Chinese dance troupe toasts joys of spring<\/p>\n
By Mehru Jaffer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nine nymphs from the Chinese province of
\nHeilongjiang celebrated the joys of springtime with much song and
\ndance last weekend here in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Performing for the International Festival 2000 at the Gedung
\nKesenian that is fast emerging as an important cross cultural
\nvenue for the appreciation of the performing arts, the Chinese
\ndancers frolicked for nearly two hours in gorgeous costumes and
\nexotic music brought all the way from their home in the
\nnorthernmost part of China. Bordering Russia, this province is a
\nmelting pot of races including the Han, Manchu, Korean,
\nMongolian, Hui, Daur, Oroqen, Heezhen, the Turkish speaking
\nKirgiz and the Ewenki.<\/p>\n
Here architecture and cobblestones left from Russian and
\nJapanese occupation are found aplenty along with the cranes,
\nstorks, swans, geese and herons that have made China's biggest
\nbird sanctuary their home since time out of mind. This is the
\nancient land of Manchuria where summers do not exist and winters
\nare long. The autumn here is a time of frosts, and there is much
\nflooding during the comparatively warmer days. Meanwhile, the
\nbrief visit of springtime brings with it the danger of drought.<\/p>\n
The provincial capital of Harbin has a six-month long winter
\nwith lowest temperatures of minus 38 degrees. It is little wonder
\nthen that the people of this treacherous land have devised such
\nheartwarming dances and music to keep themselves amused. Modern
\ntimes have seen the emergence of an ice festival that is now the
\ntalk of the whole world where ice sculptures of pagodas, bridges,
\nlanterns, human figures and palaces give a fairyland look to the
\nsnow-clad landscape.<\/p>\n
The people of this province, who obviously learn to sing and
\ndance from a very young age, are definitely influenced in their
\nart by the denizens of the 210,000-hectare Zhalong Nature
\nPreserve which is situated a few hundred km away from Harbin. For
\nthese dancers from the provincial art academy, who have filled
\nhalf of their repertoire with numbers celebrating Springtime, are
\nonly between the ages of 14 and 16. They have also incorporated
\nin their dances the movements of birds, animals and fishes.<\/p>\n
Looking like beautiful buds about to burst into blossom, the
\ndancers were a delight to watch as they kicked, hopped, swayed
\nand pouted to transport the audience into a magic world of
\nglittering tinsel, brocade, satin and silk.<\/p>\n
The heroine in the Peking Opera was full of vanity and pride
\nas the angel-faced dancer with a body as supple as bamboo bark,
\nand dressed in the regal colors of gold and red, regaled the
\naudience with leaps and pirouettes galore.<\/p>\n
A favorite was Song of the Boat when dancers wrapped in
\nsarongs the colors of the sea, pretended that they were the net
\nand sometimes the trawler.<\/p>\n
The Turkish Muslim influence was evident in abundance in the
\nblood red harem pants and toupees worn in one number that was
\ndanced to a sentimentally, soulful song sounding like the
\nserenade of a love-sick Romeo to his coquettish beloved.<\/p>\n
Silk Flowers in Spring seemed to bring an entire garden onto
\nstage as the dancers made countless floral patterns with limbs as
\nflexible as latex and simple props like scarfs or sticks. It was
\nthe shimmering performance of The World is full of Spring that
\nended a very ebullient evening and brought everyone back into the
\nreal world with a bang.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-dance-troupe-toasts-joys-of-spring-1447893297",
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