| The fourth Third Millennium International Prize ceremony was held in Beijing on April 20. Six people, including Xie Sa, the ambassador to Italy, and Tai Lihua, an actress of China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe won the honor.
The president of the Third Millennium International Prize Committee said that the Third Millennium International Prize is an important award established by the Italian cultural circle with government support. It is given to people who are distinguished in culture, arts, science, education and other humanity fields and have made great contributions to the social progress and the relationship of human beings.
 The president said: "In an era of rapid economic developments and dramatic social changes for China, the recipients protect and inherit the great Chinese culture in different fields with high responsibilities and outstanding professional skills while learning the advanced experiences of other countries. They have made great contributions to China's developments and the culture communications."
The people who have won the fourth Third Millennium International Prize are: Xie Sa, the ambassador to Italy ambassador; Tai Lihua, an actress of China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe; Yan Xuezhang, dean of the China Art Creation Institute; Wang Limei, curator of the China World Art Museum; Luo Hongbo, vice director of the Institute of European Studies; and Fei Anling, associate dean of CCE Laws School of China University of Political Science and Law.
Tai Lihua, the disabled lead dancer of "The Thousand-handed Goddess of Mercy", impressed us by her refined performance but more by her spirit…
Kwan-yin Sister
With graceful dance and sumptuous costumes, the dance of "The Thousand-handed Goddess of Mercy" was absolutely an eye-catcher. But can you imagine that the 21 dancers are deaf and mute?
It was the first time ever that a dance performance by handicapped people was put on show at the Spring Festival Gala, and it was a big hit. Never has a performance ever before won so much applause from the audience. Not only was the dance awarded as the best dance of the gala, but also was considered the most successful and touching.
If the dance was a climax of the gala, the lead dancer Tai Lihua was the soul. People thus affectionately call her "Kwan-yin sister."
"Tai is the best deaf dancer I have ever seen," said Zhang Jigang, director of the dance. "She just has the sense."
When Tai first performed the dance years back, she didn't grasp it well and either grinned or sulked. But the countenance she has acquired now is long sought. It's an expression of serenity as Goddess of Mercy should be kind and look composed.
It was only a month before the show when they first received the invitation to perform. The dancers, disregarding the bitterly cold winter, rehearsed again and again from dawn till dust. Since they can't hear, they had to follow the instructors, who would signal the rhythm of the music from the four corners of the room.
At the gala, they stood as a whole on a lotus platform and in front of a magnificent arched gate "narrating" their beautiful story with elegant gestures, vivid eyes, and dignified postures. It was like a scene from Heaven. The whole nation was moved by such graceful body language and all words seemed ashy during their performance.
The Spirit of the Peacock originally by Yang Liping is Tai Lihua's favorite dance. The first time she watched it, she fell in love with it. Lots of dancers tried to emulate Yang's performance and all failed. But after watching Tai's performance, Yang kept saying: "If faced with the same disability, I wouldn't dance it as well as you do."
Tai's outstanding performance brought her to the world stage. She is the only Chinese dancer to have performed both at Carnegie Hall in New York and La Scala in Milan. And a poster of The Spirit of the Peacock by her at Carnegie Hall is the only one from China.
Now when the curtain rises, the lights come up and the music fades in, there is Tai in the elegant flowing dress signature to the piece. She moves with her impressionistic interpretation of that precise-stepping and extraordinary land bird. As if in a silent wood, on a green lawn, or by a gurgling brook, with expression of face and body she captivates with physical interpretation and spirit.
Reship please add：(Copy from：sinoec.net)
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