On the afternoon of October 13, the American Chinese Dance Association celebrated the 113th Double Tenth National Day with an exciting dance exhibition at the Los Angeles Chinese American Community Center. The event featured over ten captivating performances, including a harmonica ensemble. To conclude the show, all guests and dancers joined together in singing and dancing to “Love Will Win,” creating a vibrant atmosphere as the audience enthusiastically joined in.
The event kicked off with a dragon dance performance entitled “Dragon’s Blessing from Above,” led by gardening expert Hsu Hsi-sheng, immediately energizing the crowd. Various community dance groups took the stage, showcasing a diverse range of ages among the performers, from children under ten to seniors in their eighties. The repertoire included glamorous pieces like “The Royal Banquet,” lively performances such as “Pomegranate Flowers,” culturally rich displays like “Celebration of Taiwanese Indigenous People,” and the mysterious “Dreaming of Dunhuang.” The audience was captivated, filling the venue and attentively appreciating each dance.
Lai Yang-hsuan, the current president of the American Chinese Dance Association, shared that the association hosts this annual Double Tenth National Day celebration, highlighting the variety of dance styles presented, which encompasses both traditional Chinese folk dances and Western dance forms. This year, they even introduced Spanish dance and kung fu dance. Lai, who has served multiple terms as president, was a dance instructor at the Cultural University in Taiwan for over a decade.
The event also featured a classical Chinese dance piece titled “Clouds Roll and Unroll,” choreographed by Yuan Mei and her sister Yuan Lu, both integral members of the dance association. Yuan Mei, who established the Yuqing Arts Workshop years ago while balancing a media career and a passion for dance choreography and performance, continues to coordinate the association’s dance exhibitions. Despite being in her eighties, she remains spirited and vigorous, matching the energy of younger performers.
Numerous distinguished guests attended the exhibition, including the director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, Chi Chien-yao; the president of the World Journal, Yu Zhiqin; Congresswoman Michelle Steel; the director of the Los Angeles Chinese American Community Center, Chen Ming-yong; former chairman of the Taiwan Association, Chen Bo-yu; and various elected officials from the community.
