance Company (印尼艾可舞團) have been invited to perform their works-"Go Paiwan (去排灣)," "Ita" and "AriAri"-and participate in new work proposals.

Co-curated by Weiwuying artist-in-residence Chou Shu-yi (周書毅), this year's Taiwan exhibition program combines Weiwuying's "Taiwan Dance Platform (臺灣舞蹈平台)" to relive the period of time when performing arts were suspended and restarted several times for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the theme of "TAIWAN ONLINE," artists reflect on connections and responses between life situations and explore creative methods at various distances. They also compare local and international relations, hoping to show the real appearance of life on this land under the pandemic.

Co-produced by Tjimur Dance Theatre and Taiwanese choreographer Lin Wen-chung (林文中), "Go Paiwan" expresses the concept of "visiting" the tribe and an attempt to "remove" stereotypes about the traditional dance of indigenous peoples. Furthermore, Taiwan TAI Body Theater and EkosDance Company collaborated to perform dance duets "Ita" and "AriAri." "Ita" explores the self and others of different cultures and life experiences from the physical and mental states of Asian migrant workers living in foreign places. "AriAri" focuses on the spiritual connection between the self and invisible companion inspired by Javanese philosophy and culture.

Taking place every two years, the Internationale Tanzmesse NRW organizes diversified activities such as theater performances, exchange workshops, new work proposals, thematic lectures and exhibitions. The events attract about 1,600 professional dancers from more than 50 countries around the world to participate. To find out more information, please visit the Internationale Tanzmesse NRW’s official website.