WASHINGTON (Oct. 14, 2022) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, Bureau of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), with the intention of integrating Taiwan's culture, commerce and trade, held the “Taiwan Expo USA 2022” for the first time in Washington, D.C., from Thursday, Oct. 12 to Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.
The Diabolo Dance Theatre was invited to be the opening performance group for the Taiwan Expo USA, conveying the “image of Taiwan” that encompasses the abundant vitality, technological strength and global responsibility of Taiwan as a key link in the global supply chain. Dubbed Taiwan's Cirque du Soleil, the Diabolo Dance Theatre insists on Taiwan's originality in script, music, dance, lighting, costumes and performance design details, presenting a performance art that blends traditional Eastern techniques with modern Western dance. The Diabolo Dance Theatre has received international recognition and performed in over 30 countries, including at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Shanghai World Expo, the Aichi Expo in Japan, national theaters in Central and South America and various major arts festivals in Asia.
Also on display was the Taiwan Culture Pavilion, established by General Association of Chinese Culture, featuring high-tech audio, video and light to portray Taiwan's religious and folk art. Visitors were able to experience traditional temple prayer and blessing rituals with interactive activities especially designed for them.
The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute set up the Taiwan Craft and Design Pavilion to demonstrate Taiwan’s values of freedom and cultural diversity. The pavilion showcased a series of selected craftworks sourced from diverse natural materials such as straw, wood, soil, and metal, among others. In response to the global environmental crisis, eye-catching media applications were also employed to demonstrate the “Green Dialogue” between Mother Earth and Mankind.
In addition to displaying Taiwan’s cutting-edge technological products such as electric vehicles, 5G and low-orbit satellites and other medical and biotechnology innovations, the Taiwan Expo USA also incorporated cultural elements such as tourist displays, food and marine culture. The exhibition’s unique theme was structured to enable the American public to experience and understand the technological strength and cultural fascination of Taiwanese industries.
