十月底劉清痕打電話找我加入薪傳的舞團，在秋季大會演出『情人的黃襯衫』。我有些猶豫，一來我已經有二條踢踏舞碼在身上，二來到別的演講會去佔位子，總是說不過去。想想看晚會的第一條舞有我，第二條舞也是我，第三條舞又是老面孔，該不會讓人倒足味口吧！無可厚非的，我的內心確實折騰了一翻。我今年滿五十，資格符合跳五十年代的舞，打從心眼裡想跟大家分享年過半百的超級感覺，開始過下半輩子發光發熱的日子。所以囉，晚會當天就看到我穿著不同的衣服滿場飛，過足了野台秀小姐的癮。
When
Michelle Liu called me in late October inviting me to join Legacy's dance
group at the dinner show, I was reluctant (thrilled in a way) to give my
consent instantly. Just think that I've had the first and second tap
dances to open the dinner party, if I promised Michelle, there would be me
in the first three shows in a row. I'm sure members would be fed up with
the same face on stage again and again. But I was struggling in my heart.
I was 50, I was qualified to be a member of the group in the “fifties”. I
wanted to tell members how happy I was to turn 50. I was all ready to
sizzle in the second half of life. So, there I was, a shining toastmaster
dancing to “Lover's Yellow Shirt” in orange chiffon, enjoying showing off
in front of fellow toastmasters. |
踏出自己演講會的大門，參與其他分會的活動，讓我這隻井底蛙大開眼界，認識了演講會的各路好漢。Eva Liu
除提供自己經營的書局的場地供我們練舞外，還幫我們挑選六套既性感又飄逸的雪紡洋裝，由二位俊男陪伴六個美女演出超現代版的『情人的黃襯衫』，讓我們不費吹灰之力就贏得了晚會的滿堂彩。William
Yang 身負晚會聯絡人的重任，帶了美麗嬌小的太太 Lily
實在值得大書特書，二人一直陪伴我們練舞，只要一有人缺席，就自動補位，最後未滿三十的Lily也正式登台。俗語說得好『皇天不負有心人』，機會來了，就好好把握。
Going beyond my home club opened my eyes to understanding and appreciation
of team spirit from other clubs. Eva Liu was sweet to provide her Brown
Sugar bookstore for our rehearsals. She also helped us select six sexy
stylish chiffon dresses which turned out to be the winning weapons of all
the attention from the floor. We became hot and spicy girls instantly.
William Yang (the chief coordinator of the dinner show) and his sweet wife
Lily worth a lot of credits. They took turns standing by our group when
some dancers could not make it to the rehearsals. Eventually Lily go her
role. Says the Maxim, “Be prepared! Be available! When the chance falls
upon you, catch it!”
每次練舞時，大夥兒都全心投入，時光一晃就過了。第一堂課結束後，大夥相約去喝永和豆漿，是Mary
的老公付的帳。第二堂課結束，已過半夜十二點。第三堂課及第四堂課前，大夥都各自在家練好功夫才上場，指導老師阿邱為我們敬業的精神折服。最後二堂下課時，大家雖是頂著淒風苦雨回家，相信內心卻是暖烘烘的。
When we
learned dancing, everyone was so involved that we didn't realize time
could fly like a flash. Mary and her husband paid the bills of our snacks
after the first rehearsal. It was after midnight when we finished the
second rehearsal. For the third and fourth rehearsals, we impressed A-cho,
our dance instructor, by memorizing all the steps well in heart. We made
the best use of each second when we learned dancing with A-cho to make him
a proud instructor. A-cho returned our dedication by arranging the music
till 3AM in the morning.
我很高興有機會能認識阿邱老師，百忙之中帶一群老大不小的子弟兵（臨時應召來的）。阿邱很有活力，也很有才氣，目前等著服兵役。跟阿邱的四堂課，老師傾囊相授舞蹈招數及術語，學生個個受益良多。阿邱為了剪接我們的音樂帶，還忙到半夜三點，真是令人涕泗縱流。為不負眾望，學員們使出混身解數，想在晚會舞台上一顯身手。談到愛現，叫我第一名，每堂課我都打扮的美美地，錄下所有的舞蹈動作及表情，真是超好玩的！
I'm
grateful I had the opportunity to know A-cho. He is full of talents and
energy, waiting for his military terms in due time. I learned a lot of
dancing skills and jargons from him. We had four classes with him, from
the 31st of October till the 21st of November. Each
class was full of excitement. I particularly dressed up for each session
to videotape all the steps and movements of our group. It was so much fun!
晚會當天阿邱受邀觀賞，臉上浮現滿意的笑容。舞者們在台上又唱又跳，專業程度可比拉斯維加斯的秀場的舞王舞后，為台北的週六夜晚注入一股新的生命力，豪華、亮麗、壯觀，非言語可以形容，台上跳得高興、台下看得高興，每個人都嗨到九宵雲外。
A-cho was invited to our
Dinner show at the Fall Convention Saturday night. He was happy to see our
excellent performance full of joys and happiness. All dancers sang and
danced on stage at the same time to make us look really professional. We
were like the queens and kings of the street shows in Taipei, marvelous,
spontaneous, and magnificent. Of course, the responsive and welcoming
members gave us a lift to our newest high.
當秋季大會的講評比賽在國軍文藝中心如火如荼地進行著，三軍軍官俱樂部勝利廳的化妝室擠滿了晚會的表演者，其吵雜勝況不下早上的傳統市場。小虎隊成員的
Justice Liao 帶著髮型造型師的太太
Vivian
隨團服務。Eva Liu
搖身一變，幫大夥化妝，打理門面。一屋子擠滿了婆婆媽媽，還有一位男扮女裝跳中東肚皮舞的碩壯俊男，大夥如同姊妹淘，交換各種從頭到腳叮叮噹噹的飾品，期求能在晚會豔驚天下，真是演講會友一家親，未來演講會閃亮之星。
When the
District evaluation contest was in process Saturday afternoon, the
dresser's room of the Victory Hall was packed with performers of the
dinner show. It was more hustle and bustle than a traditional Chinese
market in the morning. We were lucky to have Vivian, Justice's wife, as
our personal hairdresser. Eva changed her role as the beautician to help
us with our make up. All girls (including a mysterious male belly dancer)
were generous to swap the beauty belongings to make others look at their
best. We were sisters of a grand extended Toastmasters family. We were
Toastmasters stars.
從開始決定下海跳舞，我就有自知之明，最大的挑戰是如何在超短的時間內換好衣服出場亮相。三條舞三種造型，衣服、鞋子、頭髮、裝飾各不相同，第一條舞，穿日本浴衣、梳髮髻、穿踢踏舞鞋；第二條舞，穿無袖緊身上衣、藍色牛仔褲、梳直髮、帶牛仔帽、同樣一雙踢踏舞鞋；第三條舞，穿橘色雪紡洋裝、圍藍色雪紡披肩、梳長捲髮、穿金色高跟涼鞋。當晚會主持人請來賓鼓掌歡迎『情人的黃襯衫』出場時、我還三步當二步，從化妝室橫衝直撞到舞台，心臟差點沒跳出來了，不過很可惜，還是慢了十秒鐘。相信如果下次還有機會的話，我一定會換得更快、跑得更快、準時登台。
When I accepted the role, I
knew immediately the challenge I'd face was the change of costumes,
hairstyles, accessories at the fastest tempo possible. My first tap dance
was in Japanese Ukata, dark tap shoes, and hair combed up. The second tap
dance was in blue jeans, hair combed down with a cowboy hat, same tap
shoes. The third pop dance was in a chiffon dress, a blue shawl, long
curly hair, and a pair of high heeled golden sandals. When the masters of
ceremonies announced, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome the “Lover's
Yellow Shirt”, I was running on the double from the dresser's room to the
stage. My heart was pumping. I was 10 seconds late. But I know I should be
able to change faster, run faster, and get on stage on time for my next
show.
情人的黃襯衫是首家喻戶曉的老歌，我們演出的是鄧麗君的翻唱版，改編的歌詞訴說著女子對情人的愛意，非常悅耳動聽。『我的他跟我約會，穿一件黃襯衫；我送他這黃襯衫，寄託我情意溫暖；我的他年輕有為，對我深情款款；我送他這黃襯衫，寄託我情意不斷。啊！我對他情意專，他對我也情意千萬；啊！我的愛像花燦爛，他的愛也像明月圓。我的他年輕有為，對我深情款款；我送他這黃襯衫，寄託我情意不斷。』
Lover's yellow shirt is a
familiar song to senior citizens. The version we used for our dance is
sung by Teresa Teng, I like the lyrics just the same, ”I have a date with
my sweetheart. He wears a yellow shirt I gave him to show my affections.
My sweetheart is young and hardworking. He is so much in love with me. I
gave him the yellow shirt to show my endless love. I love him only, he
loves me a million. My love is like flower blossom, his is like the full
bright moon.”
第六十七區秋季大會晚會已經落幕，我們成功地跨出舒適領域、學習如何愛在深秋、一同成長一同歡笑。但這才開始，我們還要爬得更高，看得更遠，讓更多的會友感受到我們的友情及熱情。相信未來還有更好的晚會、更大的舞台，更成功的演出。親愛的台灣演講會友，敬請拭目以待，幕再升起時。
The curtains of D67 Fall
Convention dinner show has fallen. We've stepped out of the comfort zone,
we've learned Love in Fall from each other, we've grown together, but we
won't stop there. We shall continue to enlarge our vision, to spread our
passion and affection to more members. There are more wonderful and
fruitful district 67 conventions in store, bigger and better stages to
excel ourselves. Toastmasters of Taiwan, keep your eyes open! The curtains
are about to rise! |
