Vancouver Programs

Stardom in Sight (Free Admission compliments of TELUS)
Della, with Magic Power (Opening by Champion)

Co-organized by
  

Music, Concert

Sunday, September 4th @ 8pm

One of the most talented female vocalists in the Mandarin-speaking world – Della begun her career singing in the pub at a very young age of 18 in China. Considered as a runaway, her journey to stardom took many surprising turns until she found her way to Taiwan. She is the first China-born artist who released her first album in Taiwan in 2006 and her song "I love him" topped the charts of Taiwan KTV Billboard in 2009. Della's interpretation of Lady Gaga's "Telephone", Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" and Wintney Houston's "Saving all my love for you" has also made her live concerts very popular.

Get Out
Magic Power

Music

Six good friends playing for four different bands came together to form one of the most promising young bands in Taiwan. Combining hip hop, funk, rock and rap, Magic Power delivers its own unique style in music – The East Side Story. Magic Power is known in the youth circuit as a band that is daring and innovative – the very characteristics that represent the youth in Taiwan today.

Always Open Your Heart
Champion

Music

Founded in 1998 with two students who wanted to pursue their love for music and decided to use their job at the music instrument store to search for other band members. Champion, the alternative rock band, begun their performances at the popular indie festival – Spring Scream Festival in Taiwan and released two albums since their inception.

Taiwan Rising (Free Admission)
Musou Girls' Band

Co-organized by

Music, Concert

Saturday, September 3rd @ 8pm

Musical boundaries between East/West and Ancient/Contemporary continue to be blurred as evidenced by Musou Girls' Band. The name "Musou" represents the bands unique place in Chinese traditional music. With comparison to China's "Twelve-Girl Band", Musou brings together the unlimited imagination of composer and founder Mr. Xue Xuan Liu and young Taiwanese talents in music. With instruments such as dizi, liuqin, yangqin, xiaooruan, zhonggrun, pipa, erhu, cello, and percussion, Musou narrates the contemporary classical music for tomorrow.

Guardians of Taiwan
Chairman Band

Music

The Chairman Band has been topping charts, receiving many awards in Taiwan for the past 10 to 12 years and has toured in Singapore, Hong Kong and China. The recently released 8th album is focused on merging Taiwanese folk traditions with their love for Rock and Roll. This alternative rock band was honoured with the best band award at Taiwan's 2006 Golden Melody Awards.

Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra

Music

The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra is a professional concert orchestra devoted specifically to performing new intercultural music. Founded in 2001, it was one of the first such ensembles in the world, and is currently the only one of its kind in Canada. VICO's mission is to be a fresh and relevant voice in the contemporary music of our country... a creative force for innovation, diversity and understanding.

www.vi-co.org

Celebrating Vancouver 125
The First Street Banquet in Vancouver

Presented with

Food

This year we welcome the first ever street banquet celebrating Vancouver's 125. The Taiwanese style banquet features the best beef noodle from the three-time champion Chef Hung, along with a variety of Taiwanese street favourites and international menu. For the first time, various game shows and competitions will also compliment the attendees' overall experience at the festival.

Where's the beef? Best Beef Noodle on Earth
Chef Hung

Culinary Show

First introduced in 2008 and back by popular demand, TAIWANfest welcomes three-time champion of Taiwan's Beef Noodle contest - Chef Hung. Chef Hung's creativity is elevating this popular dish to a whole new level. Chef Hung will be demonstrating his winning recipes, which you will be able to find for sale at the World Café throughout TAIWANfest.

Melting Pot
Chinese Benevolent Association of Canada

Culinary Show

"Melting Pot" explores the culture in the villages where families of the military veterans who came to Taiwan with Chiang Kai Shek after 1949 used to live. Of course, people can find traces of culinary cultures from China in the delicacies from the Veterans' Villages; however, the places produced the unique taste of Chinese dishes that could not be found anywhere in China.

Hakka Secrets
Vancouver Taiwan Hakka Association

Culinary Show

"Hakka Secrets" will reveal how this close-knit ethnic group is always pursuing big dreams. Using simple yet delicious ingredients to create delectable dishes is very culturally fitting to the Hakkas.

Jing Si Tea Ceremony

Tea

Jing Si Tea Ceremony is combined with Tzu Chi humanistic. By serving the tea with thanksgiving, respect, and love, we are expecting to create a harmonious environment, and encouraging people to make a good wish, say good words, and do good deeds.

Dumplings Etc.
Chef Deng

Culinary Show

This 33-year-old restaurant is known for one of the best northern China’s delicacies in Taiwan. From various types of dumplings to a delicious selection of noodles, Chef Deng captures the essences of cuisine styles from various parts of China. Dumplings Etc. provides a good perspective on the sources of Taiwan’s culinary influences.

Survey Says

Presented by

Game Show

A game show designed to explore the stereotypes in a diverse nation like Canada. Multiculturalism encourages all ethnic groups to share their cultures with others; however, our society is also filled with stereotypes. Through the surveys conducted, the game "Survey Says" will enhance our overall understanding of each other in a very light hearted manner.

The Techno Prince

Dance

One of the most popular programs during the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, the Techno Prince, traditionally only seen in temples and rituals to keep evils away, is a contemporary brand of dance which is now the must-have program at Taiwan's festivals. This Taiwanese interpretation of "Gods must be crazy" features a funky and dynamic dance that everyone can do.

Transparent Kingdom
Mr. Candle

Film, Lecture

Ready to provide a different perspective is Mr. Candle (Huang, Ming Cheng) who handstand-walks around Taiwan and is in a process of completing a self-made documentary – "Transparent Kingdom." Through his handstand walk, he documents his life as an acrobat and a dancer but through his lens, he reveals the naked truth about Taiwan. This presentation consists of a short documentary and acrobatic acts from Mr. Candle.

(De)Constructing Indigenous Stereotypes and Identities in Taiwan
Jolan Hsieh, Ph.D

Lecture

Saturday, September 3rd @ 5:30pm
Heritage Courtroom 302
Inside Vancouver Art Gallery

Similar to Canada, Taiwan is also deeply rooted with indigenous cultures. Both Canada and Taiwan are working to revive and preserve the aboriginal heritages. Prof. Jolan Hsieh, invited by UBC Asian Studies, will attempt to change people's perception about Taiwan and Taiwan's First Peoples.

Hip Hop Storm

Documentary

This is a story about two generations of hip-pop dancers in Taiwan. Directed by Su, Che-Hsien, Hip Hop Storm explores the struggle of the first generation hip-hop dancer Alun and the overall acceptance of the street dancing culture today. In his generation, Alun had to travel to Japan, US, Brazil and Europe to pursue his dream to become a world-class hip-hop dancer while his passion and devotion was alien to most of people in Taiwan.