Life and Leisure

Body of water

By Guo Shuhan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-11 12:08

Dancing gives Taiwan boy Chen Guangxuan a sense of achievement. Guo Shuhan / China Daily

For Lin Ze'an, dancing cultivates the mind and the body, and his willingness to take risks and express himself has made him stand out among other more technically accomplished dancers. Guo Shuhan reports

Lin Ze'an managed a backward somersault as part of the opening movement for his program at a dance championship in Taiwan but later slipped a little while walking across the stage. His "extraordinary flexibility" impressed the judges enough for him to take second place, despite the mistake.

Lin's tutor, Zhang Yiting, the director of Taipei-based Tang Yi Dance Troupe, says her protg's bravery and willingness to express himself is in stark contrast to the technical achievements of most mainland dancers.

She says Lin used to have problems concentrating and dealing with people, but dance has made him more focused and confident.

"Lin is a boy who performs surprising deeds all the time," Zhang says. "He was determined to add the backward somersault on a whim just one week before the competition. He was so confident that he said he didn't need my help.

"But I'm really delighted about his success and I have to say, the daring somersault must have increased his sense of achievement."

Zhang says it doesn't really matter to her what kind of body shape or personality her students have. She just wants to help them master dance skills through arduous training so they can express themselves with their bodies.

Late last month, Zhang's Tang Yi Dance Troupe, and the Leading Dance Troupe from Taoyuan, Taiwan, were invited to attend the Cross-Straits Youth Dance Exchange Performance, in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Zhang says it doesn't matter how long or how hard she trains her students. They will never kick their legs as high as mainland students.

"It's not because my requirements are not as strict as mainland tutors, my students are just not willing to be so technically proficient. They think personality is the foundation of a dancer's development," Zhang says.

"But if I ask my students to express themselves and be a bottle of water using body language, I'm sure they can do it."

Taiwanese dance troupes tend to have a more innovative approach to dance than mainland folk and classical troupes, which emphasize the costumes and traditional dance movements.

Chessboard, performed by Tang Yi, compares life to a chess game: Even if the outcome cannot be predicted, we have to determine our next move in a furiously competitive society.

Leading Dance Troupe performed What?!. It describes the pressure of contemporary life, the agitation and uncertainty, while the outward appearance is composed and self-possessed.

"It's so different from the stylized performances by troupes from the mainland. Their original choreography made a great impact," says Pan Xiaoqiao, who was touched by the dancers' explosive movements and their simple black-and-white costumes in Chessboard.

Lin was originally encouraged to dance by his parents, who hoped classes would help their only son overcome his problems at school, which included an inability to concentrate and poor academic performance.

The introverted 9-year-old studied for three years and there were no obvious signs of progress.

Teacher Zhang almost gave up on Lin when he couldn't remember movements or follow simple rhythms after hours of instruction.

Even so, Lin's mother repeatedly asked Zhang to choreograph a short program for a dance competition held in Taipei last year open to youth dancers.

At the time, Lin was unable to follow the rhythm of the music and usually ended his program before or after the melody ended, never on time.

Leading Dance Troupe from Taoyuan, Taiwan, gives a dance performance in Qingdao. Wang Qian / For China Daily

The Taipei-based Tang Yi Dance Troupe attends the Cross-Straits Youth Dance Exchange Performance in Qingdao, Shandong province. Guo Shuhan / China Daily

At the competition, however, he got his timing spot on and his expressive performance secured him first place.

"I was really on the edge of giving up. But I convinced myself to persist, to give him a sense of achievement," Zhang recalls.

"Dancing is a kind of sport to cultivate not only my body but my mind," Lin says. "Take Chessboard, for example, it brings me an intense feeling of competition and also gives me an understanding of the significance of schoolwork."

To prepare for the performance in Qingdao, assisted by an older group of classmates, he worked hard and finally attained a sense of rhythm.

After a lot of sweat, Lin is able to concentrate better now, which has improved his academic performance.

He still has difficulties understanding his tutors sometimes, but he is improving all the time. Competition has also inspired him to learn more.

"More knowledge provides more opportunities to triumph," Lin says.

He has also drummed up enough courage to pursue his dream of being recruited by a troupe based in Europe or the United States, which Lin says is "the summit of ambition held by most Taiwanese youth dancers".