Tai Lihua: A Silent World of Splendor
Tai
Lihua, the disabled lead dancer of "The Thousand-handed Goddess of Mercy",
impressed us by her refined performance but more by her spiritˇ
Kwan-yin Sister
With graceful dance and sumptuous costumes, the dance of "The Thousand-handed
Goddess of Mercy" was absolutely an eye-catcher. But can you imagine that the 21
dancers are deaf and mute?
It was the first time ever that a dance performance by handicapped people was
put on show at the Spring
Festival Gala, and it was a big hit. Never has a performance ever before won
so much applause from the audience. Not only was the dance awarded as the best
dance of the gala, but also was considered the most successful and touching.
If the dance was a climax of the gala, the lead dancer Tai Lihua was the
soul. People thus affectionately call her "Kwan-yin sister."


"Tai is the best deaf dancer I have ever seen," said Zhang Jigang, director
of the dance. "She just has the sense."
When Tai first performed the dance years back, she didn't grasp it well and
either grinned or sulked. But the countenance she has acquired now is long
sought. It's an expression of serenity as Goddess of Mercy should be kind and
look composed.
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