Today a new generation of disabled Chinese artists, musicians, dancers and athletes is emerging*, ever more ready to challenge earlier stereotypes.

In February last year, millions of TV viewers were captivated* by the performance of the Thousand Hand Goddess of Mercy, during China’s annual Spring Festival Gala. This dance by 21 hearing impaired* performers was led by China’s No.1 disabled ballerina, Tai Lihua. In the performance she appeared as the only face at the front of a column of performers, moving their arms like a fan to represent the thousand arms of Bodhisattva. This sacred Goddess of Mercy is a powerful symbol for people with disabilities, representing love, compassion.

Tai Lihua lost most of her hearing at the age of two, after treatment for a high fever went badly wrong. Luckily, the school for the deaf she entered at the age of seven had an innovative* teacher who used the vibrations* of a drum to teach the children rhythm. Tai Lihua was captivated by the sensation and began dancing.

At the age of 14 she was selected by the Disabled Person’s Federation in her native province of Hubei to receive professional training, and in 1991 she auditioned* for the China Disabled Person’s Art Troupe. Now in her early 30s, she has performed in over 30 countries, including the Athens Paralympics and prestigious* venues such as the La Scala Milan and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

In an interview to the Chinese press in 2003, Tai Lihua explained her personal philosophy: “For each of us some things are given and some are not —— we have no choice in this. But you can always choose your outlook on life. You can look more on the positive side of life and face life’s disappointments with a cheerful, grateful heart”.

Despite the massive problems still facing China’s 60 million-plus disabled people, it is individuals like Tai Lihua who are giving people the courage to discover their own talents, insist on their rights for a better education and develop their unique take on life.

(南山中加学校 李兵老师 供稿)