Overcoming the sound barrier through dance

Wei Yujie was visibly incensed and her gestures showed it.

As she pumped both hands in a circular motion to sign her vexations, the 16-year-old from Shanxi, China, stormed off from the interview and settled among the comforting presence of her fellow dancers to cool off.

The deaf lead dancer, who performed at The Awakening concert by the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe which took place in the Plenary Hall in KLCC recently was having a mini tantrum.

The next day, however, at the lobby of The Palace of the Golden Horses, Wei had visibly cooled down enough to revert to her playful self by fluttering her eye lashes to convey her apologies for last night’s tantrum.

Mentor: Wei (right) with her dance teacher Wang Jing.

But, Wei certainly had not put the matter to rest. Having gone through a night of soul-searching, she had come prepared to defend herself.

Dance, she said in sign language, was about the dancer and her ability to touch her audience through her art.

While it may be public knowledge that Wei is deaf and that she will never be able to hear the music that accompanied her movements on stage, Wei insisted that by no means would a discerning audience allow a dancer to use her disability as an excuse for a dismal performance.

As such, though being handicapped may be a criterion to be a part of the troupe, it does not mean that their performance would be overlooked.

So, in the end, though Wei may be deaf, she still had to work as hard as any other hearing dancer to maintain her place in the troupe and as such, was entitled to the same recognition as bestowed to an able-bodied dancer.

As it is, the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, founded in 1987, is an internationally rated dance troupe which does 150 performances a year.

Graceful and opinionated and sure of what she wants, summed up this slender Chinese beauty who began dance lessons at the age of five.

Wei, who lost her hearing during infancy after a botched up injection, said that she had never allowed anyone to push her around.

“I’d fight back, she gestured with a kung fu pose. But don’t get me wrong, she signed again. I am not some street hooligan itching for a brawl. I prefer to love instead of fight, she maintained.”

It was such qualities that had endeared Wei to the troupe’s talent scout when she was spotted at a dance competition in Hubei at the age of nine.

“I had liked her at first sight because I felt that she possessed an inner strength and for someone so young, she looked very sure of herself. Also she had such a charming smile” recalled Wei’s dance teacher Wang Jing, 41, who is also the vice-president of the troupe.

Of course, Wei, who is the only child had also benefited from the advantages of having broadminded parents.

Preferring to keep their identities anonymous for reasons of privacy, Wei revealed that her mother, a teacher, and her father, who holds a management post in an international firm, had ensured that she received a proper education and was sufficiently exposed to the outside world.

“One thing for sure, they did not hide her away for shame as some parents would have done. This is why, she is able to advance to such a level,” said Wei’s teacher.

But though Wei, who is based in Beijing, now holds the esteemed position of lead dancer, a teen will always be a teen.

“She keeps a diary and of course that is strictly private. She likes to read and when she is not dancing, her nose is perpetually buried in a book,” said Wang.

But one of her biggest pleasures, Wei communicated in sign language, was to indulge in cheesecake. The chances are few and far between as such fattening foods are strictly off limits for the troupe’s dancers.

Meanwhile, this bubbly teen hopes she will inspire her readers with this message - Never Give Up!

The Awakening

It is said that even a decaying tree will provide shade and a wilting flower will still send forth fragrance. So remember, there is always value in every life. And come Nov 8 and 9 2008, Minorco Sdn Bhd. will bring this message across with The Awakening at the Plenary Hall in the KL Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur.

The charity show will showcase the talents of 27 Chinese performers from the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe.

“The Awakening will be an inspiration to all. If these artistes can be what they are despite their handicaps, then why can’t we, who are in full possession of our faculties, achieve more?

Enchanting: Be mesmerised by fluid moves in The Soul of A Peacock at the concert.

“True, that life is not always fair or that it can sometimes be hard but as these artistes have proven, there are many ways to surmount life’s obstacles,” said Miliee Kassim, 50, of Minorco.

In a video conference, Tai Lihua, the president and art director of China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, spoke through sign language and said that the troupe was established in 1987.

Tai, who became deaf at the age of two, said a training centre helped the troupe prepare the performers in practice, training, and choreography for international tours.

Special methods, like training deaf dancers to move to the feel vibrations from musical instruments were employed in their training.

Among the seven dances performed by this troupe will be the Boddhisatva Avoliketsvara, which will feature a line up of 21 dancers standing on a lotus stage and appearing as if there is only one person with a thousand hands.

One of many intriguing scenes: A scenario from the concert which is titled Yellow Earth.

“This dance is a performance by the deaf. As we have no other way of expressing the beauty of our internal world, we will use our arms and legs to express our feelings for truth, compassion, and beauty,” revealed Tai of this dance.

For the Malaysian performance, the lead dancer for Boddhisatva Avoliketsvara will be 16-year-old Wei Yujie, who was inspired to join the troupe after watching Tai perform. Like Tai, Wei is also deaf.

“The last thing these performers want is your pity,” stressed Miliee on behalf of the troupe.

Instead, she pointed out that focus should be on the dancers’ talents and performances.

Lead dancer: Sixteen-year-old Wei Yujie will be among the cast of 27 dancers for The Awakening.

“I want people to think out of the box, to realise that disabled people are also as capable as those with full faculties given the proper guidance and training.

“More often than not, the disabled are given generous amounts of pity but very little feedback on how they can improve their situations and surroundings so that they too can lead independent lives. The troupe’s achievement is a testament of what the disabled are capable of. It will be an eye opener,” said Miliee.

This performance marks the troupe’s 4th visit to Malaysia. They have toured the Middle East, Europe and North America extensively in the past and were front-lined at the Beijing Paralympics this year.

Proceeds from The Awakening will go towards the operating expenses of the Amriteswari Foundation centers in Kampung Bunga Melor in Puchong, Taman Tasik Semenyih in Semenyih and Penang.

These facilities will provide tuition classes, skills and vocational training for school dropouts and single parents. In addition to social welfare services, seminars on self empowerment and stress management will also be conducted.

On a mission: Miliee Kassim has targeted 2,900 tickets to be sold each night so that she can fulfil her pledge to two charities.

Revenue from ticket sales will also benefit SJK (C) Chen Moh in Old Town Petaling Jaya as aid will be channelled towards the construction of a new block consisting of 18 classrooms, 2 science labs, 2 computer labs, 1 library and an administrative centre. A fun fair will be held at the school grounds on Nov 9 and the troupe will be making a special appearance at 10am to sign autographs and mingle with the crowd.

To fulfil these pledges a target of 2,900 tickets has to be sold each night. For this, Miliee forwards a simple message to donors, well wishers and the general public. “We hope that you will help us so that we will be able to help these children,” she said.

Local talents who are physically challenged from Deaf Beat, Creative Stars and Rentak Reko, will also be performing at this concert.

Tickets for The Awakening show are priced at RM248, RM188, RM138, RM98 and RM60. For more information, call 012-310 6398.