Disabled artists enchant Yan'an audience
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Twenty-one deaf dancers perform "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva" at the "My Dream" show presented by China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe in Yan'an, in north China's Shaanxi Province, on September 24, 2009.[Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
Performers from the China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe staged their visually stunning and emotionally touching show "My Dream" in the north China city of Yan'an on September 24.
The buzz of excitement in the crowded stadium turned to rapt attention as the show opened with a poem performed in sign language by beautiful deaf performer Jiang Xintian. The poem is an ode to the beauty of life from the viewpoint of the disabled.
The troupe performed their trademark dance "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva". With dazzling costumes and dance moves inspired by statues of the thousand-armed Buddha, the dancers took the audience back in time to the majesty of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). To enthusiastic applause, the deaf dancers synchronized their moves perfectly with the music, assisted by two sign language conductors. At the end of the dance, lead dancer Tai Lihua spoke to the audience in sign language "Through helping others, you will be helped by thousand hands when you are in need. Love is the universal language of humanity."
Blind singer, Yang Haitao, reprised his performance of "Paradise" from the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Games in Beijing.
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Dancers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe perform "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva" in Yan'an, in north China's Shaanxi Province, on September 24, 2009. [Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
The troupe's orchestra played Chinese and Western music on both Chinese traditional instruments, such as the erhu, Chinese zither, bamboo flute and pi-pa, and Western instruments including the saxophone, clarinet and bass.
Luo Xiangjun, who lost both his arms in an accident at an early age, led a group of deaf performers in a dance that depicted a farmer's life. Mr. Luo told China.org.cn that he had been a farmer in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China before he became a professional dancer, and the dance was based on his early experience.
The dance "Butterfly Lovers", based on a Chinese ancient love story, was a visual feast. The dancers painted rainbow patterns as they moved in heir brightly colored costumes. A line of dancers standing in the dark imitated flying butterflies with their fluorescent gloved hands. And when the troupe danced to Latin music, the stadium rocked as the audience clapped along.
China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe was founded in 1987. They created the variety show "My Dream" in 2000 and since then it has proved a huge success. The 104-strong troupe has toured more than 60 countries, creating a sensation wherever they go.
This October, the troupe will take the show to Israel as a part of the China-Israel cultural exchange program "Experience China in Israel". Tai Lihua, the troupe's president, said the performers have learned Hebrew songs and will play Israeli music on Chinese traditional instruments. Ms Tai said it is her dream to bring the "My Dream" show to every corner of the world.
