Troupe/author introduction
Chiung Jung Dance Troupe was founded in 1992 in Taichung City by Mrs. Chiung-jung Wang. In addition to junior/senior high school dance class students, troupe members also include graduate students from National Taiwan University of Sport’ Department of Dance and students from Graduate Program in Department of Dance. With abundant stage experience, the troupe has demonstrated outstanding performance. Since 2001, the troupe has been selected as the city’s outstanding performance group for 14 consecutive years. In 2014, Chiung Jung Dance Troupe also received recognition by the city in the form of Taichung Performing Arts Golden Award, and it has received numerous invitations to participate in domestic and overseas performances, thus it is an exceptionally professional dance group.

Program
Nicknamed the Prince of Pingpu Tribe, Ta-ching Chang was born in 1690 in the Hakka community of Dapu County in Chaozhou, Guangdong. He was the first indigenous interpreter (tongshi) for the Pingpu Tribe in Anli Village, central Taiwan. In 1711, Pingpu residents were devastated by plague, so he cured them with herbal medicine, saving countless lives. In expressing their appreciation, the village chieftain Mo-tzu A married his daughter to him, and the locals referred to him as the Prince of Pingpu Tribe. During his 30-year tenure as indigenous interpreter, Ta-ching Chang developed canals to reclaim land and taught the indigenous people farming, in turn shaping the agriculture of the Greater Taichung Plain today. In 1723, he funded the development of Huludun Ditch to facilitate the abundant harvest of rice and lay the firm foundation for the thriving development of Greater Taichung. In 1761, he returned to his ancestral home, where he passed away in 1773 at the age of 84.
Through dance drama performance approach, Chiung Jung Dance Troupe portrays the historic tale of Ta-ching Chang constructing the Huludun Ditch in Fengyuan in early Taiwan, including dazzling stories such as: the historic relics of our Pazeh forefathers, Ta-ching Chang crossing the Taiwan Strait to reclaim land in Taiwan and how he developed the ditch for irrigation, offering the citizens splendid, impressive art and culture experiences.

Date: November 4 (Sat.) 15:00-16:00
Venue: Taichung Literature Museum (No. 38, Lequn St., West Dist., Taichung City)
Admission: Free