The China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe, headed by Tai Lihua (first from right), prepares for a new show. Wang Jing

The majestic Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics had many high points but the one lingering image is that of 12-year-old Li Yue.

A Sichuan earthquake victim, Li realized her ballet dream on a wheelchair with the help of 109 hearing-impaired dancers.

These performers are now delighting audiences in the prestigious China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe's presentation of its widely acclaimed My Dream at Poly Theater, on till Sept 14.

The fruit of 21 years of exploration into the world of art, My Dream has toured more than 60 countries and covers almost all art forms.

In their own special way, hearing-impaired artists speak their mind through their graceful and colorful dances; the blind artists bring alive their imaginary world in beautiful voices and awkward, but still charming, dance steps; and physically disabled artists strike elegant postures as they depict their pursuit of life.

Especially created for the Beijing Olympic Games, the new version, My Dream V, features many artists who performed in the Paralympics opening ceremony, including Yang Haitao, the blind singer of Paradise and Jin Yuanhui, the blind pianist.

Another highlight is the troupe's most popular program One-thousand-handed Bodhisattva, which stunned the world at the closing ceremony of the Athens Paralympics in 2004. The dance was later voted by Chinese TV audiences as the most popular show of China Central Television (CCTV)'s annual Spring Festival gala, and the lead dancer, Tai Lihua, known as the "face of the Bodhisattva", became a household name. The ongoing performance has many new and young "faces and hands".

Hearing-impaired performers from the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe in rehearsal of their widely acclaimed program One-thousand-handed Bodhisattva. Wang Jing

Also deserving of mention is the passionate Latin dance Dancing & Listening by blind performers who, despite their dark world, can feel the vigorous beat of life in the Rumba, Samba and Cha-cha.

Directed by Tai Lihua, the condensed dance drama Butterfly Lovers gives a different twist to the Romeo and Juliet love tragedy.

Two hearing-impaired performers, who have been practicing martial arts since childhood, present a comedy of misunderstanding in the Peking Opera classic The Crossroad (Sanchakou). They collaborate with their blind partners, who have memorized their lines, and provide the accompaniment using sign language.

The Instrumental Suites is an orchestral program rearranged by a group of blind children. They play traditional melodies from different countries. Of particular note is their reproduction of the classic singing in the Sound of Music, using different instruments.

Founded in 1987, the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe now has 153 performers from across the country.

"We have traveled to more than 60 countries and regions so far, and last year, we gave nearly 150 performances in 17 nations," says Tai, now head of the troupe.

She says 40 shows of My Dream V have been, or will be, held during the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. "It is a rare occasion for us disabled artists to express ourselves and convey our good wishes for the success of these games."

The troupe set up the My Dream Harmony Fund last year to collect the proceeds from its performances for charity. "We have donated $350,000 and 2.6 million yuan ($370,000) to charity projects at home and abroad. It is our way of repaying the love and support we have received from society," says Tai.

The troupe will give a charity performance on Sept 15 at the Olympic Park.

(China Daily 09/10/2008 page18)