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No regrets from fallen star
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-08-14 16:03 On Friday night when the whole world was ecstatically immersed in the grand opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics held in the National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest, Mr Liu was distraught, knowing that the "Silk Road" dancer would not be his lovely daughter. She was lying quietly in hospital with high position paraplegia after she fell in a rehearsal 12 days before the final performance. Liu Yan, 26, an award-winning dancer from Inner Mongolia, was thrilled to learn that she was the first choice to be the solo performer of "Silk Road" dance.
Grand events are nothing rare for this young dancer, renowned as "Ballet Queen", who won various national and regional dancing contests. But this time it was different, an invitation to dance at the Olympics in her motherland. She went all out in every single practice. Then, on the night of July 27th, came the last rehearsal without spectators. Liu Yan stood on the platform as usual, waving her colored silk like the flying angel portrayed in a famous Dunhuang fresco. The dance flowed uninterrupted until Liu leaped onto another movable platform, which was supposed to stay still until she had landed safely. However, the 3-meter high platform moved unexpected when Liu’s left foot landed. With a big bang, Liu fell backwards onto the metal track and lost consciousness. Dead silence followed. She was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and later diagnosed with high position paraplegia, a nightmare for any professional dancer. |
