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Friday, July 13, 2018, 16:02
Beijing and HK move in sync to revisit dance legacy
By Meng Li
Friday, July 13, 2018, 16:02 By Meng Li

Xie Yin of Hong Kong Dance Company joined forces with Pang Dan of Beijing Dance Academy to produce a show based on Chinese court dance traditions. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

A diverse array of Chinese court dancing traditions was brought to life in Hong Kong Dance Company’s recent Dream of the Past: Ancient Chinese Court Dances show, produced jointly with the Classical Dance Department of Beijing Dance Academy (BDA). The idea was to lead the audiences on a journey in discovering the beauty and delicacy of music, etiquette, costume and literature in the context of traditional Chinese culture.   

“We believe that Chinese court dance, just like other media of the Chinese traditional arts, should not merely be sealed in museums,” said HKDC dance instructor Xie Yin, who coordinated the show with BDA’s head of Classical Dance Department, Pang Dan. 

(PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Since its beginnings in 1981, HKDC has presented hugely successful shows such as Butterfly Lovers and Lady of the West Lake, drawing heavily on the Chinese legacy of performance art and historical events. In 2016, HKDC joined forces with BDA to produce 11 sold-out shows of Chinese dance from the Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties besides conducting workshops and master classes. The positive feedback prompted them to cooperate again this summer. Zheng Lu, a professor of BDA, was invited to Hong Kong to tutor the HKDC dancers in the technique and emotions particular to traditional Chinese dances. This year several outstanding students from BDA accompanied Zheng to Hong Kong to help interpret the stories on which Chinese court dances are based. 

(PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The traffic between Beijing and Hong Kong dance professionals runs both ways. HKDC dancers have performed on the mainland, interpreting the cultural characteristics of their native city through dance. Such meetings, says Pang, have helped build a platform where artistes from both cities can share ideas.   

“It is quite difficult for the dancers majoring in ancient Chinese dance to improve their techniques and skills, as well as knowledge,” says Pang, who introduced a mandatory course in traditional Chinese culture for the students of classical dance at BDA. The program includes lessons in calligraphy, painting, traditional theater and music to help students perfect their style and artistic expression. 

Xie Yin, HKDC dance instructor. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Xie says to be able to perform ancient Chinese court dances well, it’s necessary to develop an understanding of the ancient notions of Oriental beauty, which is not just about looks but is also manifest in the psychological and emotional responses of a dancer.  

Experienced dancers are probably better equipped to perform these traditional dance styles than younger performers, said Xie. Trying to interpret the form in one’s own way by giving it a unique expression was crucial, she added.


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