IASAS Dance Exchange at TAS Celebrates Roots and Cultural Connections

The stage and studios of Taipei American School came alive September 19–20 as TAS hosted the IASAS Dance Exchange. This year’s invitational carried the theme Roots: Understanding what we dance, where it comes from, and why we dance it. 

Seventy-five student dancers from the six IASAS schools gathered to learn from guest artists and one another in a series of intensive workshops. Sessions ranged from Tahitian with Melissa Gygax, Hip Hop with Edson Maldonado, and Street Jazz with Xiaomei, to Contemporary with Baden Hitchcock, Contemporary Ballet with Aili Mok, and Dance for Film with William Lü. Each style challenged students to not only expand their technical skills but also reflect on the cultural origins and values that shape every movement. 

“Our theme this year reminds us that dance is never just steps, it is history, community, and storytelling,” Kendra Ing, Upper School Performing Arts Dance Teacher said. “We want students to experience what it means to learn responsibly and respectfully from a wide variety of traditions.” 

The invitational also highlighted the power of collaboration. Dancers rotated across groups, sharing perspectives, pushing creative boundaries, and building new friendships. Beyond technique, the weekend reinforced the importance of approaching cultural practices with curiosity, humility, and care. 

As the final applause echoed through the Lower School Auditorium, participants left with more than choreography to take home. They carried a deeper understanding of how dance connects people across cultures and schools. At TAS, that spirit of exploration, respect, and belonging reflects our mission to prepare students to be globally minded contributors who make the world a better place.