“For me, it was an opportunity not only to show off magic from Taiwan, but also to learn from some of the foremost professionals in the business,” the 24-year-old prestidigitator said. “It was not just about the skill or the gadgetry, but the support I received.” .
Having studied at National Taiwan University to be an environmental engineer, Huang chose to follow his passion in magic upon graduating.
He was, he said, excited to have been invited to the Magic Castle, home of the Academy of Magical Arts. While it takes six months for most magicians to receive a reply from the prestigious venue, Huang said he was invited to perform within two weeks of sending in his promotional DVD.
“I was invited perhaps because I have found a special niche for myself,” Huang explained. “While Western magicians tend to prefer humorous acts and glamorous stage setups, my show incorporates Oriental elements.”
He entertained the audience with his eight-minute show by dressing as Xu Zhimo (1897-1931), a Chinese poet renowned in the 1920s. “The elements I adopted include drama, magic, music and Xu’s poetry,” Huang elaborated.
Ending with a flourish by levitating books and casting bookmarkers like snowflakes, Huang’s magic won warm applause and numerous standing ovations during 24 shows in his seven-day stay in the U.S., according to Huang.
Among the audience in Hollywood was Daniel Ulin, editor of Genii, a leading magazine for magicians. Ulin promised he would profile Huang in the magazine’s January issue.
Huang, the 2010 Taiwan Magic Convention Grand Prix winner, is to make another professional appearance at the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2015. (SSC-MJH)
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