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UPDATED: September-5-2008 Disabled Artists Get Together in Beijing
Disabled Artists Get Together in Beijing
By FENG JING

The music of an Italian classic song 0 Sole Mio lingered in the auditorium air, immediately followed with prolonged applause. On the stage was Wu Fengxiang, the singer, sitting in his wheelchair. His eyes filling with tears of joy but he couldn't raise himself up to bow to his audience in acknowledgement. He was handicapped.

Thirteen years ago, after being left legless and sterile from the infamous Tangshan earthquake, that shocked the world, he wanted nothing more but death. At this moment, however, he saw a new beauty to the meaning of life which brought him a sense of self-worth, a drive to carry on.

He was part of the over 300 blind, deaf-mute or limbless actors and actresses drawn from more than ten of China's nationalities who had their heartfelt wishes manifested in last March when they performed in Beijing's Cultural Palace of Nationalities. The audience was both moved and impressed by the performers' stamina towards life and their superb artistic skill.

The well-trained blind orchestra of the Beijing Disabled Art Troupe played their regular programme, a melody from a Peking opera Dark and Deep Night. Its deep and winding melody best expressed the mental state of those struggling in a boundless darkness.

The highly accomplished Beijing Handicapped Art Troupe has competed throughout China, sometimes working along with the non-disabled to perfect their performances.

Their fame grew after winning international praise on touring Japan and Hong Kong.

Always remembered will be their chance to make music with a former British prime minister. That was in 1987 when Edward Heath, who outside of his Parliamentary activities was also a conductor,

came to Beijing at the invitation of China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped to play a piano recital along with the orchestra. At the end of the performance, Heath, visibly moved, shook hands with his fellow musicians and declared them remarkable artists.

Two young farmer amputee from Shandong Province, Sun Jishu and Chen Yiqian, best displayed the enthusiasm and drive of the disabled when performing the modern Eagle Disco. Like that soaring eagle, the disabled have to overcome difficulties beyond the imagination of common people.

The dancers performed with a single leg-but their jumping and twisting was still graceful and Controlled. Every flight of the eagles moves audiences to a new high who both cheer and join in clap along with the rhythm of the music.

The March performance of the disabled signals the highest standards yet achieved along with the largest scale ever held since New China's founding in 1949. Over 20 important Party and state leaders including Zhao Ziyang and Li Xiannian watched and praised the performance. With its conclusion part of the best programmes will continue onto the Second National Art Festival this September.

With more than 50 million disabled, China in recent years has developed art and cultural activities for their needs. Some of these include the National Competition of Blind Musicians and the National Video Recording Competition for Deaf-Mute Performers.

One recital that reflected spirit of the disabled was a moving recital in sign language of the poem titled Slanting but Beautiful World. Six deaf-mute girls used their mystical hands to powerfully ask.

"Who says we're disabled? Only those with disabled souls are really disabled."

(Beijing Review p.34 No. 20, 1989)


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