Brief Introduction

of China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe

(1 st March 2007)

A Special Flower

Life is full of dreams¡­

People with Disabilities equally love life and art.

Special Art

is a new phrase in view of the art performed by disabled people made its debut in the late 20 th century . The 1 st International Special Art was held in Washington , USA on June 5 th , 1989. Henceforth, the garden of human art has added a new blossom---- SPECIAL ART .

China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe

was founded in 1987. With the support and cares of the whole society, the Performing Troupe bears the dreams of people with disabilities and creates a special art which delights audiences, purifies the soul with Truth, Honesty and Virtue, encourage people by strong will, and delivers friendship with sincerity. Having sought and studied for 20 years, the Performing Troupe has begun to bringing forth new ideas independently, produced classics of special art, travelled to more than 40 countries in Asia, Europe, America , Africa and Oceania . It flies its own unique banner in a colourful world and they are referred to as ¡° Messenger of Beauty and Humanity¡± by the international community and as ¡°A Special Art Star of Mankind and Image Ambassadors for 600 Million People with Disabilities in the World¡± by the Disabled People's International 6 th World Assembly.

 My Dream is an extraordinary performing art presented by China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe:

Artists with hearing impairments
speak their minds a nd express their warm sentiments w ith graceful and colourful dances;

Artists with visual impairments
depict their imaginary world a nd open their hearts with beautiful melodies and charmingly awkward dance steps;

Artists with physical disabilities
give expression to t heir pursuit of life w ith elegant postures and spirited melodies.

Course of Development

 For twenty years , China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe has experienced five periods :

A Child is Born

The fact that there were more than 30 Chinese teenagers participated into the 1 st China Art Festival on September 27 th 1987 pronounced the establishment of China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe (CDPPAT), which expressed disabled people have their own good will and right to take part in the culture activities.

Call for Friendship

From 1988 to 2000, as a popular artistic organization, in order to coordinate activities of ¡°U. N. Decade for the Disabled¡± and ¡°Asia-Pacific Decade for Disabled¡± , and to respond to the suggestion of Economic and Social Council of United Nations, CDPPAT visited 15 countries in Asia £¬ Europe and Oceania to spread the notion of ¡°Equality, Participation, and Share¡± and to call for a civilized and fraternal social environment.

Create New Program Independently

With the spirit of ¡°Truth, Honesty and Virtue ¡± and the aspiration of ¡° unique, elegant, and beautiful¡±, CDPPAT produced Music & Dance My Dream in 2000 to pursue creativity in the arts. After that, the second, the third and the fourth edition of My Dream were produced in succession. Have been Travelling to Asia, Europe, America and Oceania , it has been commended by both performed in the artiest arenas, and in inhabitant communities and schools.

Earn Income by Performing

In May 2002, turning from an amateur to non-profit & professional arts troupe, CDPPAT entered into cultural market and started to stage performances both for free and commercially. It carried out the value of people with disabilities. During period of four years £¬ From what they have earned from performing commercially, they support themselves and contribute to a special charity fund. During the period of the SARS crisis they donated funds to Hong Kong, and after the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia, they gave money to Indonesia . It also performed for free for Closing Ceremony of Paralympics Game in Athens, Submit Meeting of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia an the Pacific and other significant activities.

Go Around the World

Since 2002 CDPPAT have been busy touring and performing to promote Chinese culture, harmony and friendship. It has travelled abroad 50 times, performing in America , Australia , Denmark , Poland , Switzerland , Greece , Italy , Spain , France , Austria , Germany , Turkey , Japan , Korea , Indonesia , Singapore , Malaysia , Brunei , Thailand , Kazakhstan , Australia , Egypt , etc.

Comments from International Community

Truth, Honesty and Virtue are the common spirit pursued by human beings; disabled people are weak but special group. Connecting with both of them, My Dream goes beyond the boundaries of culture, nations and countries and brings enjoy and edification to the audiences.

A Touch of Heart

¡°My Dream¡± is recognized and held in high acclaim wherever it's shared. During the performance, the audience cannot but be moved from one climax to another: now they are lost in aesthetic appreciation of the exquisite dancing and music that flows like floating clouds or gurgling brooks; now their eyes mist with tears as they are filled with admiration and moved by the impact upon their very souls; now they applaud thunderously and sing in unison with the artists to cheer the great vigor of life. After the performance, the audiences were reluctant to leave and left numerous moving comments from the bottom of their hearts.

Comment by Politician Leaders

Politicians wrote letters to CDPPAT visiting US in 2000. President Clinton: ¡°I thank all those participating in the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe for their role in building bridges of understandings among the peoples of the world and in strengthening the depth and breadth of U.S.¡ª China relations.¡± President Gore: ¡°After the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. These performers share a tremendous human spirit. Their artistry has inspired millions of Chinese people and now promises to do the same here in the United States .¡± 9 members of congress and senators: ¡°It is fitting that the title of your U.S. performance is ¡°My Dream¡±,. You show us that determination and creativity is boundless, this is a great lesson that we can learn from you. thank you for your work of spreading peace across the world. ¡± In 2001, Prime Minister Mahathi Of Malaysia: ¡°The unique art created by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe will enable people to further learn the diversified nature of mankind and cherish our common goal and wealth.¡± In 2005, Governor of Australia: ¡°Your talents have fascinated audiences of all the countries, and your visit promotes the friendship of the people of Australia and China ¡± In 2006, Mayor of Vancouver, Canada : ¡°The performing is so moving, with the theme of peaceful, struggle and love. ¡± US Washington State government in 2006 decided that 18th May is ¡°China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe Day¡± and raised national flag of China in front of the government hall. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, on January 5 th , 2007: ¡°It is amazing and brings hope and peace in future.¡±

Comment by Artists

Stern, President of the Carnegie Hall: ¡°On the behalf of the Carnegie Hall benefactors, I wish to express our great pleasure in having the opportunity to participate in sponsoring the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe in its visit to the United States and performance at Carnegie Hall. This performing will present not only the accomplishments of this unique group of Chinese artists, but the promise of hope for all disabled people in finding both a place in society and meaning in life.¡± Terleckyj, Artistic Administrator of the Kennedy Centre: ¡°Audiences across the United States will be enriched by your artistry and inspired by your perseverance in the face of adversity. Your group's artful performances remind us that beauty and dignity know no international boundaries.¡± Scala Theatre in Italy : ¡°The performance of Chinese people with hearing impaired is the Messenger of Beauty and Humanity . ¡± Yves Pepin, Director of the opening & closing ceremonies of the Paralympic Games, commended that: ¡° The music playing by Chinese blind children is the sounds of nature from Orient; the dance performed by deaf children i s unbelievable and beautiful without comparison . ¡±

Comment by Media

New York Times in 2000:¡°Those extremely attractive programs made audiences feel unbelievable.¡± CNN TV station called that ¡° A so inconceivable performance. ¡± Sin Chew Daily in Malaysia: ¡° China Disabled People created the pinnacle of life value. ¡± Pioneer in Australia, in 2005: ¡°It is a colourful dream, a pure peace, a release and a yearning.¡± In 2006, the program Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva invited to perform in 1 year anniversary of the World Exposition in Japan , the Salzburg Art Festival in Austria and the Ceremony of Gold Chicken Award in Germany , was reported in important space of a whole page of the local newspaper with both articles and photos. Local TV stations broadcasted it lively and reported ¡°With enthusiastic applause, all audiences stood up and cheered for the dreamful dance.¡± German TV Station produced living broadcast conversation program for the performers for five times. In 2007, all the media in Spain reported CDPPAT's visiting there. The largest newspaper, Nation, introduced it and commented it as ¡°the dream from China ¡± which was then familiar with every Spanish people.

Internal Construction of Troupe

Performers

There are 88 performers in CDPPAT, which includes 55 performers with hearing impairments, 28 performers with visually impairments, and 5 performers with physical disabilities. The average age of performers is 18. They come from 25 provinces and their nationality is Han, Tibetan, Uigur, Yao , and Hui etc among the performers.

•  Organization There are 3 teams in CDPPAT. Both Team A and B can finish the whole show of My Dream . Team C is composed by the new performers being trained.

•  Performance In 2006, both team A and B together on one stage performed for 17 times. There are 70 shows performed by Team A and 48 shows performed by Team B independently. The two teams visited abroad for 10 times respectively.

•  Artistic Learning CDPPAT invites the well-known artistes to teach and direct performers.

•  Cultural Learning CDPPAT associated with University for Science & Technology Beijing to give the education opportunity for the performers . After entrance exams, 42 performers have entered into college. By the way of learning in the college and the troupe, correspondence education and teaching by long-distance direction , they will be the first group of students with disabilities graduating from this university.

Managements

•  Regulation establishment CDPPAT has made regulations to measure the achievement and virtue of performers, and a series of regulations about study, rehearsal, dress & gear management, and sanitation.

•  Self-management Performers divide themselves into several parts; select their own leaders responsible for their own study, performance, and daily life.

•  Teachers' responsibility There are teachers who live and perform with them. They look after the performers within 24 hours, even help to solve their private problems.

•  Care each other When the performers go out, they wear the same uniforms, and take the same suitcases. The performers hearing impaired look after the ones visually impaired and physically disabled. They conclude the relations between them: ¡°I am your eyes, and you are my ears; I am your mouth, and you are my legs.¡±

•  Insurance CDPPAT has bought endowment insurance, hospitalization insurance and unemployment insurance for the performers. For the performers retiring, it not only gives money from the fund for retirement, but also help them to hunt jobs.

Staff

There are 28 social workers in CDPPAT, with average age of 28. They are in charge of dance, music, light, sound, publicity and marketing.

•  Team of leaders The team of leaders who are aspiring, having art taste and young is leaded by Ms. Tai Lihua, she is also Art Supervisor, and there are Executing Supervisor ¡¢ Operating Supervisor ¡¢ Performing Supervisor ¡¢ Stage Art Supervisor and Media Service Supervisor. Tai Lihua, who lost her hearing ability when she was 2 years old, holds a B achelor of Arts and without party affiliation. She has been the leading dancer in CDPPAT since she was 15, then served from the leader of the performers , Assistant to President and then Art Supervisor. For the past 16 years, she has visited more than 40 countries and is the only Chinese artist who had performances in the world's top two arenas.

•  Working-style They are filled with the spirit of hard-working, the humanist virtue and probity. The relations between them are harmonious and the working style of the troupe is creative.