Taiwanese artist Cheng Tsung-lung (鄭宗龍) is invited to a webinar to share the challenges he faced amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the outbreak has changed the arts sector. The first webinar will launch on Apr. 26.
In collaboration with Western Arts Alliance (WAA), Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles will present "The next stage: Essential Issues in Performing Arts Creation, Presentation, and Engagement," a series of 6 webinars which will gather artists and arts leaders in the U.S. and Taiwan to explore the possibilities of performing arts in the coming post-pandemic age.
The first webinar "Creation in Isolation - Adversity Meets Innovation," features artistic director of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan Cheng Tsung-lung, executive producer of Akram Khan Company and artist Aditya Prakash. They will speak with moderator Chris Lorway, executive director of Stanford Live during the session.
While facing border closure and quarantine during the pandemic, artists have taken on the challenges to evolve their practice of creation, collaboration, performance, and engagement. The three speakers in this panel will share their journeys about how adversity inspired more creativity during the pandemic.
For instance, the U.S. tour of "13 Tongues (十三聲)" by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan was postponed due to the pandemic. Through broadcasting the video series of "Behind-the-Scenes: Creation of 13 Tongues," the audiences learn about the creation elements and Taiwan culture represented in "13 Tongues" before watching it in theaters.
The webinar series will be held from April to November 2021, it will spotlight diverse topics, such as performance creation, cross-genre collaborations, venue innovation, and technology application. The webinar will simultaneously livestream on WAA's YouTube channel and Facebook.
WAA was established in 1967 and its members are mainly performing arts professionals such as artists, managers, agents, and presenters from throughout the Western U.S.
For more information and registration, please visit here.