|
One of the strengths of classical Chinese dance is its
expressivity. It can vividly depict a wide range of emotions and
portray any cherished virtue— righteousness, loyalty,
benevolence, and tolerance. It can be masculine and vigorous,
soft and graceful, somber and stirring, playful and humorous.
Such range is achieved through bearing and form.
Bearing describes the physical expression of one’s inner
spirit. Spirit leads to movement, thus bearing leads to
form.
Form refers to Chinese dance’s external
appearance—hundreds of unique movements and postures. An
accomplished performer makes them appear effortless, but they
require a perfect coordination of the entire body that takes
years of rigorous training. A dancer’s every cell—from toes to
fingertips, from the angle of the head to the direction of the
gaze—must be in perfect harmony.
Classical Chinese dance also has an extensive array of
techniques—jumps, spins, flips, aerials and other very difficult
tumbling moves. These supplement and enhance the dance’s
expressive powers while adding vigorous physicality.
And yet, classical Chinese dance is still mostly unfamiliar to
the West. But that is quickly changing. Shen Yun is the world’s
premier Chinese music and dance company; promoting an authentic
form of classical Chinese dance is part of its mission. Based in
New York, Shen Yun is very different from companies coming out
of China.
“With Shen Yun, we use classical Chinese dance in its purist
form, we don’t mix in modern, contemporary, ballet, and other
dance forms until you no longer know what you are watching,”
says choreographer Vina Lee. “Authentic classical Chinese dance
can really give the audience an uplifting experience of pure
goodness and consummate beauty.”
And with 5,000 years of civilization to draw from, Shen Yun has
plenty of source material. Through dance, Terracotta Warriors
awaken from the dust, the Song Dynasty general Yue Fei comes to
life, Monkey King and Pigsy escape another sticky situation,
maidens grace a heavenly palace, drummers shake the yellow
plateaus of the Middle Kingdom.
A renaissance of Chinese culture has begun and one of the
world’s ultimate dance forms is blazing the path.
Shen Yun Performing Arts will be at
Toledo Stranahan Theater on March 17 & 18, 2012.
For more information, check
www.ShenYun2012.com.
|
