A promising young Taiwanese dancer has been selected to join Israel’s internationally acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company, making her the first person from Taiwan to do so, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO) said yesterday.
Lee Chen-wei (李貞葳), a former member of the Lan Yang Dance Group who graduated from Taipei National University of the Arts last year, will leave for Israel in a few days to join the dance company, ISECO said in a press release.
In a recent meeting with Lee, Israeli Representative Raphael Gamzou wished the young dancer the best in Israel, while Lee expressed her excitement over the opportunity to perform with Batsheva, the press release said.
“This is a golden opportunity for you and I’m sure you will do a great job,” Gamzou was quoted as saying.
Lee, who grew up in Ilan County, began studying dance at the age of five.
She was selected by Batsheva Artistic Director Ohad Naharin among the many young dancers who auditioned around the world.
Lee will join Batsheva’s Young Dancer’s Ensemble and perform with them during the 2009 to 2010 season. Batsheva is scheduled to perform next year at Taipei’s National Theater Hall as part of an Asian tour and ISECO said it hoped Lee would be with the troupe.
The world-renowned company was founded in 1964 by Martha Graham and Batsheva de Rothschild, who lived in Israel.
Naharin has served as the artistic director for the last 15 years. His style has been described by the New York Times as “distinguished by stunningly flexible limbs and spines, deeply grounded movement, explosive bursts and a vitality that grabs a viewer by the collar.”
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS