Strike a pose: The Formosa Circus Arts (FOCA) takes its name from the historical name of Taiwan.

Through its compelling acrobatic acts, Taiwan’s Formosa Circus Arts (FOCA) shows audiences the traditional and modern sides of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Formosa Circus Arts (FOCA) visited the capital recently to dazzle the hearts of Jakartans with a series of heart-stopping acrobatic acts, as well as traditional and modern dance performances.

Founded in 2011 by Lin Chih Wei, FOCA takes its name from Formosa, the historical name of Taiwan. The troupe gained traction with its 2012 production, Pursue Our Dreams, which made its international debut at the Festival Pisteurs d’ Etoiles in Obernai, France, in 2013.

Since then, FOCA has continuously performed in festivals across the world, being the first Taiwanese circus company to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and France’s Festival d’ Avignon Off. It is also the first Taiwanese company to hold international tours.

Its ongoing tour, organized by Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, sees the troupe stage its 2016 production, The Heart of Asia, in Indonesia and India. The Heart of Asia was previously performed in 14 cities across North America.

At its first stop in Jakarta on June 27, FOCA showcased an approximately 70-minute performance combining traditional Taiwanese culture with Western influences.

Speaking through an interpreter, artistic director Lee Tsung Hsuan says FOCA’s performance is different from others as it combines theater, music, magic, dance and acrobatics into one package.

Heavy rotation: The Heart of Asia is said by founder Lin Chih Wei to be evocative of Taiwan's mix of traditional and modernity.

Meanwhile, FOCA founder Lin, who has amassed at least two decades’ worth of experience in performing arts since the age of 10, said that The Heart of Asia is about Taiwan, the country and the culture.

As befitting something inherently tied to a nation’s cultural identity, The Heart of Asia opened with the sound of nature, birds chirping and ocean waves crashing onto a beach. Performers entered the stage in solemnness, movements serene as nature while a man’s voice sings a tune that seems as old as time.

The performance quickly picks up soon after, with martial arts-inspired moves being the main key in creating a livelier atmosphere.

Acrobatics are very much FOCA’s bread and butter, with one of the very first tastes of the performers’ expertise being handsprings and somersaults, which elicited gasps from the audience as they were performed over a twirling flag.

When the second session rolled in, dance moves incorporating hats and chairs created a livelier and lighthearted atmosphere invoking simpler times in the countryside.

Even though Lin said there would be some acrobatics involving the chairs, the audience certainly did not expect a balancing act so high, it should come with a giant disclaimer saying that it was done by expertly trained professionals. And that’s before counting the handstand on top of the stacked chairs.

The third session’s deeper storyline brings about a change of pace, telling a tale of wanderlust, regret, and nostalgia.

Straight up: For its stop in Indonesia, FOCA presents its 2016 production, The Heart of Asia, which was performed in 14 cities across North America.

“[It tells] the story of a young man from the indigenous minority Puyuma tribe as he matures and walks the path of life,” Lin explained.

The mood is lighthearted yet contemplative, where body movements transcend cultures and language to bring about a message about one’s homeland and memories shared.

One highlight of the part is an act involving Chinese-style yoyos, which is notable for being half juggling act involving throwing the yoyos and deftly catching them with strings. The yoyos are illuminated, which when combined with the darkened stage lighting and the high seating arrangement, create an illusion of the spheres floating in mid-air.

The first three sessions of the performance highlight the traditional side of Taiwan, with its showcases of the tai chi martial art and Hakka tribe’s customs like tealeaf picking through dance.

The atmosphere drastically changed as FOCA brought the audience to the modern time of Taiwan in the fourth and final session.

Taiwan’s multiculturalism is represented through Western-style clothing and music, such as a number performed in white shirts and black vests set to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling”. Other acts like one set to a dubstep beat are also distinctly modern.

While an act featuring a performer twirling a hollowed-out cube is certainly impressive, the main attraction is in the finale, in which a shirtless performer dances and writhes around while suspended in mid-air with a piece of fabric, evoking sensuality and festivity at the same time.

At the press conference, Lin promised that The Heart of Asia would show audiences a glimpse of Taiwan and its cultural diversity. With this kind of performance as a taste, it seems that the country has much to offer.

I’ve got your back: Artistic director Lee Tsung-Hsuan says FOCA’s performance combines theater, music, magic, dance, acrobatics.

— Photos by JP/Wendra Ajistyatama