Ballet performance has been available in Taiwan since 1960s. The dancing skills were influenced by Japan performers at that time. Many performers learned dancing skills in Japan and then returned to Taiwan. Ming-li Yao was one of these performers and became a famous choreographer and educator. In 1962, she returned to Taiwan from Japan with the original musical score of “Swan Lake” and “Giselle”. Then she performed the full acts of these two ballet dramas with Taipei City Orchestra. She acted as a lecturer in Cultural University in 1964 and Taiwan Art University in 1970. She also founded Ming-li Yao Classical Ballet.
Ming-li Yao has been devoting herself to ballet teaching for over 40 years. She put all her efforts in ballet teaching and ballet performance creation. A lot of excellent ballet teachers and performers were also raised by her. In addition, she created two famous ballet plays “Legend of Dragon Palace” and “Peacock Flying Southeast”, which are based on Chinese culture.
Through the history analysis and interview, we studied the creation style of Ming-li Yao and try to understand her principle to the ballet education. Further more, we interpreted the influence of Ming-li Yao has made to the Taiwan ballet teaching and creation
