Performances of world-recognized cultural treasures will be staged as part of National Day celebrations in Taiwan, event organizers said yesterday.
These include kabuki, a classical Japanese dance-drama integrating song, dance and skills that was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2005 as one of the masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
A kabuki lecture and demonstration presented by Shochiku Company is scheduled today and tomorrow at the Recital Hall of the National Theater in Taipei, officials at the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center said.
Meanwhile, the 2009 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival being held at the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts in Yilan County will feature Khmer shadow theater and Khmer classical dance by Cambodia’s Sovanna Phum Art Association today and tomorrow.
Khmer shadow theater, also known as the royal ballet of Cambodia, was proclaimed a cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2003. The art form, which narrowly escaped extinction in the 1970s, has been closely associated with the Khmer court for more than 1,000 years. The performances traditionally accompany royal ceremonies and observances such as coronations, marriages, funerals or holidays.
Khmer shadow theater, or sbek thom, was added to the UNESCO list of cultural heritages in 2005. Sbek thom features 2m tall, non-articulated puppets made of leather openwork. The performances traditionally take place at night outdoors. The shadows of the puppets’ silhouettes are projected onto a white screen set up in front of a large fire or, nowadays, projectors.
Also taking part in the festival is the Mandalay Marionettes Theater from Myanmar, which will perform Burmese string puppet shows that are rarely seen in Taiwan.
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