Since 2000 when GENIO DANCE GROUP first formed, they have been devoted to Taiwanese-style flamenco dancing (Flamenco de Formosa), a unique dance style that features different elements of dance with creative music in a skillful way. The style brings out the conflict of emotion and humanity, which has a huge impact on the audience.

Lian Hua Ho, born in Douliu City, Yunlin County, is the director/choreographer of GENIO DANCE GROUP. Her father is from Sichuan, China, and came to Taiwan with the Army, marrying a Taiwanese girl. During this tour, Ho portrays a touching dance drama of family history using her father’s story, telling the journey of his veteran life and her own childhood. The performance witnesses historical memory of the war era, while also saluting veterans who fought for the country.

Before their performance at the music hall, GENIO DANCE GROUP set their final leg of the veteran homes tour in Yunlin County. They have been touring 16 veterans’ homes across Taiwan, with a mission to honor these forgotten veterans and show them love and care through flamenco dancing. The troupe received a certificate of appreciation from the Veterans Affairs Council and exchanged gifts with the council.

Director Ho and the team interacted with the veterans off-stage, singing “The Moon Represents My Heart” and teaching them basic greetings in Spanish, creating a cheerful atmosphere. Ho mentioned this was her second time performing at the Yunlin Veterans Home and expressed gratitude toward all the officials who came to see the show.

The chairman of the Yunlin Veterans Home was invited to read a poem written by Ho’s father, alongside the other veterans. They also invited Wendy Shih to play cello during the show. Wendy Shih is the first Taiwanese Vice-Principal Cellist in the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.

Director Ho spent her childhood in Douliu City before moving to Taipei to study dance. For Ho, it was very touching to come back and perform in her hometown. At the end of the show, during the Q&A, Ho invited students to perform, and the deputy minister of the Veterans Affairs Council gave out gifts. The event ended with a group photo.

Article by Zhang De Qin, Zhang Shan Yu, and Liao Rong Xi, in Yunlin

GENIO DANCE GROUP, founded by mainland descendant Lian Hua Ho, has been touring all 16 veterans’ homes in Taiwan. Douliu City in Yunlin County was their closing show, followed by a performance at the music hall in the Culture Affairs Bureau, Yunlin County.

Since 2000, GENIO DANCE GROUP has devoted itself to Taiwanese-style flamenco dancing (Flamenco de Formosa), a unique style that blends different dance elements with creative music, bringing out the conflict of emotion and humanity that resonates deeply with audiences.

Lian Hua Ho, born in Douliu City, Yunlin County, is the director/choreographer of the group. Her father is from Sichuan, China, and came to Taiwan with the Army, marrying a Taiwanese girl. This tour portrays a touching dance drama of family history using her father’s journey as a veteran and her own childhood, witnessing historical memory while saluting veterans who fought for the country.

Attendees included a former Army Vice Commander, the Director of the Yunlin County Veterans Service Office, and various community and cultural association leaders, along with over 100 attendees participating in the performance.

They also invited Wendy Shih to play cello during the show. Shih is the first Taiwanese Vice-Principal Cellist in the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.

Director Ho spent her childhood in Douliu City, attending elementary and junior high school there before moving to Taipei to study dance. For Ho, it was very touching to be back in Douliu to perform, surrounded by the community she grew up in.

Article by Zhang Li Ming

Wendy Shih, who holds a master’s degree in Music Performance from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, is the first Taiwanese member of the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. She not only played the role of Vice-Principal Cellist during her time with the orchestra, but also performed at the Diamond Jubilee in the UK.

After returning to Taiwan, she dedicated herself to music education, joining Sistema Taiwan as a cello teacher out of a desire to give back to society. She now teaches at Dingpu Elementary School in Tucheng District, New Taipei City.

The Education Bureau says Sistema Taiwan has long been devoted to music education, and expressed gratitude to have a talented professional like Wendy Shih willing to go to rural areas and mountains to teach children music step by step, from recognizing notes to hearing melodies. They hope students will use music as a tool to change their lives in the future.

The children from Sistema Taiwan practiced for over a year before gathering at New Taipei City Hall to perform. Most come from rural areas of New Taipei City, starting from scratch — learning how to read music and hold their instruments. After practice and auditions, an orchestra was formed, and they dressed as little deer to share their music with the audience.

Among the young musicians is a boy named Xiao Yo, raised by his grandparents, with the family’s only income coming from his grandmother. He knows how precious the chance is to have music lessons, and is always the first to arrive at class, never complaining. Gradually, he has found confidence through music. Another student, Xiao Yun, had long dreamed of learning violin but knew her family could not afford lessons — until she learned Sistema Taiwan’s classes were free.

One of the instructors, Qi Zhen Wei, teaches viola through the program and received free music lessons herself as a student, which is part of why she now gives back through teaching. Wendy Shih, who holds a master’s degree in Music Performance from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, is the first Taiwanese Vice-Principal Cellist in the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and also performed at the Diamond Jubilee in the UK. She came back to Taiwan and joined the first and second Sistema Taiwan projects, sharing that music can be a way to release stress when children face difficulties in life — something she believes matters more than whether a child becomes a professional musician.

Sistema Taiwan continues its charity violin project, believing music is key to changing lives, and is looking for teachers who share this value to join the team while collecting donations of second-hand violins.

Article by Hsuan Hsieh, Youth Daily News

“Teacher, I like this song! Can we practice this?” A student still without advanced skills has started to get a sense of how to appreciate music, actively bringing up songs he wants to practice.

“Music is a long-term companionship. It doesn’t matter if you become a musician or not — music is a way to release stress during difficult times. This matters more than whether you go professional or whether you’re talented,” says teacher Wendy Shih, her eyes shining as she speaks.