Series Season: 2022
Mackay’s Love
Learn about George Leslie Mackay and his work in Taiwan through Mackay’s Love, an adaptation of the 2018 musical theatre show: Kai the Barbarian: the George Leslie Mackay Story. Mackay’s Love is Supported by Spotlight Taiwan, the Canadian Mackay Committee and the Association of Taiwanese Organizations in Toronto.
Read more »TAIWANfest Papercrafts
Get hands-on with papercrafts and DIY art in a series of interactive workshops filled with fun and creativity! Share moments of happiness with friends and family as you create, customize and personalize.
Read more »TAIWANfest Vendors
Enter the world of Batik, dive into Taiwanese literature, snap a Bentogram and discover something new to try at home. Immerse in stories created by authors and artists from Canada and Asia.
Read more »The Batik Library: Batik Workshop
Batik is a wax resistant dying technique believed to be perfected by the Javanese in Indonesia. The intricate motifs and patterns in each batik fabric hold stories, legends, and mark every occasion from birth to death, earning recognition in UNESCO’S Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In this meditative, hands-on session, you’ll […]
Read more »Peace
When Suana Emuy Cilangasay came to perform in Canada in 2019, he was deeply moved by the similarities between the histories of Indigenous peoples in Taiwan and Canada, particularly their rapidly disappearing cultures and languages. Since then, his musical journey has taken on a mission to inspire other young Indigenous musicians to join him to […]
Read more »Independently Funny
Comedy, in its various forms, has always been an honest reflection of the world around us and of ourselves. Join award-winning stand-up comedian Ed Hill, with his opener, Danish Anwar, for an evening of laughter as they explore the humorous side of independence, whether it’d be a nation, a people or a feeling.
Read more »Be Courageous || Be Yourself
To be ourselves, we must recognize and respect our parentage. The song “Le Ho Shia” is a beautiful reminder that mothers love and care for us even when we cannot appreciate what they have done for us. “Yong Chi” was first sung by the Malaysian Chinese singer Fish Leong, and it talks about courage even […]
Read more »Squid Jigging Fishing Boat
Every December to January, almost a hundred squid jigging fishing boats from Chienchen Fishing Harbor in Kaohsiung will sail from East 120 to West 60 to work at the Falkland Islands in the Southwest Atlantic. The journey takes 35-40 days, and crews name it “Sea Route.” On January 1st, 2015, a 65-metre long, 11-metre-wide fishing […]
Read more »A Time to Swim
In the suburbs of Montreal, Mutang Urud is a family man, but in Malaysia, he was a voice of resistance for the Indigenous peoples of Sarawak. A Time to Swim follows Mutang as he returns home for the first time since his exile in 1992. The remote forest village, however, is not like he remembers […]
Read more »Taste of Wild Tomato
Kaohsiung served as an essential military base under Japanese rule. The city suffered heavy casualties during the 228 Incident, in which the government violently suppressed civilians. The film shows how everyone survives and preserves their memories through the different eras of oppression.
Read more »Blossoming Indonesia
Blossoming Indonesia is a showcase of traditional music, choreography and vocal performances. Featuring Legong, Topang and Tari Piring genre dance performances accompanied by traditional music, the two-part show is an event of dramatic and songful wonder, capturing the essence of Indonesian arts in the face of cultural evolution and history.
Read more »biosphere
biosphere will be DJing for Jen Moon and Koven Wei, including a piano ballad duet with Jen Moon and Nujabes live cover performance with Koven Wei. A set list of Koven’s hit singles in the Rap/Korean Hip-Hop genre and new unreleased singles fusing punk and rock with hip-hop undertones.
Read more »Boluomi
The Malaysian communist party engaged in a decades-long armed struggle in the jungle to gain independence. Babies born during the war were sent to the jungle to survive. Boluomi is the father of one of those babies – Yifan, who is also the protagonist of this film. The Taiwanese-Malaysian father and son resent each other, […]
Read more »Nightly Jams
Following all festival performances at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, patrons can head over to the Brigantine Room where all are welcome to participate in nightly jams hosted by Tatiana Alfaro and her fabulous crew of musicians. Tatiana will kick things off at 9:30pm, and keep the party going until 11pm. All ages and levels welcome, and […]
Read more »Panel – Process and Progress
Festival Artistic Director Allison Toffan sits down with featured festival artists and special guest Travis Knights to discuss “Process and Progress”. The artists will explore conversations in what it takes to produce work, approach to artistic practice, and a look into mentorship – how has it changed over the years, and how different communities function […]
Read more »Panel – A Life in Tap Dance
Festival Artistic Director Allison Toffan sits down with visiting festival artists Dianne Walker and Max Pollak to discuss their careers. “A Life in Tap Dance” will be a conversation exploring highs, lows, triumphs, struggles, anecdotes, treasured memories, and the quest to find balance. Open to all ages, questions are welcome from the audience, and admission […]
Read more »Perspectives in Rhythm
Set one highlights the performance ensembles from the Toronto Rhythm Initiative summer youth programs with choreography by Ella Steele, Cori Giannotta, Johnathan Morin and a participant collaboration from the pre-professional track directed by Allison Toffan. Also featured are David Cox, Tanya Knights, Travis Knights, Cori Giannotta & Johnathan Morin, and The Rhythm Ensemble. Set two […]
Read more »Sadaka
Sadaka (“to give”) was created by Nigerian dance educator, performer and choreographer Sani Abu Mohammed Allen of Ijovudu Dance International to invite divine deities to share their energy and blessings with us. Join master drummer Amadou Kienou and friends in a parade to the heart of Habari Africa. Everybody is welcome to drum, dance, clap […]
Read more »Butterfly Band
The Butterfly Band is led by Kofi Ackah, son of the legendary Ghanaian highlife musician Jewel Ackah. The Butterfly Band features an all-star lineup of musicians that share a love of Ghanaian highlife music.
Read more »The Rumba Kings
The country formerly known as Zaïre, starting in the 1950s and continuing into the 1980s, was the vibrant musical heart of Sub-Saharan Africa, crammed with dancing bars and musical orchestras, bustling with record labels, and most importantly home to some of the biggest stars of African music such as Grand Kallé, Dr. Nico and Franco […]
Read more »Le Rockeuse du Désert
The Desert Rocker is an intimate, witty and profound portrait of the extraordinary Hasna El Becharia, a pioneer Gnawa artist. The first musician to break through the social barrier of this culture, she empowers and inspires women of all ages by reclaiming a musical tradition reserved for men for centuries. A singularly talented artist, she […]
Read more »Songs of My Mother
Four electrifying vocalists with roots on the African continent will honour the role of women and mothers in carrying on musical traditions. Lorraine Klaasen, Djely Tapa, Mis Blandine and Ruth Mathiang share their talents in a musical diversity and excellence showcase, supported by accomplished musicians from Toronto and Montreal.
Read more »Dicko Fils
Moulaye Dicko, better known by his stage name Dicko Fils, is a popular Burkinabé musician who sings and plays the kamala n’goni. He has been awarded the Knight’s Order of Merit from the Ministry of Culture of Burkina Faso and the Golden Kundé award for Best Artist. Dicko Fils has released several successful albums through […]
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