The Taiwanese Association of Northwest Los Angeles (TANLA) in the Los Angeles area has announced that they will participate in the third annual Asian & Pacific Island Cultural Festival on May 4. They are calling on the public to attend the first performance in Southern California by the Formosa Circus Art (FOCA) on May 16 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.
TANLA President, Song Yixin, introduced at a press conference on April 16 that the association was officially established in 1990 and has a history of over 30 years. Initially focused on fostering relationships among Taiwanese immigrants, the association has grown to over 300 families under the leadership of past presidents and directors. With many members residing in Thousand Oaks, the association’s emblem features an oak tree supporting Taiwan, symbolizing the nostalgia and guardianship of Taiwanese immigrants in the Northwest region. In recent years, the association has actively engaged with the broader community to raise awareness of the Taiwanese immigrant community in mainstream American society.
TANLA organizes annual events such as the Lunar New Year gathering, Dragon Boat Festival picnic, Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, as well as occasional lifestyle forums and outdoor excursions. This year, on May 4, they will participate in the Asian & Pacific Island Cultural Festival at Pierce College to share Taiwanese culture and promote intercultural exchange with people from diverse backgrounds in the Northwest region. The festival will feature a variety of food vendors, cultural handicraft booths, as well as captivating dance and music performances, welcoming families to join in the celebration.
On the evening of May 16 at 7:30 pm, the Formosa Circus Art from Taiwan will perform “The Song of the Land” at the Scherr Forum Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. This will be the cultural troupe’s debut performance in Southern California this year, featuring a fusion of contemporary circus acts and classic Taiwan hits from different eras, showcasing the power and beauty of Taiwan’s history and culture, promising to deliver a cultural feast for the audience.
Established in 2011, Formosa Circus Art aims to create diversified contemporary circus art unique to Taiwan. Its members come from various performance backgrounds such as acrobatics, juggling, street dance, contemporary dance, martial arts, and theater, making it the only contemporary circus troupe in Taiwan with over 20 full-time members. Since 2017, they have been receiving annual funding from the Taiwanese government, having performed in 23 countries and 77 cities, accumulating over 1,200 shows.
Deputy Director Fang Qiongyi of the Los Angeles Overseas Chinese Affairs Center expressed gratitude for the support of various community organizations for the traditional week celebrating Taiwanese Americans. She also encouraged overseas Chinese community members to invite friends from all backgrounds to appreciate the Formosa Circus Art performance, using the captivating show as a means to understand Taiwanese culture and strengthen connections with Taiwan.