As artists worldwide bring their talents to the digital web after the widespread cancellation of concerts and performances due to the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwanese dance troupe Bulareyaung Dance Company (布拉瑞揚舞團, B.D.C) is set to live-stream its performances of song and dance to help boost morale with humor and share the beauty of Taiwan. Tune in on April 17 at 8 AM (EDT) for this dynamic, powerful show.
Bulareyaung Dance Company's world premiere of "Not Afraid of the Sun and Rain (沒有害怕太陽和下雨)" was originally scheduled to take the stage on April 17 at the Taipei-based National Theater, but has since been postponed to a later date for epidemic prevention. Undeterred, B.D.C has decided to offer another set of performances for audiences worldwide in this challenging period.
Established in 2014 with the aim of uncovering the rich talents of Taiwan's indigenous peoples, B.D.C has produced several works that embody aboriginal identity and culture. As a testament to its efforts in highlighting the originality and beauty of Taiwan's tribes, the Taitung-based group was awarded the Taishin Arts Awards in recognition of its achievements in performing arts for two years in a row.
Originally from the Paiwan tribe of Taiwan, troupe founder Bulareyaung Pagarlava (布拉瑞揚) said the decision to live-stream the performance from the Taitung-based Tiehua Music Village (台東鐵花村) exemplifies the optimistic and caring mentality shared by the indigenous peoples of Taiwan.
Through performing songs including "We Are the World," the 1985 hit by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and "Hand in Hand (手牽手)," a song written by Taiwanese artists to boost public morale during the 2003 SARS outbreak, the troupe wishes to convey a message of strength and resilience to people who are suffering from the pandemic and are now waiting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
While the troupe has been practicing around the clock for its upcoming performance, it cheekily listed some "must-have" items for people who will be at the music village watching them perform. In its April 15 Facebook post, the group suggests bringing "essentials" including strong vocals for cheering, fully charged cellphones, a clean pair of hands, and the ubiquitous mask that characterize life during the time of the coronavirus.
In a show of support, the Ministry of Culture's offices in New York, London, and Paris will help broadcast the event on their Facebook pages:
Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York
• 8 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4)
• https://www.facebook.com/tpecc.org/
Cultural Taiwan UK
• 1 p.m. BST (London, UTC+1)
• https://www.facebook.com/CulturalTaiwanUK
Centre culturel de Taïwan à Paris
• 2 p.m. DST (Paris, UTC+2)
• https://www.facebook.com/page.cctp