Hymns
Hymns by Frantic Assembly; Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 4/7, 7:30pm; 4/8, 2:30pm. Frantic Assembly is not easily pigeonholed, but is probably best described as physical theater. The difference from dance is that the body language used is more vernacular, speaking more directly with movements that are familiar in daily life. For all that, Hymns, which is an exploration of how men deal with grief, is a highly choreographed piece of work that spans drama and dance.
Trix
Trix by Cirkus Cirkor and Orionteatern; Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 4/13-14, 7:30; 4/15, 2:30pm. A show that combines circus and theater. This in itself in not unusual, but surreal effects take the show to new dimensions. The show brings with it its own band Urga, whose mixture of rock, reggae, punk and other genres adds to the kaleidoscopic effect on the senses.
Hashirigaki
Hashirigaki by Theatre Vidy-Lausanne ETE; Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 4/20-21, 7:30pm. A concatenation of such seemingly incongruous elements as Japanese design and Beach Boys music, Hashirigaki is the most musically challenging of the shows, with music by "post-post-avant-garde" composer Heiner Goebblels.
Not a Love Story
Not a Love Story by Image in Motion Theater Company; Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 5/4-5, 7:30pm; 5/6, 2:30pm. Still being fine tuned, this Taiwanese original seeks to bring about closer ties between performance art and technology, making use of state-of-the-art animation and imaging equipment to bring human performers into interaction with a virtual environment.
Carmen
Carmen by Lyon Opera Ballet; Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 5/11-12, 7:30pm; 5/132:30pm. A modernist ballet by choreographer Mats Ek, this is an interpretation of the Bizet classic in which modern dance and a deconstruction of the original story add to its very contemporary feel. This will be performed in conjunction with Black Milk a modern dance by Ohad Naharin.
Eat Your Young
Eat Your Young by Arena Theatre Company; Experimental Theater of the National Theater 5/23-26, 7:30pm; 5/26, 2:30pm, 5/27, 1pm and 4:30pm. A futuristic multimedia action adventure making sophisticated combinations of theater, cinema, animation and sound. The story is based on actual families placed in the 1970s and explores the relationship between power and the young.
Inasmuch as Life is Borrowed
Inasmuch as Life is Borrowed ... by Ultima Vez; Taipei Social Education Hall 6/9, 7:30pm; 6/10, 2:30pm. Pushing the boundaries of what can be expressed in dance, Wim Vandekybus explores the transitory nature of life in a powerfully expressive dance drama.
In addition, there will be a Cyber Time rave party on April 7 which will incorporate VJ and DJ performances with installation art to be held at Taipei 101 to open the festival.
Following the success of the World Music Festival last year, another world music event will be held this year between May 19 and May 24 at Ta-an Park. Groups from eight countries will perform in a series of free outdoor concerts that will wrap up with a World Music Jam on May 24.
For further information, visit the festival Web site at http://www.taf.org.tw For online ticketing visit the Era Web site at http://www.ticket.com.tw
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