Background

Birds make great sky-circles of their freedom
How do they learn that?
They fall, and falling,
They´re given wings.
- Rumi -

“Bird and Water Dance Ensemble” is the first dance group in Taiwan made up of amputees, visually and hearing impaired, and dwarfs. In the last two decades, they have been invited to participate in many international competitions and have performed “Life affects life” more than 600 times. They have also danced numerous times on campuses, hospitals, and prisons. Through their performances, dancers showcase what they have “lost” in their imperfect bodies to convey to the audience the joys of “having”. Without hands, but still being able to run and chase; with hands to embrace while having no feet; without ears to listen but using their eyes to behold the beauty of the world; without eyes to see but lending an ear to hear the joys and sorrows of others. “You have wings, learn to fly” This is the original motto of “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble”.
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To enter the little circle of each other’s arms

The founder of the “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble”, Yen Tsui-Chen is now a Professor at the Chinese Culture University Department of Dance. She started her special dance teaching career in 1997 when she assisted the Youth Amputee Association of Taiwan in choreographing its annual performance. In 2000, she taught a group of visually impaired friends who were interested in developing their limbs. An idea was born to form a group to support people with the same interest. She used her personal resources and after-school time to guide and accompany special children looking to brighten each other and spread warmth.

“Bird and Water Dance Ensemble” was established in 2003 and its members range from 20 to 70 years old, coming together as a big family. People with pediatric paralysis, visual impairment, amputees of hands and feet, chondrodysplasia, hearing impairment, or albinism, all contribute to form a perfect circle in Yen’s choreographic work, “flying like birds, soft as water”, constructing a unique aesthetics and the dignity of life.

Group members constantly challenge the different stages as a way of showcasing self-integration, life, expectations, and emotions. The dance troupe has, for six consecutive times, won first prize in the disabled category of the Kitakyushu National Dance Competition in Japan. In 2019, they won the gold medal for Best Group Performance of at the 10th International Gymnastics Festival in Korea. They help transform the most unfree to dance freely in what truly is one of life’s most magnificent adventures.

When it comes to overseas competitions, Yen has always been grateful to Wistron for their long-term sponsoring. Reminiscing one of many examples of Wistron’s assistance to the dance group, she said that in 2003, “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble” was invited by the World Dance Alliance (WDA) to their annual performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While these were exciting news, no funding was available to make the trip. However, Wistron immediately lent a helping hand after learning about it. In addition, Wistron generously sponsored six more tours to the U.S., six tours to Japan and one tour to Korea where the dance troupe performed in several international competitions.

“Twenty years ago, when I went to Wistron to propose a project to an executive, he was very humble. He had a statue of Guanyin behind his seat, he was as kind as Guanyin. I have kept this kindness and humility in my mind, and led the troupe to experience different adventures at various stages every year and make them be smooth and serene. Since then, the Wistron Foundation CEO calls to offer funding, and yet, has never asked or demanded recognition, unlike most corporate sponsorships...”, when speaking of Wistron's support to the troupe, Yen was full of gratitude.

Continuing to show its support for “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble”, the Wistron Foundation is concerned about special education in Taiwan. The foundation highly recognizes Yen’s efforts to combine the art of dance with spiritual growth to nurture the artistic potential of people with physical disabilities in the long term and improve their spirituality and quality of life, and to further promote the development of special arts and culture. Through dancing, dancers have found their inner strength, with the upward-struggling spirit and the pursuit of artistic excellence, to create a more meaningful value of life as well as to encourage physically challenged or visual impaired dancers to recreate a beautiful life. Therefore, the foundation has supported overseas performances of the “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble” and competition since 2013.

Partially Sighted and photophobia, still facing towards the light

The “Bird and Water Dance Ensemble” dancers come from all dark corners, but are brave enough to step out of the darkness and move forward towards the light. While music was playing, two dancers who fear the light started dancing. They were both covered by the curtain. In their journey to find the light, they moved up and down, left and right struggling to move forward and remained deeply trapped, they collided. The silhouette of a struggling figure, a silent cry, letting go of the curtain in their hands is the only way to catch a breath, is the road they have been searching for so long, their own light.

Li Yi-Hui, who suffers from amblyopia in both eyes due to a congenital macular degeneration, was initially misdiagnosed as a slow learning with a learning disorder and slow reaction. Tsai Yu-Chen´s congenital albinism was accompanied with amblyopia and photophobia. Her vision was only 0.1, making it hard for her to focus and turn around to position herself. Although their blurred vision makes them struggle, in the world of dance all peculiarities are turned into traits that help them find another way to interpret life.
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In the silence, agile dance moves lead the beat

The eyes focus on every swirling moment while the body and the diabolo compose the melody of inner surging in the silent world. In order to break through the limitations of being the hearing impaired, he practiced at least four hours a day for 18 years making little progress every day. It is thanks to years of sweat and tears that he achieved to become the champion of fancy diabolo. When describing Ming-Wei, Yen said, “He pushes himself to become the best version of himself. If he misses a move, he will not just redo the last step, but will restart the choreography from the very beginning. Once finished, he will nod and smile.”

Chiang Ning, known as the “street dance obba” (a Korean term referring to an older brother), has a tiny body shape different from ordinary people. He was bullied by his classmates thus isolated himself from the world. More than 10 years ago, his passion for dancing was ignited by the Korean wave. Due to lack of awareness of congenital achondroplasia, his bones are relatively more fragile and he cannot run or jump like others. After 12 years of long-standing practice, deformation, inflammation, and compression made it impossible for him to stand for long periods of time. To continue enjoying the beauty of music and the audience’s applauses, he started paying closer attention to the changes in his body, understanding his limitations and accepting himself as a dancer. From dancing alone next to a river, to joining a dance troupe, he opened his heart to the group and developed his wings of confidence.
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With a hurting body, but an enormous motivation

Hurting an ankle after falling, hitting the flag stand on the side stage, but continuing to perform after being wrapped up with layers of bandages. After stepping on nails, the next step is to shake your feet. A kick to the searchlight, blood will scatter through the spinning lamp. Accidentally falling from the stage, then jumping back swiftly to complete the dance steps. Quickly restoring balance and arriving at positioning after the limbs collided. Afraid of being kicked and beaten, they smartly jump away. Every performance is like a close physical fight.

“In fact, what you can see is nerve-wracking, and what you can’t see is invincible!”, said Yen with a smile. According to the scene’s flexibility, an understanding of the rhythmic tacit and skillful formation helps reduce injuries. The dancers lay out the complementary roles of protecting and being protected to provide the possibility of cross body dance. Through synergy of mutual support, the dancers interpreted different perceptions and achieved the ideal of visual fusion, turning all kinds of obstacles into nothing, like a jigsaw puzzle with its own characteristics, connecting the most beautiful mental images on stage.

The head of the troupe, Mrs. Yen Tsui-Chen, (far right in the left photo), borrowed the school’s open space and lead the group to rehearse in the toughest way.

Lead a hard life to come across yourself in a different aspect

Apart from being dancers, most of the troupe members have their own social roles. Knowing that his dancing time is limited, Chiang-Ning continued to study and learned other skills. Chen Ming-Wei, who plays the diabolo, works as an administrator at a school, and is beloved by students and teachers for being “quick of eye and deft of hand”. What’s more, he uses the income from work and competitions or performances to support his family’s expenses and father’s medical expenses after a stroke. In addition to working as an aromatherapy lecturer and oil massage therapist, Li Yi-Hui is also a champion in both domestic and international sports, having won 11 consecutive national championships in sprinting and long jumping, and even used her legs to build and run a stable home for her family. The albino Tsai Yu-Chen relies on her concentration and memory. Tsai has climbed to the top of national rankings of the disabled business management category. As a college student, she is actively involved in charity activities. She is a strong believer that “amblyopia is not a synonym of underprivileged.”
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Creating infinite possibilities of life

The name “Bird and Water” symbolizes Yen’s expectation for the members, hoping they will spread their wings, embrace the blue sky and ocean, accept their imperfections and fly to where their hearts desire. To not blame themselves nor give up when encountering difficulties. To take difficulties as challenges and gradually sculpt their hearts to embrace the blue sky like a bird and flow free like water. Every performance resembles the beauty of imagery. “It is the reflection of a tree branch in a stream, shining in it but not in it”. The audience experienced first-hand that the most profound and moving portion of the performance is the resilience and courage of dancers onstage. Their routine is a reflection of their souls, resonating the value of vitality and infinite possibilities.

To value what you have is to respect what you have lost. Yen said, “It’s not only about dancing. As long as we do what we love, focusing on doing it well, everyone can break the invisible shackles inside, and seek the truth, goodness, and beauty. Our heart has the power we need to achieve our dreams!”

Outcome

2022Extending from elementary and junior high schools to universities, we initiated the 'Life Education Caring Dance Performance' on campuses. The performance successfully took place at National Chengchi University and Taipei University of Commerce, totaling three shows throughout the year, with participation from thousands of individuals.

2021Won the 10th “Rainbow of the Moon” Fubon Talent Award for the Physically and Mentally Disabled, and the Orchid Award in the Performing Category - Physical Performance.

2020Visited schools, hospitals, and prisons to promote “Life Education Care Dance Performance” life education activities. Since its launch in 2014, nearly 300 shows have been performed.
Won in the 5th Wan Hai Charity Talent Competition for the Physically Disabled and in the Physically Disabled Talent Competition for the Fu-Chun Award, Third Prize, with “My Sky” and “A Birdie Roaring Chirp”.

2019Korea Public Performance - The 10th International Gymnastics Festival and the 10th Korea Rhythmic Gymnastics Festival (West SUWON GYMNASIUM)
U.S. Public Performance – “Beauty of Dance, Ode to Life” charity dance performance (Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco).
Best Performance Award - Gold Medal at the 10th International Gymnastics Festival in Korea for the group category.

2018In the 4th Wan Hai Charity Talent Competition for the Physically Disabled, they won First Prize Jin-Chun Award, for “Heart Painting Road”.

2017U.S. public performance – “Courage Never Gives Up, Let Love Fly” (Salt Lake City, Utah - McDonald's Benefit, San Francisco).
In the 14th Kitakyushu & Asia International Dance Competition, won the First Prize in the Challenge Award for the Disabled Category with the work “Crossing”.

2015In the first Taoyuan Cup Dance Competition, the work “Wheelchair Dance - Dancing to brighten the Starry Sky” won the first place in the category of Creative Dance, and runner-up in the category of Creative Dance for the work “Wings of the Heart”.
In the 13th Kitakyushu & Asia International Dance Competition, won first prize of the Challenge Category for the Disabled Category with the work “Wings of the Heart”.
In the 7th Fubon Bank Taipei Talent Award for the Physically and Mentally Disabled, won the Plum Blossom Award in the Performance category for the work “Wheelchair Dance - Dancing to brighten the Starry Sky”.

2015Organized a theme tour exhibition for the International Year of Soils, and conducted environmental courses and video dissemination on campus and in communities for environmental education. Moreover, in cooperation with NGOs, the Taoyuan residents reported 20 hectares of Shen-Mei low wall contamination and successfully prompted the government to order the suspension of work and conduct contamination investigations.

2014Man-Chun Award as the Second Prize, in the Physically Disabled Talent Competition for the work “Crossing” at the 3rd Wan Hai Charity Talent Competition for the Physically Disabled, and received honorable mention in the Physically Disabled Talent Competition for the work “Heart Vision”.

2013U.S. performance - Love, Infinity “Dancing with Us Across the Ocean and the other shore” (Seattle, Houston, Salt Lake City, San Francisco).
First Price in the Challenge Award Handicapped Category at the 12th Kitakyushu & Asia International Dance Competition “Overlook”.
Awarded with the Plum Blossom Award highest honor during the 6th Fubon Bank Taipei Talent Award for the Physically and Mentally Disabled, in the Performance category for the work “Welcome to the Sun”.

2012Awarded the Man-Chun Award, Second Prize during the 1st Wan Hai Charity Talent Competition for the Physically Challenged with the work “Beautiful Life”.

2011U.S. performance – “The Beauty of Taiwan. Let Love Fly” (St. Louis, Orange County, California, Los Angeles, San Diego).

2010U.S. performance – “Love Without Barrier, Dance for Taiwan Love” (Los Angeles, San Diego).

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