Paris, July 6 (CNA) Taiwanese artists are set to bring Taiwan-flavored drama and dance to audiences in southern France when they perform in the Festival Off d'Avignon (Avignon Off) this month.
From July 7-30, The Puppet and Its Double Theater, Formosa Circus Art, Tjimur Dance Theatre and choreographer Tien Hsiao-tzu will stage performances at Avignon Off, a fringe event that parallels the prestigious annual Avignon Festival, according to the Cultural Center of Taiwan in Paris.
The performers attended the opening parade of the festival on Thursday, and acrobats from Formosa Circus Art turned heads on the street when they formed a human pyramid.
The Puppet and Its Double Theater, known for its use of hand puppets, string puppets and other forms of puppets in combination with real-life actors, will perform "Mr. Ruraru's Yard" at the festival.
The production, adapted from an award-winning work by Japanese illustrator Hiroshi Ito, explores the philosophy of "sharing" as opposed to "keeping for oneself."
Formosa Circus Art's production "How Long Is Now?", meanwhile, replaces traditional juggling props with everyday objects such as clothes hangers, buckets and mops, to demonstrate a new form of circus performance.
Tjimur Dance Theatre, one of the first contemporary dance companies dedicated to Taiwan's indigenous Paiwan culture, will bring its production "As Four Step," which is inspired by traditional dance steps of the Paiwan tribe.
Choreographer Tien Hsiao-tzu will stage her dance piece "The Hole," which explores the issue of self-identity and the contradictions in life.
Tien will stage her production at the CDC-Les Hivernales from July 9-19 (off on July 13), while the three groups will perform at the Théâtre La Condition des Soies from July 7-29 (off on July 17 and 24), according to the center.
This is the 11th consecutive year that Taiwanese performing arts groups have participated in Avignon Off.
