Special evening to showcase Taiwanese culture

The cultures of Taiwan and China are as different as those of the Sioux and Seminole nations, or of Sweden and Italy. Consequently, organizers of the first-ever Taiwanese Cultural Night at the UW–Madison would like to introduce audiences to their country’s traditions through a free program of performing arts April 10.

To make Taiwanese culture even more complex and multilayered, the last 400 years have seen the Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese all occupy the island, leaving cultural imprints behind, says Shiuh-Dong Lee, president of UW–Madison’s Taiwanese Student Association, which is sponsoring the event. Although those countries have exerted considerable influence, “there are uniquely Taiwanese aspects of local culture, including opera, folk music, film and modern dance,” he says.

The evening will include traditions of the nine aboriginal tribes whose members settled the island, early immigrants and colonizers. The program also will address the hope of contemporary Taiwan through song and modern dance.

“Through this sample of Taiwan’s performing arts, we wish to introduce international society to the distinct Taiwanese culture,” says co-director Alan Chen, a former instructor at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Union’s Great Hall. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Shiuh-Dong Lee, (608) 256-3448.