A group of senior Tao dancers from Lanyu (蘭嶼) island are despondent, as financial constraints are likely to prevent them from going to Changhua in central Taiwan to show off their traditional tribal dances at a government-sponsored Oct. 10 Double Ten National Day party.
Hsien Chiayouli, director-general of the Langtao Community Development Association, said that a total of 40 Tao dancers have been invited to perform their unique and traditional "Brave Warrior Dance" and "Hair Dance" at the National Day rally.
The rally sponsor, however, allocated only NT$50,000 (US$1,500) to the group, far less than the approximately NT$600,000 that the group would need for their four-day trip, Hsien Chiayouli said.
The group's trip would include round-trip flights from Lanyu, also known as Orchid Island, to Taitung, flights from Taitung to Taipei and train rides from Taipei to Changhua. One angry dancer said scathingly that NT$50,000 is enough only for the 40 Tao people to fly to nearby Green Island.
"We would have to swim the rest of the way," he added sarcastically.
Hsien Chiayouli called for help to facilitate the trip.
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