Chasing dreams in an extraordinary way – 2011 Taipei Children's Arts Festival

Written/compiled and reported by Chi Bing-hui

The Taipei Children's Arts Festival, which children eagerly anticipate every summer, is here once more this year with the theme “Extraordinary.” It signifies that every child possesses a unique soul, and daring to dream is the key to unlocking their potential. The event, held from July 4 to August 7, features a variety of exciting performances and installations, as well as free outdoor shows for all to enjoy. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Among the festival offerings, the centennial Dream Voyage Project for children — “Fish Swimming Towards the Future” — is a large-scale art installation of six “brave fish,” collaboratively created by 600 grandparent-grandchild pairs and visual artist Akibo. From July 4 to July 14, the pioneering “Hand in Hand – Grandparent and Child Creative Workshop” invites grandparents and children to paint 1,200 dazzling fish scales with warm familial affection, symbolizing how children gain “courage,” “wisdom,” and showcase “talent” through intergenerational dialogue and collaborative creation. From July 19 to July 29, the Brave Fish Family will tour various performance venues of the Taipei Children's Arts Festival, and on August 6, they will set off from Huashan Grassland in downtown Taipei towards a future of dreams. Families are encouraged to wear blue and white outfits to cheer them on. From August 12 to August 28, the complete creative process behind “Fish Swimming Towards the Future” will be exhibited in the Underground Experimental Showroom of the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.

As for international acts, from July 13 to July 17, Australia’s DaDa Theatre will guide children to unleash their creativity in “Little Architects – Building a City”; from July 19 to July 25, Canada’s Colorful Paper Flower Children’s Theatre presents “The Magical Time House”; and from July 29 to July 31, France’s JoyMil Theatre brings “Crazy Serenade,” a wild physical comedy performed by clowns along with hangers, quilts, and pillows. Local performances include KISS ME Theatre’s “The Pawnshop of Happiness” from July 22 to July 24, and If Kids Theatre’s “The Ugly Little Lamb’s Choice” from August 5 to August 7.

In addition to ticketed performances, this year’s Free Community Performances have expanded to new venues such as department stores, metro underground malls, the Expo Butterfly Dome, and even zoos. From July 7 to July 9, three performances will take place at Da’an Forest Park: the Tjimur Dance Theatre’s “Dancing Life: Glass Beads Series – Part One, Kurakuraw ‘Love Feathers,’” which uses modern movement vocabulary to depict a beautiful Paiwan legend; the You Yuan Divine Drum’s “Young Divine Drummers’ Art Feast for the World,” which combines Eastern martial arts with dance and Western percussion, unleashing life energy through the sound of drums; and the vocal-only music art performance “Falling in Love with A Cappella,” sure to offer a refreshing experience. From August 4 to August 6, at Huashan Grassland, performances include the Haishan Theatre’s “Oh, Money Servant (The Miser),” the National Taiwan Opera’s newly adapted children’s Peking opera “Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Within Strategy,” and the Hong Sheng Lion Dance Troupe’s “The Splendor of Performance Troupes.” The Children’s Arts Festival invites everyone to come together and celebrate, witnessing the touching moments as dreams set sail.