Chapman holds acrobatic event in honor of Taiwanese Heritage Week

The Center for Global Education showcased a Taiwanese acrobatic event on May 9 in celebration of Taiwanese Heritage Week. Photos by EMILY PARIS, photo editor

As a part of Taiwanese Heritage Week, which takes place from May 7 to May 13, Chapman hosted a Taiwanese Acrobatic Event. The May 9 event took place at Memorial Hall and was open to the general public as well as the Chapman community. 

Over the past few years, due to COVID-19, Chapman has not had the chance to hold a performance to honor this heritage week. In the past, they put on a puppet show in 2019 and a dance show in 2018. Each year, Chapman continues to do something different and plans to continue this tradition.

Kristin Beavers, the director of Chapman’s Center for Global Education (CGE), served as the Chapman sponsor, liaising with the external groups and the Chapman community to help put on this event.

“Chapman has a strong partnership with the local Taiwanese American community, Soochow University in Taiwan and the local Soochow University Alumni Association,” Beavers told The Panther. “Many years later, we continue to celebrate this partnership by promoting Taiwan language and culture through performances like this one.” 

The performance was put on by the Taiwan Acrobatic Troupe, and they showcased their production of “Taiwan Reminiscence.” The event was inspired by the diverse culture of Taiwan by combining dance, drama and acrobatics. 

Taiwanese Heritage Week is part of a larger celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage (APIDA) Month. The acrobatic event is one of the many events that have taken place to celebrate APIDA Heritage Month, which is held during May and honors the cultures, histories and realities of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. During this month, there are activities put on such as boba sales and a luau.

The show was separated into two different sections. The first act showed Taiwanese culture with Taiwanese ancestors’ spirits and diversity of groups in the country. The second act conveyed Taiwan’s religious beliefs and vitality with Taiwanese temple fairs to celebrate religious practices.

Angelique Acuna is an administrative assistant for the CGE and played a role in helping put on the event by booking Memorial Hall, creating waivers for the performers and other logistical factors.

“Working with the Taiwanese Heritage Week representatives explained that this performance is a way to show Taiwan to the world,” said Acuna, who graduated from Chapman in 2022 with a bachelor’s in film studies and art history. “I think it was such a beautiful way to share their culture.”

Samantha Breen-Tsang, a sophomore business administration major, attended the performance to see the unique art of Taiwanese-American acrobatics.

“I thought the performance was beautifully portrayed and the music was very moving,” Breen-Tsang stated. “I enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of the performers on stage and the excitement of the people in the audience.”