Dancing out from beneath the dark clouds of disaster

Ri An Community (日安社區) is a permanent housing development that was constructed following typhoon Morakot.

Currently, a number of middle-aged unemployed mothers in the community are in the process of learning traditional dance. On January 21, the eve of finishing the course, the group was looking forward to meeting staff from Chiayi Multicultural Arts Union (嘉義市多元文創藝術從業人員職業工會) and realizing their aspirations of performing on stage.

The majority of participants are all over 50 years of age, but this has in no way diminished their diligence and passion for study. In spite of the fact that the practice hall is located some distance from Ri An Community, the villagers are so eager to participate in the dance classes that they are willing to undergo a grueling journey.

A good example of this indomitable spirit is Lin Zhao-mei (林照妹), who despite living in an outlying area of Chashan, still insists on attending; and Sun Ying-ping (孫鶯萍), who after suffering a fractured arm in an automobile accident while rushing to class, still attends and refuses to give up.

This ‘Aboriginal Performance Training’ has no restrictions on age or status, the eldest being 60-year-old Chen Mei-hua (陳美花), the youngest 24-year-old Fang Bai-qi (方寶淇). With two exhausting months of lessons almost over, the participants are now beginning to feel the fruit of all their blood, sweat and tears.

On acquisition of their newfound dance skills, may this diverse group of Tsou and Han women from the disaster-stricken areas and lowlands, dance some color back into their lives and regain the joie de vivre.

Dancing out from beneath the dark clouds of disaster
URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/229429

(以下是中文對照)
災後‧舞出彩色人生 影音

日安社區是88風災受災戶的永久屋基地，在這裡有一群災後失業的中年婦女，正在勤練原住民傳統舞蹈，1月21日，她們即將結業，並期待培訓單位「嘉義市多元文創藝術從業人員職業工會」組團，以便日後一展所學，學員雖然大都年過半百，但學習態度卻相當精進。由於訓練場地位於永久屋基地，距離部落、嘉義市或鄰近鄉鎮都有一段距離，學員必須舟車勞頓才能到班，因此招生不易，班上林照妹學員就遠從災區的茶山部落來學舞，另外孫鶯萍學員也因為趕時間學舞，不慎發生車禍手臂骨折，但他一直都沒放棄。「原民特色展演舞蹈訓練班」的學員並無身分和年齡的約束，班上年紀最大的是60歲的陳美花，最年輕的是24歲的方寶淇，為期二個月的訓練課程即將結束，學員們大都已經感受到辛苦的背後就是甜美的果實，祝福這群來自災區、來自平地、來自鄒族和來自漢族的女性，習得一技之長後，能舞出彩色的人生，重拾生活的樂趣。