Saturday, May 17, 2008

2008 Taiwanese American Cultural Festival

Date: 5/17/2008
Location: San Francisco
Performance Program:
1. Northwestern Rain
2. Farmer Dance
3. Native Taiwanese Dance
4. Fan Dance by Rachel
5. Yankee Doodle Boy
6. Joy inside
7. It’s a Small World
8. Ilha Formosa

From Taiwanese American Cultural Festival


連續幾年,學校的小朋友都會參加台灣文化節的演出,今年,當然也不例外,希望藉由小朋友唱歌或跳舞的演出方式,讓更多非華人認識台灣,了解台灣之美。
這次參加演出的小朋友特別踴躍,還有兩位只有3歲的小小朋友加入,因為他們去年看過我們的表演,雖然爸媽有台灣血統,但爸媽的母語都已經是英語,卻還是想讓小朋友了解台灣文化,於是,爸媽今年特別帶他們來加入我們的表演行列。為了讓小朋友們能有精采的表演,從四月起,家長們就不辭辛苦的帶著小朋友們利用週末來練習,這其中還有兩次的小型演出,也讓我們有機會不斷改進,希望在台灣文化節的表演能更棒更好。
第一個表演節目是台灣有名的”正港”童謠“西北雨”。故事是敘述「鯽仔魚」,在下西北雨的時候要去娶新娘囉,泥鰍,土虱等都來幫忙。結果天黑了,找不到路,連螢火蟲都來幫忙點燈看路。這個故事說明台灣人善良互相幫助的本性。當由小朋友扮演的媒人婆揮著手絹,搖著屁股,浩浩蕩蕩帶領著迎親團一行人走出來時,全場觀眾給予熱烈的掌聲,媒人婆的三八舞步,精緻的大花轎,還有小朋友生動演出,都深深的留在每個觀眾的心中。
接下來是舞蹈“農村曲” ,這次為了台灣文化節,特別又請到倩如老師來指導小朋友的舞蹈,由綁著兩個辨子和手拿米篩的可愛小村姑,配合拿著鋤頭,帶著斗笠的農夫,跳出早起耕田,不怕辛勞,真實反映了早期台灣農業社會的「受苦無人問」的普遍景況,為時代留下了最真實的見證。
接下來是由全體小朋友帶來精采的 山地舞曲“咿阿咿” ,當小朋友們穿上亮眼的紅色山地服,跳著輕快的舞步出現在舞台上,讓在場的許多觀眾忍不住拿起相機。
最後,是由 Miss Gloria帶領著全體小朋友合唱“It’s the Small World” ,“Yankee Doodle Boy” ,“Joy Inside”及“Ilhe Formosa” ,“Ilhe Formosa”其實是台灣觀光局為了推動台灣觀光所作的歌曲,這次我們的小朋友就像外交小天使一樣,讓更多人認識台灣,了解台灣,希望藉由表演,讓台灣觸動更多人的心。我們的表演就在觀眾熱情的掌聲中和安可聲中化下句點,小朋友們又成功的完成一次精采的演出。
最後,要由衷的感謝各位家長100%的支持,還要謝謝Joanna和由Maggie帶領的“女紅們” ,辛苦的幫我們製作服裝,當然還有很多在背後默默付出、默默幫助我們的每一個人,謝謝大家!!

Learning native Taiwanese Aborignal dancing and learning new songs to sing was so much fun for my daughter Tamilyn. She was one of the younger girls in the group, but the teachers took extra time out to teach her the dance and the songs. As her mom, I was happy that she was able to learn a little bit about her Taiwanese heritage by wearing the native costume while dancing the dance. Tamilyn had a great experience and to top it off, she made many new friends. We look forward to next year! - Grace Horng Ayabe

The whole experience of practicing and performing has been hugely rewarding for both me and Genevieve. Everyday, she still sings all the songs she learned from TAC volunteers, so I know this experience will stay in her heart forever. I wasn't sure she would learn everything in time for the festival 7 weeks away because she didn't have the energy or attention span to last 45 minutes at the first practice. Somehow, she learned and matured quickly enough to get ready for the optional performances after 2-3 weeks and last the full 2-hour practices! The costumes made her feel special, too! Thank you and the other volunteers for making this such a life-rewarding experience for both of us! I am so proud of her and I am so glad to have watched her grow and achieve so much in a short time! Also, thanks to all the kind children who helped Genevieve during all the practices! She made a lot of new friends. It's nice to see that she now wants to learn to speak Chinese like they do. - Peggy Su

一年一度的台灣文化節又於五月十七日在舊金山的聯合廣場開場了,身為故鄉來自台灣的菲立蒙台灣中文學校的小朋友和家長,對於這個能代表台灣文化的聚會場合,我們向來是義不容辭、共襄勝舉。
早在二個月前,在座落於菲立蒙的台灣會館裡,就可以看到小朋友們興致勃勃的排演,以及家長們辛勤的縫製舞衣,一切的努力莫不是為了這一年一度的文化大戲,希望藉由小朋友的精彩演出,能充分顯現台灣文化的精神,從而吸引遊客對台灣角色及地位的重視。
身為菲立蒙台灣中文學校家長的我們,很慶幸能透過台灣會館帶給小朋友很多的演出機會,諸如全盟、Senior Center、灣區各式慶典的遊行…等等,而小朋友們可愛而快樂的演出,也經常是吸引大眾的眼光和博得熱烈的掌聲。
難以置信的是在每次長達一至二個月的辛苦練習,及不同的曲目演出之下,小朋友和家長們從不喊累,也從不缺席;一旦演出結束,面對下一次的邀約,依然是興奮的從容以對,這樣的向心力絕非一般大眾所能理解,而這樣的依存關係也維繫了我們數個家庭的情誼,從而能繼續為下一次的演出努力邁進。- Ling Chen





Saturday, May 3, 2008

2008 TAITA Annual Conference Dinner Banquet

Date: 5/3/2008
Location: San Jose
Performance Program:
1. North Western Rain
2. Farmer Dance
3. Native Taiwanese Dance
4. Yankee Doodle Boy
5. Joy inside
6. It’s a Small World
7. Ilha Formosa

From TAITA Annual Conference Dinner Banquet