This year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival was celebrated in Taoyuan on Wednesday, amidst complaints that organizers failed to cover the main stage with a canopy, resulting in performers slipping while performing in the rain.
The rainfall exceeded the expectations of organizers and performers, Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said.
The organizers and performers said the level of rainfall had not necessitated the cancelation of the event, Chou said, adding that the organizers also removed excess water from the stage after every performance.
Photo: Screengrab from Taoyuanshih YouTube channel
The agency has asked the organizers to convey to the performers the agency’s respect and solicitude, Chou said.
Those who watched the streamed performance online criticized the agency for failing to prepare rain gear for the performers, with one viewer saying such an act was tantamount to murdering the dancers.
During the 12-minute performance, viewers counted 20 incidents during which members of the Chinese Taipei Dance Sport Federation slipped and fell, and 22 incidents in which they staggered due to the wet stage.
One viewer asked who would pay for performers’ loss if they were injured and unable to perform in the future.
One performer wrote on social media platform Threads that they were honored to perform at such a venue and hoped they delivered an engaging performance.
“I feel it was very interesting; we managed to perform every definition of slipping and falling on stage,” they wrote.
The performer questioned whether the Taoyuan City Government had ever considered the performers’ safety, adding that some members were slated to perform abroad while representing the country.
Aljenljeng Tjaluvie, known by her stage name A Bao (阿爆), and the Bulareyaung Dance Company also performed at the event.
While many viewers wrote to A Bao expressing their concern, she replied humorously: “All performers were made more beautiful by their confidence to perform in inclement weather. Besides, we indigenous people are known for being fit; none of us slipped and fell.”
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