Imagine trying to tell the story of a nation in an 80-minute dance performance. That’s what the National Taiwan University of Sport (NTUS) Dance Company sets out to do in We Are Taiwan, which will be performed at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond on May 17.
Company co-founder, team leader, and production director Pan Li-Chun tells Pancouver over Zoom that the performers in this show express the diversity of Taiwanese culture in youthful, vibrant, and contemporary ways.
“We use this approach because it makes our dancers feel truly themselves on-stage, proud to be a part of it, and honoured to have grown up in Taiwan,” Pan says in Mandarin. “Because of this, they have this feeling and this passion in their hearts.”
The Metro Vancouver Overseas Taiwanese Society is presenting We Are Taiwan as part of Asian Heritage Month. The show integrates dance, music, singing, theatre, and traditional arts and crafts, with each piece focusing on a different component of Taiwanese society. For example, the dance performance “Echoes of Time” recalls 1950s-era cabaret and radio culture. “Sweet Rebellion” draws upon the ABBA hits “Voulez-Vous” and “Mamma Mia” to spotlight the courage of Taiwanese youths.
We Are Taiwan performers also celebrate Indigenous spirituality, Hakka resilience, the annual Taiwanese Taoist Mazu pilgrimage, and the warmth of a “bridesmaids’ table” of food.
“We hope that through their enthusiasm, everyone in the audience can immerse themselves in the diverse, beautiful, inclusive, and youthful culture of Taiwan,” Pan continues. “With this cultural background and atmosphere, the audience can truly experience Taiwan!”
Performers will introduce each piece with a bit of cultural background in English.
Diversity on display in Taiwan
We Are Taiwan opens with “Island at First Light” as dancers lift their bodies into the world. Sky lanterns ascend upwards, echoing the famous Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, which symbolizes the birth of hope and prayer. The production reinforces this mood with Philip Glass’s minimalistic and rhythmic Etude No. 6 performed by Japanese pianist Maki Namekawa
“Beyond the visuals, we’ll use dance transitions between each piece,” Pan reveals. “Each dance might have a creative background or references to Hakka or Indigenous culture.”
Pan’s father came from mainland China, so she grew up in a village populated by dependents of military personnel. She was surrounded by women from different parts of Taiwan, including Aboriginal people, offering her a firsthand experience of the island’s diversity.
“Gradually, I realized that new immigrants from various countries are very comfortable in Taiwan,” Pan notes. “Taiwanese people are very welcoming to people from all over the world, living together and sharing their cultures. In this environment, we want to convey that we in Taiwan are very nice to everyone. That is the spirit of Taiwanese people.”
She says that through their performances, students also want to demonstrate that when difficulties arise in Taiwan, people band together to help one another. She cites the 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Hualien County in 2024 as a prime example.
The NTUS Dance Company was founded in 1996 at National Taiwan University of Sport in Taichung, which is Taiwan’s second-largest city. Pan is an NTUS professor who specializes in dance choreography and performance, as well as Chinese and Taiwanese dance.
Tour includes stops in other cities
In addition to dance, students learn about stage lighting, costumes, music, and overall stage effects.
“In the early stages—to allow students to understand the power of different dance styles—we showcased ballet, modern folk dance, and similar forms,” Pan says. “Gradually, as we gained more opportunities to tour internationally, we needed to establish our own unique characteristics.
“So we started drawing inspiration from Taiwanese life, folk beliefs, and culture, creating a themed production each year,” the team leader adds. “This allowed students to express themselves not only physically but also to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural background of Taiwan—the island they grew up on.”
The Taiwanese government provides resources to help university students broaden their horizons and expand their reach overseas. This year, NTUS Dance Company’s North American tour began on May 2 in Los Angeles and will conclude on May 24 in Seattle. It includes performances in five other California cities as well as Edmonton and Portland.
“Last year, we toured the East Coast, and in June we’ll be going to Hokkaido [in Japan],” Pan says.
The team leader doesn’t hesitate when asked for the most important takeaway from these shows.
“We hope the audience will leave with a feeling of liking and loving Taiwan, just like our students!” Pan says. “We hope that through this emotional experience—whether you are an overseas Taiwanese or a mainstream audience—you can imagine how wonderful Taiwan is. And for Taiwanese people, we hope that after watching the performance, they will feel proud of Taiwan, just like our dancers.”
Event details
Metro Vancouver Overseas Taiwanese Society will present We Are Taiwan at 2 p.m. on Sunday (May 17) at Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Street) in Richmond. The lobby opens at 1 p.m. For tickets, visit the Gateway Theatre website.
Pancouver website builder Michelle Wu translated Pan Li-Chun’s Mandarin answers into English. Follow Pancouver on Instagram @PancouverMedia, on X @PancouverMedia, and on Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social.
