Tsai Jui-yueh was a pioneer of modern dance in Taiwan. In 1937, she went to Japan to study modern dance, ballet dance and other techniques under the guidance of Baku Ishii in 1937 due to her admiration of his dance company. After the World War II, Tsai, who then had extensive performing experience, decided to return to Taiwan and choreographed dances “Song of India” and “We Love Our Taiwan” during her journey. After returning to Taiwan, Tsai opened the Tsai Jui-yueh Dance Research Institute in her hometown Tainan, devoting herself to dance creativity and teaching, and toured all over Taiwan. In 1947, she debuted at Taipei Zhongshan Hall, accompanied by Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra, which made a sensation in the art circle.
In this portrait, one can see the complete dance posture. The dancer is dressed in her performance outfit and ballet shoes, showing graceful dance movements in front of the camera. The composition features a clear theme with the figure at the center, and the natural environment is set off to create a sense of space. The light shines on the figure, making the character well-lit and outlined, and drag a long, thin shadow on the ground. The angle of the camera is located at a lower level, which allows dancers to form a more slender visual effect. This arrangement highlights the rhythm of human movements.
Liu Yi-hui, “2021 Compilation and Research Project of Metadata in Photography.”