Dance craze sweeps
By Merry Zhang



The ongoing 6th National Dance Competition in Xiamen, with spectacular performances by the competitors, is presenting a series of feasts of dancing arts to spectators in the over-packed theatre.

Performances by the competitors, with their brilliant designs, rich content, superb dancing skills and boundless energy are dazzling the spectators, who constantly express their appreciation for the brilliant dances with applauses, laughter and cheering.

Although this competition is run commercially, with no complimentary admission tickets, the theatre is over-packed with spectators for each event; this kind of spectator enthusiasm is really a rare sight in Xiamen's performance market.

The National Dance Competition (NDC) is a national-level dance contest organized by the Ministry of Culture with competitors from all professional artistic performance troupes and arts academies across the nation. As the most prestigious government-sponsored professional competitive dancing event, the NDC has witnessed five successful sessions. The ongoing 6th NDC in Xiamen, scheduled from May 23 to June 3, has attracted more than 1,500 elite dancers from 29 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions throughout China, who are competing in 11 semi-finals and 6 finals with 166 performances. It is also the first time that the event has lured dancers from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, who have made it to the semi-finals with 9 performances. In terms of the number of competitors, the quality of performances and the participation of spectators, this competition is the grandest-ever national event of dancing arts.

The closing ceremony and awards ceremony gala show will be staged in the Xiamen People's Convention Hall on the evening of June 3.

 

In the words of experts

Chen Weiya, Head of the Panel of Judges for the Competition:
Compared with previous dance competitions, which were mostly monotonous and dull, semi-finals in the competition of this year were far more exhilarating and exciting. The creation of dances shows a form of openness; choreographers are bold to incorporate a good variety of means of artistic representation in their creation, including elements of martial arts and international standard dances, which help them to express the reality of life, enrich their dancing performances, and enhance their artistic impact.



Feng Shuanbai, Vice Chairman of China Dancers' Association:
The competition of this year is showing an enriched and diversified form of representation, and there are more dance works aimed at reflecting life and reality; this is indeed an encouraging sign. In recent years, a larger number of new dancers and fresh creations have emerged, which is a testimony to the saying that "the rise or fall of the dancing sector is a reflection of the prosperity or sluggishness of the country", and also a manifestation of the determination of Chinese dancers to pursue and present artistic "masterpieces".



Zhang Zongcan, Senior Editor and Executive Editor-in-Chief of Dance magazine:
This is the first time that the national dance competition has ever taken in performances regardless of categories, accepted competitors both professional and amateur, permitted the staging of internationally standard dances, and allowed voting by spectators. It seems that the national dance competition is no longer a contest for purely professional creations and performances. The competition has been expanded to cover Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan for the first time, and the involvement of spectators has risen remarkably; all this is indicative of a broader notion of "grand dance" for the event. In addition, the intermingling of various categories of dance creates strong contrast and extraordinary splendor; the resulting visual impact is overwhelming.

 

 

Xiamen proves it is top notch
By Vivian Zhang



Whenever Xiamen dancers made their appearances on the stage in this competition, their remarkable performances unfailingly thrilled the audience and drew several rounds of applause. Of the 82 dances entering the final of the 6th China Dance Competition, 8 were brought by Xiamen dance majors, which speaks for the overall high dance level of the host city.

The result came as no surprise. Xiamen Little Egret Folk Dance Troupe and the Xiamen Opera and Dance Theatre had aimed at this competition long before and began preparations a year ago. Experts in Beijing and even in Singapore were invited time and again to instruct here in Xiamen. Dancers spent almost all their time on repetitious and tedious practice to sharpen their stunts, shedding sweat, tears and sometimes blood.

Blend art elements together
Zhang Dongxin and Fen Wei, the married couple who have always worked jointly as choreographers at the Xiamen Little Egret Folk Dance Troupe, are distinguishably fruitful with 3 dance works entering the final, including the doubles' dance "Bird-lets" and group dances "Sacrifice Ceremony of Wa" and "Streaming Water".

The dance "Bird-lets" is adapted from a Minnan (South Fujian) children's ballad. It illustrates two lovely birds' first encounter with the harshness of the real world after breaking apart from the shell, showing the necessity of mankind's inward dependence rather than confrontation and suspicion toward each other.

Since the dance requires a high technical ability from the dancers, as well as from the choreographers, the couple made extravagant preparations during the past year. They even borrowed some movements from the Minnan local "Gaojia" opera. Zhang Dongxin said, "Cultures of different places are characterized by local features, yet there is always something in common. The trick is to find where it lies and then you can make your works understood and can move your audience".

As in their instructed group dance "Streaming Water", colorful dance elements from various Chinese minority groups are blended together, including Miao, Dai, Yi and Wa, to create a profound artistic effect. Everything is featured in a way to make the performers beautiful and expressive on the stage.

Reflection of reality
There is another married couple Zhang Dong and Cong Mingling from the Xiamen Opera and Dance Theatre, who also performed gloriously on the competition stage. The doubles' dance "Distant Village" was solely created and performed by them. It shows a young couple's experience of ups and downs when pursuing their dreams in a strange big city, just like that of their own life.

During a rehearsal before the competition, Cong dislocated her wrist. She bandaged her wrist and continued to brave through seven hours' of practice each day and the competition in the end. Although it is the third time they had taken part in the National Dance Competition, they valued this opportunity more than anything else, because it was the first time they ever showed a dance work choreographed by themselves, a milestone in their dance career.

Cong Mingling also took a role in the choreography and performance of the group dance "Racing Ships". "Through extremely rich body language by the performers like running, jumping and crouching, it demonstrates the relationship between the rapid changes of cities and the consistent faith and pursuit of human beings, delivering to the audience the subtle feeling that would otherwise be difficult to convey in words."

 

Xiamen Little Egret Folk Dance Troupe



(the Xiamen Opera and Dance School)
The troupe was founded in 1993 as the first professional folk dance troupe in China. Featuring the exotic dance art of Chinese ethnical minority groups and characterized by the unique Minnan (South Fujian) culture, the troupe has won great fame and honors at national level competitions and performances. Being a distinguished name card of Xiamen, it has paid visits to America, Singapore, The Philippines, New Zealand, Russia and other countries and districts. It has been jointly run along with the Xiamen Opera and Dance School, of which the management mechanism injects the momentum vital for its consistent development.

Five dances from the troupe and the school entered the final competition: doubles' dance "Bird-lets", group dances "Streaming Water", "On the Other Side of the Sea", "Sacrifice Ceremony of Wa" and "Extol A-li-lang".

The Contemporary Dance Troupe of the Xiamen Opera and Dance Theatre
The troupe was founded in 1999 as the first contemporary dance troupe in Fujian. Renowned experts from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing and Singapore, Malaysia and America have been invited to give instructions to the troupe.

Three dances from the troupe entered the final competition: doubles' dance "Distant Village" and group dances "Urban Impression" and "Racing Ships".

 

 

Message Board

Russian fantasy concert
俄罗斯风韵音乐会
Performer: Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra
演出单位:厦门爱乐乐团
Time: 19:30, June 4
时间:6月4日19:30
Venue: Music Island Philharmonic Hall, Wan Shou Lu at 67 Wen Yuan Lu
地点:音乐岛-爱乐厅(万寿路口-文园路67号)

Yin Chengzong piano solo
殷承宗钢琴音乐会
Time: 19:30, June 4
时间:6月4日19:30
Venue: The Musical Hall at the Xiamen Activity Center for Seniors
地点:厦门老年活动中心音乐厅

Spatial Behaviour Drawing/Installation
"空间行为"素描/装置
Exhibitor: Aam Solleveld, Erik Olofsen
作者:阿姆索莱沃尔
Duration: June 4 - June 29, 10:00 am - 12:00 am and 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Wednesday - Sunday
展期:2004年6月4日 - 6月29日, 上午10:00 - 12:00,下午3:00 - 5:00, 星期三 - 星期五
Venue: The Chinese European Art Center, Xiamen University
地点:厦门大学中国欧洲艺术中心