On August 22nd last week, the Folk Sports Class of Zhongzheng Junior High School in Keelung, Taiwan, along with the “Chinese Friends of Special Children,” held a cultural exchange performance in Fremont. The event attracted over two hundred special children, family members, and community members who enthusiastically participated.
The event kicked off with a spectacular performance by the Bay Area Fitness Drum Team, followed by 26 members of Zhongzheng Junior High School showcasing their exquisite traditional folk skills including diabolo spinning, spinning tops, and jump rope, displaying their youthful vitality. The “Chinese Friends of Special Children” also presented a xylophone performance and a singing performance by the “Dream Pioneer” band, earning thunderous applause for the children’s talents. The finale saw the entire audience and performers dancing together, concluding the event in a lively atmosphere.
The Co-Chairman of the Board of the “Chinese Friends of Special Children,” Joe Li, delivered a speech welcoming the team from Taiwan. He mentioned that every visit by the Taiwan team is an opportunity for “coach exchange,” where mutual learning and interaction not only foster connections within the local special community in the Bay Area but also expand to various locations in California and even nationwide.
Sylvia Yeh, the Executive Director of the “Chinese Friends of Special Children,” expressed that the most touching moment was witnessing the children’s confidence on stage after their hard practice. She emphasized that although the special children may not excel in verbal expression, they often possess unique talents. Their presence seems like a divine arrangement, allowing us to learn and grow from them. This exchange also aims to inspire and foster mutual growth between Taiwanese students and special children.
The Folk Sports Class of Zhongzheng Junior High School, invited by the Northern California Taiwan Culture and Sports Association, visited Silicon Valley for the first time and participated in a grand public performance at the International Children’s Play Festival on the 23rd.
Rita Chiang, Vice President of the Cultural and Sports Association, expressed to Dajiyuan that she was honored to invite Zhongzheng Junior High School from Keelung to perform in the Bay Area. She mentioned that, taking advantage of this opportunity, the students performed a special exchange at the “Chinese Friends of Special Children Association” the day before the Children’s Play Festival, sharing diabolo spinning, jump rope, and spinning top skills with over two hundred family members and friends, creating a lively atmosphere.
The Folk Sports Group of Zhongzheng Junior High School in Keelung was established over fifty years ago by the former principal, Liao Dapeng. The group has visited more than fifty countries in Europe, America, and beyond, dedicated to promoting traditional skills. Former Principal Liao stated that the initial purpose of founding the group was to develop Taiwan’s unique culture, ensuring that children could inherit traditional skills while balancing academics and character development. Therefore, a special class was established to allow students to focus on training while maintaining academic progress. This system has enabled the team to continuously grow stronger.