The Taiwan Mixed Disability Variety Troupe made its debut in the United States on September 20th at the Overseas Chinese Education Center in the Bay Area. They delivered a deeply touching charity performance that left the audience laughing with tears in their eyes and applauding continuously.
The performance was opened by the troupe leader, Liu Ming, who humorously shared his story. At the age of three, he suffered from severe disabilities due to high fever, with doctors predicting he wouldn’t live past thirty. However, he is now sixty-five years old. He saw “surviving” as an opportunity and continuously challenged life: becoming a radio host at thirty and winning the Golden Bell Award, publishing seven books at forty and being honored as one of the top ten outstanding young people, and at fifty starring in twenty-three episodes of a TV drama, setting a record as the first amateur lead in Taiwanese TV history.
He emphasized that true achievement is not about besting others but about helping them. Twenty years ago, he founded the “Mixed Disability Variety Troupe,” empowering people with disabilities to not only support themselves but also rebuild their confidence. He said, “With confidence, regardless of disability, everyone can carve out their own path in life.” The troupe conveys the belief of “never give up, cherish life.”
Following this, the stunt performer Jiang Yuhong made a grand entrance with a large iron hoop, showcasing a blend of strength and beauty, earning thunderous applause from the audience. Chen Lianqiao, a deaf actor who has won the Best Host award at the Golden Bell Awards twice, performed a silent drama portraying a baseball game. He played the roles of batter, pitcher, catcher, and umpire, using exaggerated and humorous gestures to vividly enact the whole game. The audience was amazed and cheered with raised hands and thumbs up. He also interacted with the audience, designing imitation motion games that elicited continuous laughter.
Closing the show was Guo Weiqi, the only female member of the troupe on this trip. At the age of seven, she lost her four limbs due to sepsis but completed an 18-day bike trip around the island, swam across Sun Moon Lake, and successfully climbed Jade Mountain with unwavering determination and talent. Her story has even been included in elementary school textbooks. During the performance, she danced with her knees and played the piano with her elbows, showcasing remarkable resilience and talent.
Guo Weiqi is praised as the “Smiling Angel.” When asked how she maintains her smile, she replied, “Only through smiles can I forget the fact of losing my limbs.” She also shared her motto, “Do good deeds with good hands, walk good paths with good feet,” encouraging the audience to cherish their health and bravely pursue their dreams.
Liu Ming shared a heartwarming story during the performance. Due to Weiqi’s epilepsy, she needed someone to accompany her at night. Originally thinking it would be difficult to find help in the United States, they were surprised by the enthusiastic donor Li Yaqi, who voluntarily stayed with her for two nights and even assisted her with daily living. Weiqi especially thanked her on the spot, presenting a handwritten card as a token of gratitude, moving the entire audience.
Lastly, Mayor Zhao Liangfang of Cupertino, wiping tears, expressed that the performance by the Mixed Disability Variety Troupe evoked tears one moment and laughter the next, deeply touching from start to finish. She emphasized that such a vibrant and inspiring performance should be seen by more American youth, especially in the fields of mental health and education, where this positive energy is needed.
Chuang Yashu, the director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center, expressed gratitude for the deeply moving performance and thanked the Overseas Chinese community for their support, showcasing the enduring spirit of never giving up. Yang Zhichao, the general director of the event, hoped to bring the performance of the Mixed Disability Variety Troupe to the Bay Area’s “Taiwan Day” in the coming years.
In a media interview, Liu Ming stated that the focus of the Mixed Disability Variety Troupe is not just talents but how members use their life stories to tell everyone that “in life, when faced with setbacks, there are always other choices besides giving up.” He emphasized, “What the Mixed Disability Variety Troupe demonstrates is ‘touching lives with life, influencing lives with life,’ which is the most beautiful and powerful aspect.”
Chen Ziling, who assisted in pushing Liu Ming’s wheelchair during the performance, expressed great honor in being part of it. She mentioned that although the members have physical disabilities, they exhibit resilience and positivity, not only striving in life but also encouraging and helping others.
In particular, she was moved to tears and exclaimed, “It’s really incredible,” upon hearing Guo Weiqi’s story of conquering Jade Mountain and declaring her love publicly.
The Mixed Disability Variety Troupe was established in 2005, with members covering visual impairment, hearing and speech impairment, limb disabilities, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and other rare diseases. It is the first integrated disabled performance group in the country. Under the leadership of Liu Ming, the troupe has been established for over twenty years, performing in over two hundred locations including schools, prisons, and social welfare institutions, accumulating nearly two thousand performances. ◇