That evening, the air was filled with more than the sweet scent of popcorn and cotton candy. There was also the unmistakable excitement of the crowd. For many, it was their first time stepping inside the beautiful red-and-white striped big top, designed as an intimate 360-degree performance space. For the first time, Taiwan was hosting its own international circus gathering, bringing together 30 companies and artists from seven countries. It was difficult not to feel the excitement. FOCASA founder and director Lin Chih-Wei then stepped into the centre of the ring. “FOCASA has been on this journey for twelve years… This is the first festival we have initiated, curated and organised ourselves. We listed 200 questions and spent three months discussing them…” His voice suddenly caught with emotion. Drawing on the composure of a seasoned performer, he gathered himself and completed his opening remarks, officially welcoming audiences to the FOCASA Circus Arts Festival.