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To enhance the campus cultural atmosphere, Cheng Shiu University’s Arts and Culture Department invited the Taiwan University of the Arts Dance Department to present "Night Escape", a stunning showcase of modern, classical, and folk dance. The dancers' skillful performances held the audience of faculty and students spellbound. President Gong Rui-Zhang, who attended the entire performance, nodded in admiration throughout.

Though traditionally a science and engineering-focused institution, Cheng Shiu University has incorporated arts education into its development, creating a vibrant cultural environment. Both Taiwan University of the Arts and Cheng Shiu University are partners in the Taiwan Arts and Culture Center Association, sharing a commitment to delivering top-tier artistic experiences. "Night Escape" featured a stage design of black curtains, symbolizing both the prelude to the creation of the universe and the darkness before dawn, with the "escape" signifying the breaking of societal constraints to realize the value of life.

The performance showcased a rich blend of modern, classical, and folk dance elements. "Night Escape", the modern dance piece, told the story of a journey through darkness, waiting for the dawn and symbolizing the emergence of hope.

A standout performance, "Chasing Across the Vast Fields," transported the audience with vibrant, rhythmic music and the thunder of galloping hooves. The dancers' bold, sweeping movements conjured the romance and freedom of racing across expansive grasslands.

"Too Real" brought a lighthearted, humorous take on mingling in the crowd, embracing the joy of celebration. "The Agitated" delved into the inner turmoil of succumbing to worldly temptations, showing a figure trapped, waiting to cast off societal masks and rediscover their true self. "Embodiment" examined the tension between the individual and the collective, revealing a transformed sense of self.

"Cang Cang" drew from Chinese classical traditions, with dancers conveying the barren beauty of a snowy wilderness swept by biting winds. Meanwhile, the folk piece "Mist of Life" depicted a journey through life’s vibrant transitions from sunset to night and eventually to dawn.

The diversity of dance forms in "Night Escape" not only demonstrated the comprehensive training of Taiwan University of the Arts dancers but also satisfied the varied aesthetic preferences of the audience.

Cheng Shiu University’s Arts and Culture Department announced that more artistic performances are planned for this semester, including "Spring Songs 2024" by the Korean vocal ensemble Narin, and "Jazz Elegance", a chamber concert featuring three acclaimed Taiwanese musicians—Lin Shang-Rong, Xu Shu-Lan, and Gao Yun-Yao—promising a broader range of artistic experiences for faculty and students.

 

 

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