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Zhang Jigang, General Director of the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing Paralympic Games, claims never to repeat the work of others or himself.
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Zhang has had a dozen years' experience working with disabled performers. In 1994, he served as the general director of the opening ceremony of the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled. Since then, he has directed large-scale shows performed by disabled people and has produced some exciting programs.
"In the beginning, I was a little nervous and was afraid that I would unwittingly hurt them," Zhang said. After a while, he found that sincere communication soon made the performers his friends. Currently, Zhang is the vice chairman of China Special Arts Committee and a lifelong art director for China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe.
As the director of the opening and closing ceremonies at both the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics, he has been busy. In the past two years, he has attended thousands of meetings related to the two Olympics and often worked from morning to late in the evening.
Zhang's road to the Olympics has been long. He studied at the Beijing Dance Academy and after his graduation in 1990 taught in the Department of Choreography in the school. In 1992, he joined the Singing and Dancing Troupe of the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army. So far, he has choreographed more than 360 shows, most of which have been performed in more than 60 countries or regions. Some have won him awards, including the Golden Clown Prize at the International Acrobatic Competition.
"I will never repeat others or myself," Zhang said during a speech made at Peking University. "In my eyes, art is never perfect, however close it is to being perfect."
(Beijing Review September 9, 2008)
