The “2026 Taiwan Traditional Week in the United States” visiting performance group organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council arrived in the Bay Area on May 8. The Taiwan National University of Sport dance troupe performed “Seeing Taiwan” in San Francisco and Redwood City on May 9-10.
During the welcome dinner at the office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco located in Millbrae, Director Wu Chih-Hsiang spoke about how the Taiwan Traditional Week is an important opportunity to showcase Taiwanese culture to the world. He expressed hope to connect with people worldwide through culture and allow more mainstream society to understand Taiwan.
In attendance, Director Chuang Ya-Shu of the South Bay Overseas Chinese School introduced the performance arrangements in the Bay Area. She mentioned that there were two performances scheduled: one as part of the “Taiwan Cultural Festival” hosted by the Taiwan-American Professionals Association of San Francisco Bay Area (TAP-SF) at Union Square in San Francisco on May 9, and another full performance at the historical Fox Theatre in Redwood City on May 10.
TAP-SF representative Peter Han expressed delight in welcoming the Taiwan visiting performance group back to the Bay Area. He hoped that through the public performance at Union Square, more American people would appreciate the artistic and cultural features of Taiwan. This year’s cultural festival will feature performances by the Taiwan National University of Sport dance troupe, a children’s choir, local musicians, and various Taiwanese food and cultural vendors.
President Jiang Yuan-Xin of the Northern California Taiwan Cultural and Sports Association mentioned that the special performance on May 10 at the Fox Theatre aimed to present the show with high-quality stage effects. She also revealed the invitation extended to the founder and artistic director of the San Jose Modern Dance Company to enhance Taiwan-US cultural exchanges.
Several Overseas Community Affairs Council members were present to welcome the visiting performance group. Committee member Wei Te-Chen highlighted the significant role of the dance troupe in showcasing Taiwanese cultural and artistic features during the Taiwan Traditional Week. Committee member Wu Yi-Ming encouraged young dancers to continue improving their skills in the field of dance and become a shining example for Taiwan.
The captain of the Taiwan National University of Sport dance troupe, Pan Li-Chun, expressed that the troupe had participated in the Taiwan Traditional Week visits in 2014 and 2018 and returned to the Bay Area this year with a new dance piece, “WE ARE TAIWAN,” hoping to invite compatriots and international friends to enjoy the performance together.
At the dinner event, several dancers shared their experiences of participation. Some students performing in the United States for the first time expressed their desire to introduce Taiwanese culture to more people through their performances. Other troupe members mentioned their enjoyment of interacting with the audience during the show and feeling the support and enthusiasm of overseas audiences.
After the dinner, Chuang Ya-Shu shared in an interview with Epoch Times that this year’s activities not only included dance performances but also integrated Taiwanese food and cultural exhibitions. She hoped to promote Taiwanese culture in a more diversified way, encouraging more Overseas Chinese groups and younger generations to participate and expand the influence of Taiwan Traditional Week in the future.
The vice-captain of the Taiwan National University of Sport dance troupe, Liao Cheng-Yi, stated in an interview with Epoch Times that “Seeing Taiwan” combines elements of Hakka, Taiwanese dialects, indigenous cultures, and pop dance. They aimed to let overseas audiences feel the diversity of Taiwan’s culture. He described the overseas tour as taking Taiwanese culture on an adventure and hoped that through the performances, more people would come to appreciate Taiwan.