The annual Western Arts Alliance (WAA) Conference, one of the most important gatherings for the performing arts industry in North America, will take place in downtown Los Angeles from September 2 to 5, 2025. Continuing its mission to spotlight Taiwan’s vibrant performing arts, the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, Ministry of Culture, will present under the theme “Taiwan On the Move.” During the conference, the Academy will introduce outstanding Taiwanese companies and artists with strong touring potential, including Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Ju Percussion Group, Hung Dance, B.DANCE, Bulareyaung Dance Company, Riverbed Theatre, HORSE, Puppet & Its Double Theater, Twincussion, FOCASA Circus, Voice Travelers, D_antidote Production, and Les Petites Choses Production.
This year marks a milestone as a Taiwanese company is featured for the first time in WAA’s official Amplified Pitch Sessions. B.DANCE, founded by choreographer Po-Cheng Tsai, will present Floating Flowers, a poetic work inspired by the imagery of water lanterns, blending Eastern aesthetics with contemporary dance vocabulary. Another participating group, Hung Dance, will embark on a seven-city North American tour later this year, presenting its acclaimed piece Birdy along the U.S. and Canadian West Coast, while its new work Pull & Repulsion has also received international recognition. Representatives of both groups will join the Taiwan Academy on site in Los Angeles to promote their upcoming tours.
In addition, the Taiwan Academy has once again been invited by WAA organizers to speak at the official forum “See the World: International Touring Opportunities, Outbound and Inbound” on September 2. Together with colleagues from Mexico, the International Indigenous Music Summit, and global curatorial networks, the Academy will share Taiwan’s strategies, experiences, and challenges in developing international touring, highlighting Taiwan’s active role in cross-cultural exchange.
Founded in 1967, the Western Arts Alliance brings together performing arts professionals primarily from the U.S. West Coast, Canada, and Latin America, with its annual conference held each year in late August or early September. Taiwan Academy has participated for many years, building strong networks of trust. In 2024, the Academy was invited to take part in Performing Arts Discovery (PAD) to share Taiwan’s cultural diplomacy initiatives. This year’s inclusion of Taiwanese companies in the official pitch session, alongside an invitation to the international forum, reflects the growing visibility of Taiwan’s performing arts on the WAA platform. The Academy looks forward to expanding touring opportunities across the Americas, showcasing the diversity and international potential of Taiwan’s creative energy.
An online catalog, Performing Arts from Taiwan (https://performingartstw.apiobuild.com/), will also be promoted at the conference, featuring profiles of Taiwanese companies, tour-ready productions, and past achievements, creating more opportunities for industry professionals to discover Taiwan’s talent.
For more information about the WAA Conference, please visit https://www.westarts.org/conference.