National Taiwan Sport University Showcases Taiwan's Beauty Through Dance for Asian Heritage Month in Canada

(CNA, by reporter Cheng Ai-fen, Vancouver, 17th) The dance troupe from National Taiwan Sport University (NTSU) performed 'Seeing Taiwan' in the two major Canadian cities of Edmonton and Vancouver, touching over a thousand Canadian residents and overseas compatriots who were moved by the young dancers' physical storytelling of Taiwan. Several Canadian political figures praised Taiwan's soft power and expressed their delight in seeing Taiwan's beautiful culture and innovative energy. May is 'Asian Heritage Month' in Canada, celebrated with a series of arts and cultural events to honor the contributions of Asians to Canada. The NTSU dance troupe took the stage in Edmonton and Vancouver on the 15th and 17th, respectively. They blended modern dance, music, drama, and traditional Taiwanese cultural elements, guiding the audience through different generations and land memories of Taiwan via eight chapters: 'Island's Sunrise,' 'Echoes of Time,' 'Sweet Rebellion,' 'A Taste of Taiwan,' 'Mountain Ritual,' 'Direction of the Wind,' 'Soul of the Island,' and 'Seeing Taiwan.' The troupe's director, Pan Li-chun, told CNA that the Canadian audience was very enthusiastic and willing to interact with the dancers both on and off stage, making the performance more vibrant. 'For example, when we brought the story of the 'shovel superman' from last year's Hualien flood disaster to the stage, it resonated with many. After watching, many people proactively asked about Hualien's recovery and shared that Canada also frequently experiences natural disasters like wildfires and floods. So, it was not just a perfect performance, but a meaningful 'encounter'.' During the Vancouver performance, Canadian Liberal MP Parm Bains, Conservative MP Chak Au, BC MLA Hon Chan, U.S. official in Vancouver Karina Versas, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver Lih-hsin Liu, Director of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Kuo Shu-chen, and many representatives from the overseas community were in attendance. Bains presented a congratulatory certificate, praising the exquisite performance of the 'Seeing Taiwan' dance troupe and thanking the Taiwanese Community Alliance of Greater Vancouver for organizing the performance and their long-term contributions to Canadian society. When the NTSU dance troupe arrived in Edmonton, they were also highly regarded by local dignitaries. Alberta MLA Nathan Ip not only welcomed the troupe at the provincial legislature but also hosted a banquet for them. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack watched the entire dance drama and praised Taiwan's profound cultural heritage. Wei Ho, president of the Edmonton Taiwanese Association, stated that as Taiwan's international reputation grows, local Edmontonians' awareness of Taiwan is beginning to sprout. A performance depicting Taiwan's diversity can further enhance local people's understanding of Taiwan. Tsai An-huei, co-chair of the Taiwanese Community Alliance of Greater Vancouver, loved the creativity and passion of the new generation of dancers. She said, 'The way the dancers interpret the stories really touches the hearts of the second-generation Taiwanese overseas. This aligns with the concept of heritage we've always wanted to promote, allowing the younger generation overseas to feel a warmth from Taiwan that they can also share and resonate with.' (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150518