Professor Wang Yumin, Artistic Director of NTDTV's Asia Bureau and professor at Taiwan's Opera Art University, shared with The Epoch Times her understanding and knowledge of classical Chinese dance after watching the Divine Performing Arts show in New York earlier this year.
Watching "A Dunhuang Dream," took Professor Wang Yumin to heavenly realms. "When the Buddhas and divine beings' statues in the Dunhuang Cave came alive on stage, the heavenly maidens danced with different movements," she says. "They showed the beautiful form of 'Three Arches' in Chinese classical dance."
At the same time, she took note that the divine beings and Buddhas spoke with different Buddha hand signs. The dancing divine beings danced with the celestial music on top of misty clouds. The music and animated digital background greatly enhanced the dancers working together to take the audience to a heavenly realm. For a moment, she wondered where she was. "Was I on stage, in the Dunhuang Cave or in my seat?" Professor Wang said the profound meaning of the music is especially key to creating such a divine atmosphere. The sculptor in this dance drama was an ordinary human being, but he is brought to the divine realm where he communicates with many divine beings. It is because he has touched the heavens with his sincere wish to extol divine being through sculpture that he is granted a look into the divine realm. This way, he can accomplish unusually high-quality artwork. The superior quality of this dance is attributed to the highly coordinated dance and Buddha hand signs, as well as the elevated atmosphere created by the powerful music. The rich use of light effect creates different moods on stage.
Professor Wang explained how the background of the wide open plain in "Herding on the Mongolian Plains" instantly transports the audience to the life on the grassland. The audience sees a group of energetic and high-spirited young men dancing, hopping and turning like young deer. They gallop freely and happily on the open plains of Mongolia. Looking closer, this is more than just a group of dancing young men, but is a spark of life and energy illuminating their promising future! How brilliant! What a promise of hope! The audience cannot but wonder, "I didn't know life can be so wonderful and so full of hope!"
Like these energetic lives, Professor Wang commented that people should make their own life spark. "I feel this dance truly brings endless hope for the future to the audience." In the dance "Mulan," the audience can see Mulan's virtue and how she abides by traditional Chinese behavior such as loyalty and filial piety. The performer playing Mulan not only exhibits excellent dancing skills, but traditional Chinese moral values long neglected by today's youth. It reminds the audience to be more concerned about family and cherish the people around us.
The dance contains battle scenes that require dance skills which accentuate the importance of the heroine's character. "I believe that this dance will inspire today's youth to emphasize the fundamental rites, to guard their daily behavior and to cultivate morality." This dance is a good representation of battle dances in the Chinese classical dance tradition. The performers hold blades in their hands and send a clear message that they are in battle. Then there is the ritualistic greeting of Mulan's father which is very typical in the Chinese classical dance. Their costumes are fairly representational as well.
She noted the costumes of the Tang and Han dynasties, as well as those of the Tibetan, Mongolian and Dai people. Indeed, classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic dances are all represented in the show.
Each dance has a meaning leading to the climatic finale "Victory Drums." This powerful piece provides people with about ways to lead their lives from now on. The dances ask the audience: How should we create a beautiful future for ourselves? "Victory Drums" went straight to Professor Wang's heart. "I must know where I am going while doing my current job well. I must also know what exactly I must choose in my life."
NTDTV's International Classical Chinese Dance Competition will be held in June 2007. This is a wonderful opportunity for Chinese dancers throughout the world to present and promote authentic Chinese culture. As co-host, The Epoch Times is proud to support this important event.
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