Dancers from Southern Taiwan
Dance Division of Kaohsiung Municipal Tsoying High School, R.O.C.

In the summer heat of 1984, the first high-school Dance Division in Taiwan, R.O.C. was brought into the world.
Since then, Tsoying Senior High, at the foot of Mount Ban Ping (in suburban Kaohsiung), nurtured a most
fascinating "special artistic division."
 
We started with chosen steps and collective concepts in setting the curriculum and overall philosophy.
Naturally, equal efforts were employed in a comprehensive search of proper facilities, teaching materials, and
faculty. All considerations were focused on establishing an integrated, effective transition from the dance
education system of elementary/junior high schools to that of colleges/universities. At the same time, we also
aimed at broadening our students' mind and vision, so that they would be on the right track towards a complete,
fruitful life.
 
Therefore, besides taking academic courses for regular high-school students, our students practice on a daily
basis ballet, modern dance, and traditional Chinese operatic movements. They also take classes like "Dance
Music" and "Appreciation of the Arts" in order to enrich their learning, both technical-wise and conceptual-wise.
"Repertory" and "Improvisation" emphasize training for on-stage performance and creative hands-on
experiment.
 
In this energetic sphere of dance, we have devoted teachers coming from all corners of Taiwan and other parts
of the world, on short term or long, to share their terpsichorean specialities and styles of various cultural origin.
Our students are hence well prepared for more advanced pursuits of this electrifying art form.
 
Now the tiny seeds of terpsichorean heritage planted at the start have grown into plush greenery, displaying
strength and beauty. The road ahead is still long and perhaps trying at times; however, with our love of dance in
us confident joyful steps are going forward.