Binian Tao (xiaoxitao@msn.com) began her career as a performing artist before the age of 20, as an actress with a Huangmei opera troupe in Anhui Province, China. In 1989, she studied at the Beijing Art School, specializing in folk music, and won an “excellent singer” award in a national contest. In 1996, she recorded an album of old popular songs that caused a sensation in China. She went on to study the traditional Chinese table harp called a gu zheng, the instrument she plays in her Mixed Media appearance, at the China Center College. After a performing tour of Southeast Asia, she moved to Louisville in January 2004.

While attending East China University of Science and Technology, Leda Wu was on the rhythmic gymnastics and dance teams. She has been performing, directing, and teaching Chinese dance for more than six years, in Evansville, IN and then in Louisville, where she now lives. One of the big events on her performance schedule each year is the Chinese New Year celebration in February.

Leda has directed and performed with a wide variety of Chinese traditional and modern dance companies. She also runs Leda Wu Chinese Costume, which sells special-occasion costumes based on the traditional dress of various Chinese ethnic groups.

Program 715

Potter Wayne Ferguson, visual artist Jeral Tidwell, and traditional Chinese music and dance performed by Binian Tao on the gu zheng (Chinese table harp) and dancer Leda Wu. (#715)

Program 730

Potter Wayne Ferguson, visual artist Jeral Tidwell, and traditional Chinese music and dance performed by Binian Tao on the gu zheng (Chinese table harp) and dancer Leda Wu. (#730)

Program 809

Ice sculptor Pat Madden, sand sculptor Damon Farmer, a look at the Kentucky Heritage Sculpture project in northern Kentucky, traditional Chinese music and dancing from Binian Tao and Leda Wu, and a performance from Louisville pop band, Valley. (#809)