TJIMUR DANCE THEATRE
Tjimur Dance Theatre -
First Dance Company in Taiwan Dedicated to Contemporary Paiwan Cultural Aesthetics
It was founded in 2006 by the head of company and artistic director, Ljuzem Madiljin, with Baru Madiljin as the dance director and choreographer. Based on the roots of Tjimur Tribe of the Paiwan people, we attempt to transform the integrated Paiwan melodies and dances into modern body aesthetics through the learning process of traditional Paiwan music and dance. We are committed to retaining the traditional cultural foundation while seeking out the core essence of the Paiwan culture, where songs are infused to dance and dance inspires music, to showcase one of the most unique and distinctive contemporary dance companies in Taiwan.
In 2020, we have been invited to participate in the Krokus Festival, Belgium and Identidades Festival, Chile.
In 2019, we have been invited to participate in the Vancouver International Dance Festival, Canada, Brighton Festival, the U.K. and Dance Bridges Festival, UK and the Identidades Festival, Chile.
In 2018, we were selected to represent Taiwan in the Festival d'Avignon, France and Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Taiwan Season, UK for the first time in the same year. The 42 performances over 56 days received outstanding reviews and recognition in 22 reports by the French and British media. The Scotsman, The Herald, The Broadway Baby, and Théâtrorama (France) gave the superlative ratings of five-star for three reviews and four-star for three reviews. Out of which, Ariane Bavelier from the French newspaper, Le Figaro, gave the review: “A Bouquet of Magnificently Beautiful “Heaven Flowers” Presented by Tjimur Dance Theatre.” Dorothy Max Prior from the Total Theatre Award, UK, said: “Its gentle but strong energy is appealing,and I feel a window has been opened to invite me to look in on a culture I know very little about.”. We were also nominated for the “Total Theatre & The Place Award for Dance”and were the only Asian troupe to made it on the nomination list.
In 2017, we were invited to light the flame of the “2017 Universiade” in Italy. In the same year, we were invited to perform“As Four Step” at the Festival d'Avignon, France and “Odoru-Akita International Dance Festival” (踊る。 秋田), Akita, Japan.
In 2016, we were involved with our first cross-national co-production with the work “2 Gather”, which was the first international Taiwanese indigenous contemporary dance co-production, and we were invited to perform at the 2016 “Taipei Arts Festival” and the “Pulima Art Festival”.
In the same year, we were invited to perform “As Four Step” at the “Festival Internacional Cervantino”, Mexico, which received front page coverage on Zocalo Saltillo: “As Four Step’captured a boundless and limitless world. There was sophisticated, delicate, and subtle imagery in all aspects, including lighting, sound effects, and dancers’ body languages.” El Diario newspaper of Mexico also reported: “As Four Step’ haddrawn all the audience’s attention, as if stealing the whole evening of Saltillo, Mexico! Moreover, the dancer’s body languages were like movements of flying birds and swimming fish, so natural and lively. ‘As Four Step’ is definitely a high-quality work which can touch people’s heart.”
The Tjimur Dance Theatre is dedicated to exploring the breathing method of the Paiwan people that incorporates music to dance, and break through the dancers’ habitual body usage through the contemporary body training pioneered by Ljuzem Madiljin to continuously develop their potential and limits.
For more than a decade, the dance company has been creating possibilities for the development of the indigenous people’s contemporary theater. We have opened up dialog with the international community through the self-organized Tjimur Arts Festival, and at the same time, we have continued to organize tribal performance tours and workshops every year to develop arts communication in Taiwan.
In 2020, we have been invited to participate in the Krokus Festival, Belgium and Identidades Festival, Chile.
In 2019, we have been invited to participate in the Vancouver International Dance Festival, Canada, Brighton Festival, the U.K. and Dance Bridges Festival, UK and the Identidades Festival, Chile.
In 2018, we were selected to represent Taiwan in the Festival d'Avignon, France and Edinburgh Festival Fringe - Taiwan Season, UK for the first time in the same year. The 42 performances over 56 days received outstanding reviews and recognition in 22 reports by the French and British media. The Scotsman, The Herald, The Broadway Baby, and Théâtrorama (France) gave the superlative ratings of five-star for three reviews and four-star for three reviews. Out of which, Ariane Bavelier from the French newspaper, Le Figaro, gave the review: “A Bouquet of Magnificently Beautiful “Heaven Flowers” Presented by Tjimur Dance Theatre.” Dorothy Max Prior from the Total Theatre Award, UK, said: “Its gentle but strong energy is appealing,and I feel a window has been opened to invite me to look in on a culture I know very little about.”. We were also nominated for the “Total Theatre & The Place Award for Dance”and were the only Asian troupe to made it on the nomination list.
In 2017, we were invited to light the flame of the “2017 Universiade” in Italy. In the same year, we were invited to perform“As Four Step” at the Festival d'Avignon, France and “Odoru-Akita International Dance Festival” (踊る。 秋田), Akita, Japan.
In 2016, we were involved with our first cross-national co-production with the work “2 Gather”, which was the first international Taiwanese indigenous contemporary dance co-production, and we were invited to perform at the 2016 “Taipei Arts Festival” and the “Pulima Art Festival”.
In the same year, we were invited to perform “As Four Step” at the “Festival Internacional Cervantino”, Mexico, which received front page coverage on Zocalo Saltillo: “As Four Step’captured a boundless and limitless world. There was sophisticated, delicate, and subtle imagery in all aspects, including lighting, sound effects, and dancers’ body languages.” El Diario newspaper of Mexico also reported: “As Four Step’ haddrawn all the audience’s attention, as if stealing the whole evening of Saltillo, Mexico! Moreover, the dancer’s body languages were like movements of flying birds and swimming fish, so natural and lively. ‘As Four Step’ is definitely a high-quality work which can touch people’s heart.”
The Tjimur Dance Theatre is dedicated to exploring the breathing method of the Paiwan people that incorporates music to dance, and break through the dancers’ habitual body usage through the contemporary body training pioneered by Ljuzem Madiljin to continuously develop their potential and limits.
For more than a decade, the dance company has been creating possibilities for the development of the indigenous people’s contemporary theater. We have opened up dialog with the international community through the self-organized Tjimur Arts Festival, and at the same time, we have continued to organize tribal performance tours and workshops every year to develop arts communication in Taiwan.