Taiwan aborigines to leave for Beijing Olympic opening performance

A 102-member Taiwanese indigenous troupe will head to Beijing Monday for a performance during the opening of the August 8 Olympics at the invitation of Beijing Olympic organising committee, troupe leader said Sunday, the dpa reported.

"We will give a 3-minute-and-40 second performance during the opening ceremony to be held at the Bird Nest, and our show will feature the most beautiful part of the indigenous culture," said Kao- Chin Su-mei, an indigenous parliamentarian.

She said her group won the contract from the organising committee of the Beijing Olympics in late March to give the performance, and rehearsed twice - one in May for five days and the other rehearsal this month for eight days before going.

The troupe, made up of non-professional singers and dancers from seven indigenous tribes in Taiwan, will perform the Rice Havest Song, Bunun Tribe's world-renowned eight-note harmonies, the hair dance of Tau Tribe and other ritual dances of 14 indigenous tribes in the brief show.

Kao-Chin stressed the performance gives indigenous people an opportunity to "proudly present their unique culture to the world."

She said officials of the organising committee from Beijing were highly impressed by the performance of the non-professional performers when they viewed the rehearsal last week.