Two esteemed figures in the arts – modern dancer and choreographer Liu Feng-shueh (劉鳳學) and chant-singer Yang Xiu-qing (楊秀卿) – were honored with the 40th National Cultural Award, a recognition of lifetime achievement by the Executive Yuan. Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te personally congratulated the acclaimed artists, acknowledging their outstanding performances and contributions in the field of traditional art and performance.
The Ministry of Culture stated that the two recipients have had remarkable achievements in traditional and performing arts, and furthermore, have been committed to cultivating the next generation of talent, and promoting Taiwan art and culture on the international stage.
Born in New Taipei City in 1934, Yang lost her sight in both eyes at age four as the result of an untreated cold-like illness. She was then adopted by the Hsiao family in Keelung, where her adopted sister Hsiao Jin-feng — also blind — taught her chant-song. The two sisters began their careers as singers when Yang turned 11. The pair toured restaurants, tea houses, temples, and parks, performing duet that broke away from the traditional solo form.
Beginning in 1969, Yang started recording for radio broadcasting, and radios began to play Yang's chat-songs on air. At peak popularity, some 53 different stations nationwide were playing her records. In 1983, she began promoting the traditional art and taking on apprentices to keep the art alive, in addition to taking part in public performances and touring college campus. Yang has been committed to promoting chant-song art, striving to invigorate more interest from the younger generation.
In 1989, she was awarded the "Folk Arts Heritage Award (民族藝術薪傳獎)" by the Ministry of Education. In 2007, she was named the recipient of the National Award for Arts (國家文藝獎), and two years later, the Ministry of Culture named her an "Important Preserver of Traditional Chant-song Art (重要傳統表演藝術保存者)," honored with the title "National Living Treasure (人間國寶)."
One of Taiwan's modern dance pioneers and Taiwan's first dance PhD graduate (Cambridge University 1987), Liu was born in 1925 and began learning classical ballet from an early age. She expanded upon her dance studies to learn Taiwan indigenous dance styles, and went to Japan to study dance creation and Tang Dynasty dance and music style.
In 1976, Liu established the Neo-Classic Dance Company (新古典舞團). Liu's modern dance choreography emphasizes original essence of culture melded with contemporary elements and then transformed into a unique expression of the human body reflecting on the society, life experience and times. Liu has been commended by the New York Times as a distinguished dance scholar and educator.
Liu has also been committed to educating the younger generation, proposing dance classes for public junior high schools and elementary schools and incorporation of dance education in public school standard curriculum.
In 1977, Liu won acclaim from the Congress on Research in Dance (CORD) in the USA as an outstanding scholar of dance. In 1987, Liu was awarded the "Folk Arts Heritage Award (民族藝術薪傳獎)" by the Ministry of Education. Then, in 1991, "National Awards of Art (國家文藝獎)" Special Contribution award was presented to her, and six years later, National Culture and Arts Foundation's "National Award for Arts for dance performance (國家文藝獎─舞蹈類)." In 2014, Liu was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award of "Arts Education Contribution Award (藝術教育貢獻獎─終身成就獎 )" by the Ministry of Education.
Established in 1980, the Executive Yuan National Cultural Award (NCA) is the highest-level recognition of lifelong achievements by outstanding art and cultural figures in Taiwan. The list of recipients are approved by the Premier, who will in person present each winner a medal, award certificate, and prize money, as a gesture of respect.