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Communication | Using dance as a medium to showcase the beauty of Chinese culture to Western audiences

2024-03-26   

The Chinese modern dance drama "Poetry Memories of Dongpo" is being staged in Washington and New York City this month. By appreciating modern dance that combines ethnic elements such as traditional Chinese opera and Tai Chi, as well as experiencing the audio-visual effects of combining multiple elements such as poetry, calligraphy, guqin, painting, and seal carving, thousands of viewers have experienced the beauty of Chinese humanistic spirit. The first performance held at Lincoln Center in New York attracted approximately 1500 spectators to watch. The modern elements such as bicycles and skateboards interspersed in the second half of the performance give people a sense of time and space travel, triggering heartfelt laughter from the audience. At the end of the performance, the audience responded with warm applause and refused to leave for a long time. Richard Blake, who works at the Schiller Institute, a global think tank, told reporters after watching his first performance in New York that "Poetry in Memory of Dongpo" reflects the beauty of the human soul. For a long time, Su Dongpo's great influence may have come from his appreciation of spiritual beauty, which is reflected in the performance. "Before watching the performance, Blake and his wife contacted friends in China and had a long discussion about Su Dongpo's life and poetry. As a foreigner, it can be said that I have a glimpse of the meaning of Su Dongpo's poetry, but even a glance is beautiful and powerful. For the creative team of "Poetry Remembers Dongpo", how to make foreigners who are not familiar with Chinese culture or have never heard of Su Dongpo feel interesting and resonate during the 90 minute performance is a difficult point in the creation. Creator Shen Wei said in an interview with reporters that in order to express the spirit of Su Dongpo, a great historical figure, through dance language, he spent several months learning about all the information related to Su Dongpo in the world. He selected 12 poems from Su Dongpo's thousands of poems that reflect his attitude towards life and presented them in the dance poetry drama. Through various elements, the movements of the dancers also deeply integrated traditional opera and Tai Chi. Shen Wei said that many foreign audiences think the performance is good, and after going back, they will consult Su Dongpo's poetry to further understand. It is reported that before and after the performance of "Memories of Dongpo" in the United States, Google search data showed a significant increase in search volume for "Dongpo". "This is a visual feast," said Jodie Nimeritsch, the president of the American Dance Festival, who had no prior knowledge of Su Dongpo's poetry. The grandeur, grandeur, tranquility, and beauty in "Poetry Memories of Dongpo" are unforgettable. Haimowitz (Chinese name He Zhiming), Honorary Director of Huamei Association, who has been engaged in long-term business and cultural exchanges between the United States and China, said after watching the performance that it was amazing. The audience not only enjoyed the visual feast, but also learned about Su Dongpo through modern art forms. "Poetry Memories of Dongpo" was created by China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Meishan Song and Dance Theater Co., Ltd. It held 8 performances in Washington and New York in mid March and received support from China International Culture Group and the American Dance Festival. (Lai Xin She)

Edit:Yi Jing Responsible editor:Li Nian

Source:XinhuaNet

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