Temple parade kids aren’t bad - Chiou Tian topples stereotypes

Parade troupes are an integral part of paying respect to deities in Taiwan’s folk belief festivities. Despite the long-standing reverence for such festivities in Taiwanese society, many controversies have emerged in recent years, in which public temples, temple altars, and bad troupes have infiltrated campuses to entice failing students into their control through drugs or violence. Sadly, with so much negative news, the public no longer sees such festivities in such a positive light.

However, “Chio Tian Folk Drums & Arts Troupe” is determined to overturn these negative labels by providing “bad kids” with a strict regimen and systematic training to transform them into professional performers. In recent years, these former troupe leaders have successfully transformed traditional parade troupes into internationally renowned performance troupes. Chio Tian carries the responsibility of blazing new trails for the nation’s traditional heritage and ensuring that the world has an opportunity to witness the beauty of Taiwan’s traditional culture.

以下為中文對照

「陣頭」是台灣民間祭祀、廟會喜慶的民俗活動，也是台灣神主祭祀的文化資產。雖然享有盛名，但是近年來卻出現不少爭議，許多公廟、廟壇和不良陣頭滲入校園吸收中輟學生，並透過毒品或是暴力來控制團員，種種負面新聞讓民眾對這個重要的祭典活動失去好感。

然而「九天民俗技藝團」立志翻轉陣頭的負面標籤，在嚴格的團規、有系統的訓練下，人們眼中的「壞小孩」成為了專業的表演者。原為陣頭團體的他們，近年來將表演藝術化，也讓傳統陣頭團體成功轉型為國際知名表演團體。九天背負著傳統文化的創新傳承，只為了讓世人看到台灣傳統文化的美麗。