Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition .

CULTURE CONNECT TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CENTER IN INDIA T aiwan’s Formosa Circus Arts (FOCA) visited the capital recently to dazzle the hearts of Indians with a series of heart-stopping acrobatic acts, as well as traditional and modern dance performances. Founded in 2011 by Lin Chih Wei, FOCA takes its name from Formosa, the historical name of Taiwan. The troupe gained traction with their 2012 production, Pursue Our Dreams, which made its international debut at the Festival Pisteurs d’ Etoiles in Obernai, France, in 2013. Since then, FOCA has continuously performed in festivals across the world, being the ﬁ rst Taiwanese circus company to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and France’s Festival d’ Avignon Oﬀ . It is also the ﬁ rst Taiwanese company to hold international tours. Its ongoing tour, organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, sees the troupe stage its 2016 production, The Heart of Asia, in Indonesia and India. The Heart of Asia was previously performed in 14 cities across North America. At its last cultural visit in New Delhi on July 6, FOCA showcased an approximately 70-minute performance combining traditional Taiwanese culture with Western inﬂ uences. Speaking through an interpreter, artistic director Lee Tsung Hsuan says FOCA’s performance is diﬀ erent from others as it combines theater, music, magic, dance, and acrobatics into one package. Meanwhile, FOCA founder Lin, who has amassed at least two decades’ worth of experience in performing arts since the age of 10, said that The Heart of Asia is about Taiwan, the country and the culture. As beﬁ tting something inherently tied to a nation’s cultural identity, The Heart of Asia opened with the sound of nature, birds chirping and ocean waves crashing onto a beach. Performers entered the stage in solemnness, movements serene as nature while a man’s voice sings a tune that seems as old as time. The performance quickly picks up soon after, with martial arts-inspired moves being the main key in creating a livelier atmosphere. Acrobatics are very much FOCA’s bread and butter, with one of the very ﬁ rst tastes of the performers’ expertise being handsprings and somersaults, which elicited gasps from the audience as they were performed over a twirling ﬂ ag. When the second session rolled in, dance moves incorporating hats and chairs created a livelier and lighthearted atmosphere invoking simpler times in the countryside. Upbeat: Artistic director Lee Tsung-Hsuan said that FOCA’s performance combines theater, music, magic, dance and acrobatics. Even though Lin said there would be some acrobatics involving the chairs, the audience certainly did not expect a balancing act so high, it should come with a giant disclaimer saying that it was done by expertly trained professionals. And that’s before counting the handstand on top of the stacked chairs. The third session’s deeper storyline brings about a change of pace, telling a tale of wanderlust, regret, and nostalgia. “[It tells] the story of a young man from the indigenous minority Puyuma tribe as he matures and walks the path of life,” Lin explained. The mood is lighthearted yet contemplative, where body movements transcend cultures and language to bring about a message about one’s homeland and memories shared. One highlight of the part is an act involving Chinese-style yoyos, which is notable for being half juggling act involving throwing the yoyos and deftly catching them with strings. The yoyos are illuminated, which when combined with the darkened stage lighting and the high seating arrangement, create an illusion of the spheres ﬂ oating in mid-air. The ﬁ rst three sessions of the performance highlight the traditional side of Taiwan, with its showcases of the tai chi martial art and Hakka tribe’s customs like tealeaf picking through dance. Straight up: For their stop in Indonesia, FOCA brought its 2016 production, “The Heart of Asia”, which was performed in 14 cities across North America. The atmosphere drastically changed as FOCA brought the audience to the modern time of Taiwan in the fourth and ﬁ nal session. Taiwan’s multiculturalism is represented through Western- style clothing and music, such as a number performed in white shirts and black vests set to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling”. Other acts like one set to a dubstep beat are also distinctly modern. While an act featuring a performer twirling a hollowed- out cube is certainly impressive, the main attraction is in the ﬁ nale, in which a shirtless performer dances and writhes around while suspended in mid-air with a piece of fabric, evoking sensuality and festivity at the same time.  52 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 7 • July 2019, Noida

Extraordinary And Plenipotentiary Diplomatist July 19 Edition . | Page 52