Circus Go～

Rural Schools in New Taipei City

Support for the arts can begin on the theatre stage and extend far beyond it. This time, FOCASA travels along the edges of Taipei and New Taipei City, reaching schools at the foot of the mountains in Quanyuan, Beitou, the valleys and hillside communities of Shuangxi, the former mining areas of Ruifang and Houtong, and campuses near the coast of Taiwan’s northeast. These schools may not be far from the city centre, yet everyday life here can look very different. Some are surrounded by mountains, others by the sea. Some are located in former mining communities, while others are small schools deeply connected to their local communities. When circus arrives, children do not need to enter a formal theatre. Their own familiar school becomes the stage. From watching the performers’ physical skills to picking up circus props themselves and trying to balance, throw and catch, we hope children discover more than simply how impressive circus can be. We want them to become curious about what their own bodies might be capable of. One success, one failed attempt, then trying again. Each becomes a way of discovering something about themselves. With the support of Fubon Group, this commitment to the arts can extend beyond a single performance, reaching more communities and giving more children the chance to encounter circus for the very first time, in their own way.