Taipei Folk Dance Theater
PROGRAM (0911 Taiwan Day )
90 minute
in the Morning
▊Lotus
Choreographer: Tsai, Li-Hua Costume: Chung Tou-Tou
The lotus represents a worldly-trouble-forsaken state of mind. The piece transforms Buddhist mudras into gracious meditative dance, expressing the solemnity and unique beauty of Buddhism.
▊A Ferry Boatmen Romance
Choreographer: Chen Yu-Shou Music: Taiwaness Folk Song
Costume: Lin, Li-Chen
A humorous piece based on a popular Taiwanese ballad “At the Water Ford.” A young girl wants the ferryman to take here to the other bank of the river. The young ferryman says he will take here across only if she promises to marry him. Of course, he relents at the end, when two other ferrymen join in the singing game.
▊Image of Kong Fu
Choreographer： Tsai, Li-Hua Music：Shyy Jye-YeongCostume ：Lin, Li-Chen
Kung-Fu can be divided into two basic types, the hard styles and the soft styles. The hard styles, such as Shao-Lin, are rigid and offensive. The soft styles, such as Tai-Chi, Hsing-Yi and Ba-Kua, are more bending, flowing and defensive. This piece combines Ba-Kua, Tai-Chi, Ba-Kua Hand, Long Chuen, Hsing-Yi Chuen, and weapons, such as knifes, sticks, swords and fans, to present the beauty of firm yet gentle movement of Chinese martial arts.
In the afternoon
▊Tea-leaves Picking
Choreographer： Tsai, Li-Hua
Music：Tea Picking/Chiang, Wen-Yeh Ploughing/Arranged by Kuo, Chi-Yuan
Costume ：Chung Tou-Tou
On the beautiful Formosa Island, tea-leaves picking, plowing and farmers’ body clapping games take place in the picturesque rural landscapes. Men and women joyously dance together in the intoxicating spring breeze.
▊Dance of the Amis Braves
Choreographer： Tsai, Li-Hua Music：Costume ：Lin, Li-Chen
This dance is usually presented by “Giopihay” braves, young adults of the first rank from Chi-Mei Village of the Ami tribe. It expresses the particular spirit of that age group. Its energetic and expansive movements are unique among the nine aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.
▊Homage To The Gods
Choreographer:Tsai, Li-Hua Music: Chen Chung-Sheng Costume: Lin, Li-Chen
Folk dance arrays are an indispensable part of temple festivities in Taiwan. The dance sequence begins with rituals performed when setting up a festival altar to the gods and then proceeds with different folk array formations that bring the festivities to an exciting and joyful climax.
