The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco hosted a joint banquet on the evening of May 10th to welcome the “2024 US-Taiwan Traditional Week Formosa Circus” and the “Overseas Community Affairs Council Taiwan International Food Lecture Tour.”
The second week of May each year is Taiwan’s Traditional Week. This year, for the first time in the Bay Area, the two major events organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council were combined to celebrate Taiwan’s Traditional Week. One was a cultural performance as part of Taipei Traditional Week, and the other was a culinary tour.
During the evening, the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Lai Ming-chi, and his wife played host to 15 members of the Formosa Circus and two chefs from the culinary lecture tour.
Also in attendance at the banquet were Chao Ya-shu, Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center in the Bay Area, and Overseas Community Affairs Secretary Hsu Tsai-feng, as well as Overseas Community Affairs Commissioners Chung Chen-chien, Wang Lung-wen, Lee Wen-hsiung, Lee Han-wen, Wei Teh-chen, and Lin Cheng-yuan.
Director Lai Ming-chi stated that the visit of the two touring groups to San Francisco was significant, not only marking Mother’s Day but also celebrating the presidential and vice-presidential inaugurations in Taiwan. The lecture hosted by Chef Li drew a large crowd.
The circus performance on the 12th was initially planned to sell 500 tickets, but sales exceeded expectations, reaching 600 tickets sold. The community organizations are thanked for their efforts in promoting Taiwan internationally.
Lin Chih-wei, founder and CEO of Formosa Circus, established the troupe at the age of 24 with the goal of proving that acrobatics could also be incorporated into theater. He later integrated traditional culture, local culture, street culture, and theatrical arts into the acrobatic performances.
He mentioned that their team first visited the US in 2016 and this recent visit marks their eighth year since then. During this period, they faced the challenges of the pandemic and received generous donations from Taiwanese expatriates in the U.S.
With a sense of gratitude, they returned to the US for performances once again.
Director Chao Ya-shu hosted the evening banquet. Moreover, leaders of Taiwanese community organizations responsible for organizing the Taiwan Traditional Week activities also attended the welcome banquet, including President Chen Po-yu of the Taiwan American Professionals – San Francisco Chapter (TAP-SF), President Chang Cheng-pang of the Taiwanese American Association of Northern California, and Gao Yuli, head of the Mom Class in the Bay Area.
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