TCML-I Fly Young Chinese School at Diabolo Dance Theatre’s “Light of Life” Dazzles the Bay Area
To kick off Taiwan’s 115th National Day celebration series, Taiwan’s world-renowned performance group, Diabolo Dance Theatre, presented its stunning production "Light of Life" on the evening of September 26 at the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the South Bay. To give students an immersive experience in Taiwan’s top-tier cultural arts and language heritage, the Principal of TCML-I Fly Young Chinese School personally led students, teachers, and parents to attend the show, immersing everyone in an artistic feast that seamlessly blends traditional skill with modern theatrical visuals.
"Light of Life," which previously earned a prestigious five-star rating at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the UK, combines diabolo, dance, music, light shows, and theater art, transforming a traditional skill into breathtaking stagecraft. The performance drew nearly 300 community members and distinguished guests, including Director General Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Director Wang Wei-tsan of the South Bay Culture Center, and city representatives from Milpitas and Cupertino. Director General Scott Lai used "light" as a metaphor, noting that although Taiwan is a small island, it continues to shine brightly across technology, culture, and spirit worldwide.
For students of TCML, the evening was far more than an impressive visual spectacle—it was a dynamic, real-world lesson in language and culture. The Principal shared that while the school remains dedicated to promoting Mandarin language education, equal emphasis is placed on cultural heritage and hands-on experience. By bringing students out of the classroom and into the theater, the school aims to help young learners and adult Mandarin students naturally engage with the language environment through top-tier arts. This hands-on experience allows students to deeply appreciate Taiwan’s vibrant, innovative, and creative culture, inspiring greater passion for learning Mandarin and fostering a closer connection to Taiwan.
The performance featured warm interactions between the dancers and the audience. The dancers' incredible synchronization, aerial throws, and light-and-shadow effects captivated audience members of all ages, prompting many children to excitedly exclaim after the show, "I really want to learn diabolo!" TCML-I Fly Young Chinese School highlighted that it will continue offering students diverse, enriching learning platforms through community participation and cultural events, making Mandarin learning and Taiwanese cultural exploration an exciting journey of discovery.
