The music of Bay Nian (拜年) creates the highly festive atmosphere of the Taiwanese New Year, while the dance movements emulate the actions the Taiwanese take when making ceremonial
calls or pasting couplets on the door (as in the photo) at the New Year. When dancers say "Gong-Xi" to each other they are congratulating each other on surviving the demons of the past year. This dance was choreographed by Si-Min Wang in 1989. Presented in 2010 by Fang-Chich Chen. View the pdf here.
Gau Shan Ching ( 高山青)
The song “High Green Mountain” was written in 1949, the collaborative work of the famous poet Yu-Ping Deng as its lyricist, and Lan-Ping Jou as the composer. It is the theme song of the movie “The Magnificent Happenings on Mt. Ali, directed by Cheh Chang. The movie may be long forgotten, but the song “High Green Mountain” has spread all over the world and become a representation of Taiwan. It is also a song with which all Taiwanese are familiar. Based on the steps of the aborigines, the main ideas of the lyrics describe the beauty of the young ladies and the strength of the young men who are the aborigines on Mt. Ali. They are the Tzou tribe. This dance was choreographed by Chang-Shiung Yang in June 1989.
Presented by Fang-Chich Chen in 2010. View pdf here.
Huan-Leh Ko （歡樂歌）
This is an aboriginal folk song from Eastern Taiwan in Taitung County. This dance was choreographed by Ching-Shan Chang in 1981.
Translation: Happy Song
Pronunciation: HWAHN-luh KUH
Music: 2/4 meter Folk Dances from Taiwan–Stockton Folk Dance Camp 2010, Band 1
Formation: Open circle or mixed line, in front basket hold (L hand over R hand); or joined hands in V-pos.
Presented by Fang-Chich Chen in 2010. View pdf here.
Na Lhu Uan （那魯彎）
The song is familiar to everybody in Taiwan, and the original songwriter is Tsu-Yang Gau from
Chihben in Taitung County. During the past era, when the Taiwanese were forbidden to hold an
assembly or form a union of any kind, Tsu-Yang Gau was taken into custody and severely disciplined because of this song. Na Lhu Wan belongs to Taiwan’s aboriginal language, which is a branch of the Southern-Pacific Island languages. While some people say it comes from the Tsao tribe on Mt. Ali, Na Lhu Wan may represent different meanings under different circumstances. For example, it may mean “I love you” in a love song, “How are you” in a greeting, or “Good bye” or “Take care” when meeting friends. Some also use it to stand for “hometown.” The dance, based on the steps of the aborigines, was choreographed by Fang-Chich Chen in 2004.
Presented by Fang-Chich Chen in 2010. View pdf here.
Shih Wu
The steps come from the “Wu Shih” (Dancing Lion) on the Taiwanese
New Year or other important festival days. Lion Dance competitions
are held in elementary schools every year. Teachers can arrange the
order of the steps and the formation to suit the number of dancers. This
dance was choreographed by Ching-Shan Chang. Fang-Chich Chen
added more steps and movements for the 2010 Stockton Camp.
Presented by Fang-Chich Chen in 2010. View pdf here.
Tsae Shi Gua ( 採西瓜)
The music of the dance is a folk song from Hsiluo in the south of Taiwan. The song relates the mood of a woman who is picking watermelons by the creek and looking forward to someday meeting a man with whom she might fall in love and make a good marriage. This dance was choreographed by Ching-San Chang and Fang-Chich Chen in 1980.
Presented by Fang-Chich Chen in 2010. View pdf here.
