Festival returns Yi culture to its origins

At last year's festival, Tobias Biancone, director general of ITI, revealed that for this year's opening show, he will invite an international theater artist to create a production rooted in Chinese ethnic culture with a contemporary vision.

Directed by Samoan theater director and choreographer Lemi Ponifasio, the production features entirely local artists who embody Yi ethnic cultural elements. Through folk songs, ceremonies, farm dances and Torch Festival traditions, the production represents the worldview and reverence for the nature of the ethnic group.

"The project is not so much about making theater or art. It's about returning to origins, returning to family, returning to community, and returning to oneself," says Ponifasio.

"I think we're always lost when we're far away from home. To approach life, I think it's best from one's cosmic vision or worldview created by nature and our ancestors."

To ensure an authentic representation of ethnic culture, Ponifasio invited the performers to participate in the creative process, such as going back to their home villages to collect and learn folk songs.