It was one of those rare moments in life when you witness the deaf and mute dancing gracefully to music they can’t hear, a blind pianist playing a piece of the highest standard, and amputees displaying a challenging and creative dance with body language.

I could not but admire their talent and sheer determination - their handicaps proved it is all in the mind, and the mind knows barriers to make dreams come true. And I will never look at a disabled person the same way again after watching the magnificent performances by the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe.

The two-hour concert entitled `My Dream’ organised by health food distributor E.Excel (M) Sdn Bhd and co-sponsored by Sing Chew Jit Poh at a packed Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil on December 9 and 10 had left me and thousands of spectators breathless and awed.

Formed in 1987, the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe has in the past 10 years performed in over 30 countries, two of which were held in top theatres in the world – Carnegie Hall in the United States and the Scala in Italy.

Dance, performed mainly by the deaf, dominated the program. There were two instructors standing on the sides of the stage, to assist performers with the rhythms and movements.

One of them, Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva, saw deaf dancers in glittery-gold costumes perform a flawless piece with spell-bounding visual effects. Following that came a dragon dance performed by a group of male dancers on wheelchairs. Despite their physical limitation, the coordination was perfect - a vivacious paper dragon chasing a large pearl, which was placed on the head of a lead dancer.

Another dance Green Seedling saw a man without arms taking centrestage. He lifted a long stick with two pails and skillfully circled it around his two armless shoulders!

One of the most memorable dances was presented by Tai Li Hua, 25, who was deaf at the age of two and began to pick up dancing feeling the vibration of the thumping on the wooden floor. She started formal dance training at 15 and so far has already toured more than 20 countries.

In her solo masterpiece Spirit of the Peacock her fluid and flexible arms and wrists were mimicking a peacock. Her skills and grace has earned her the reputation as the Peacock Fairy.

Then, the audience was pleasantly surprised to watch The Kite Dance – which was a lively Malay dance complete with baju melayu!

There was also a piece of Chinese Opera - At Three Forks of the Road – performed by two deaf and mute men. It can’t have been easy to execute the kung fu actions to the sounds of symbols and rhythms but they managed perfectly.

A poignant piece that brought much applause was by 18-year-old prodigal pianist Sun Yan, who became blind at the age of three. He started playing the piano at the age of seven and is the first blind student at the prestigious China Central Conservatory of Music.

Although he could not see the keyboard, he gave a rendition of Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 6 that was close to perfection, with the whole piece memorised and imprinted in his heart.

As the blind Yang Hai Tao came out and crooned the song Paradise with his powerful and raspy vocal, he came down stage and was greeted by the audience. The touching lyrics that he sang with feeling moved many among the audience. When a woman sitting in front of me started weeping, I felt tears swelling in my own eyes.

After that was another unforgettable performance by five men who had lost their right legs. The Wings of Life was artistically choreographed and aesthetically inspiring. The dancers displayed strength and suppleness with some highly challenging movements with their crutches. It was art at its best.

Furthermore these five dancers won the award of excellence in the 11th International Dances Competition in Japan last year, alongside other able-body dancers.

Finally, the climax of the night came when former Chinese gymnast Sang Lan made her appearance.

Sang Lan, who is a special guest of the troupe, shared with the audience a few inspiring words and sang. Her bright and sweet smile has become the trademark of this gutsy girl who became paralysed at the age of 17, a time when she was a promising rising gymnast.

The story of how her determination and strength had brought her hope despite all odds won her admiration and thunderous applause from the audience, never mind the fact that she is not a professional performer.

After that, Yellow Earth – a symbolic dance about the Chinese communist, wrapped up the program and concluded an amazing experience that will not be forgotten for a long, long time.