The 58th Festival Off Avignon in France was inaugurated on July 2, launching a record-setting 1,666 shows that have 25,000 performances within three weeks. During the opening event, the group of Taiwanese performers led the parade, displaying the joy and confidence of these performing arts talents from Taiwan.
Hu Ching-fang (胡晴舫), the director of the Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris, noted that the establishment of the center three decades ago created opportunities for Taiwan’s artists to emerge in international cultural events. She remarked that Taiwan being invited as the festival’s first-ever guest of honor is a poetic way to celebrate the center’s 30th anniversary.
Since 2007, the Ministry of Culture has selected performing art groups to participate in the Festival Off Avignon annually. The selected groups this year include Resident Island Dance Theatre (滯留島舞蹈劇場), Shinehouse Theatre (曉劇場), Chun Dance (君舞蹈劇場), and Eye Catching Circus (創造焦點).