Diabolo's more than just a game

Diabolo Dance Theater (舞鈴劇場) was one of only five Taiwanese groups invited to perform in Aichi, Japan, at the World Expo 2005 and now the group is back in Taiwan for its first-ever performance at the National Theater this weekend, The Game of Diabolo Dance (嬉遊舞鈴).

Diabolo, which comes from the Greek dia (across) and bale (throw) doesn't give you much idea of the actual object or its history. The diabolo is a toy that was invented 4,000 years ago in China where it was called "hollow bamboo" (空竹). Back then it was made of two hollow bamboo wheels attached in the center and it was spun and tossed about from a string -- like a free-flying yoyo.

English and French travelers to China took the toy back home to Europe with them around 1800, where it was given the name of diabolo. The game gained popularity in the 19th century among aristocrats, who played it like tennis with elegant poses and in dainty white outfits. The object itself underwent a few changes and the hourglass shape emerged (a form that would later gain popularity in China and Taiwan).

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members brought diabolos -- the old bamboo kind -- to Taiwan in the late 1940s. The game found its way into public schools as part of the physical education for elementary students.

"In Taiwan, many people can do it but only a little bit," said Diabolo Dance Theater's artistic director Liu Le-chun (劉樂群).

Liu's idea for a diabolo dance group was born out of a passion for fun. Years ago as an elementary school teacher, Liu's favorite part of the day was the afternoon PE class when he would teach his students to play with the diabolo. The kids got quite good at it, but Liu noticed their movements were quick and tense. He wondered if there was a way to turn playing with the diabolo into a more graceful form of movement, like dance. Pretty soon a club had formed with musicians, dancers and many enthusiastic students.

"At first it was just for fun and we didn't know what it would become ? The most unexpected thing was that the kids themselves wanted to keep up with diabolo."

In 1993, Diabolo Dance Theater was officially founded and Liu left his teaching post to lead the group full time. Until recently, Diabolo has remained relatively low profile in the world of performing arts.

The performers are almost all high school students -- only a handful are salaried performers. While a majority of Taiwan's more prominent dance or acrobatics troupe members have received full-time education in these disciplines, Diabolo's dancers study accounting or other such non-artistic subjects.

"We've surprised many a performing arts professional. They ask, `Who are these people and how did they suddenly appear on the scene?'" Liu said.

Despite little recognition, Diabolo Dance Theater has consistently produced high-caliber performances that bring creativity to the ancient game of diabolo.

According to Liu, the tradition of diabolo performance is strict and formal, with rules about costume, music, makeup and movement that are in line with the tradition of Chinese opera and acrobatics.

Diabolo Dance Theater is a departure from tradition in that it uses a wide variety of costumes, music, movement, lighting and props. For example, their performances have incorporated dramatic lighting aspects such as lasers, black light and huge shadows; costumes that range from fantastical clown outfits to roller skates; and music that is a bit more familiar and fun for a modern audience.