The first "International Chinese Classical Dance Competition", hosted by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), closed with great success in New York on July 8, 2007. The participants and the audience gained a deeper understanding of true Chinese classical dance while being awed by its divine beauty.
In order to find out whether this competition had fulfilled its mission with its marking criteria, and what is true Chinese classical dance, The Epoch Times set up an exclusive interview with committee chairperson and renowned dance instructor Guo Xiu; Cao Yi, the committee vice-chairperson and a Chinese classical dance artist; and Zhang Tiejun, the vice-chairperson of the executive committee and a veteran instructor at the National Ballet School of Canada.
The judges' committee indicated that this competition was a great success. Not only was it a platform for the artists to exhibit their artistic expression and professional abilities, it was also a valuable platform for communication and sharing, which led to an elevated level of understanding of Chinese classical dancing. Through this process, the competitors and the judges learned of their roles in the historical mission of conveying to the world the truthfulness, benevolence, and beauty of Chinese classical dance.
The committee members further added that artistic expressions are the inner voice of the soul, and the artistic level is a reflection of the mind. An artist not only needs to possess technical competence, but also a noble character, in order to fully express both the exterior form and the inner essence of all things. If the artist possesses a beautiful spirit, such fine characteristics will be reflected in his or her performance, such that it will create an untainted field of pure beauty. So, true art not only presents beauty to the eyes of the beholder, but also cleanses the soul and heightens morality.
The following are the views expressed by the pane of judges.
Chinese Classical Dances Possesses A Unique Artistic Style
By confining the entries to only classical dance, the International Chinese Classical Dance Competition had a very clearly defined content and intent. Chinese classical dance has a very unique identity and style, with vivid characteristics and a refined, sophisticated essence. More important, it encompasses the Chinese culture and is a part of the heritage which has been passed down through the long history of China. This unique essence originates from the China's long history and distinguishes Chinese classical dance from other art forms. It includes the human nature of truthfulness, benevolence, and beauty.
Chinese classical dance is not merely about exploring posture, gesture and movement techniques. It is the seamless succession of this essence and an exhibition of the performer's grasp of the artistic quality. It is about the beauty of human finesse and elegance, the beauty of objects portrayed by the body in motion, and the well-harnessed power of strength contained within finesse. Without these, it would no longer be the same. Some contestants had truly remarkable techniques, but had overlooked the essence.
Chinese Classical Dance is Different from Other Forms of Art
In this competition, some dance pieces were not Chinese classical dance, but more in the style of Beijing opera or martial arts. Even though these have technical components which are similar to dancing, the requirements in body movements and in artistic expression are totally different. Furthermore, Beijing opera and martial arts lack the most critical components in dances, which are the dance performance, body postures and the spiritual essence in body movements, so they do not qualify as classical dance.
Even though Chinese classical dance has some commonalities with other technical and artistic forms, such as martial arts, battle dance and ballet, the expression and requirements are completely different. Although there are some similarities in the body movements, the rhythm, form, approach and poses are all different, so the inner meaning and essence are also quite different. If elements from the other forms of art are transposed as-is into Chinese classical dance, they will seem out of place.
For example, martial art routines and ballet will have difficulties with expressing the spiritual essence in the body movements of Chinese classic dance. Martial arts has the components of confrontation, battle, attack and defense. Recently, it has been popular as means of health training, but it definitely is not Chinese classic dance. Some participants had even taken things from modern dance, causing the dance piece to deviate from classic dances.
The Key of Chinese Dance is Its Inner Meaning
The key to Chinese dance is its inner meaning; hence, body rhythm and body posture of dance have become the essence for Chinese classical dance. This is also what we consider utmost in evaluating the competition. Regarding what is the inner meaning of Chinese classical dance, the different cultural information passed down from ancient times gives an explanation. For example, as you raise your hand or put down your foot, your movement carries the full body message of a Chinese person; it is more so in dancing.
In Chinese classical dance, different dancers performing the same posture or movement may have different inner spirits. They can do it with flexibility or firmness cloaked beneath gentleness; they can make it very pure; they can emit a touching feeling from inside out and from movement to performance; they can also make it very coquettish, exaggerated or affected.
Dance Inherits From Culture and Human Nature
Chinese classical dance has been passed down from ancient China. It has been spreading among folk, imperial and ancient traditional operas from dynasty to dynasty, forming a unique posture, inner spirit, style, and breathing system. It is an art of dance that is based on the 5,000 years of Chinese culture and profound traditional aesthetics. It also embodies human nature, moral standards, moral concepts, state of mind and values.
For example, in the past, males were required to be virile, sturdy, modest and vigorous and to have inner depth and martial bearing. Females were required to be kind, feminine, dignified and graceful. This is the culture's requirements of men and women, so dancers need to be able to manifest such temperaments.
For representing femininity, some contestants understood such soft gracefulness as affectedness. They thought this is what the audience would like. Actually their understanding is deviated, and it would affect their scores in the competition. In addition, females being masculinized, too strong or rigid, males being too weak or slack would also negatively affect the contestants' scores.
Promoting Pure Chinese Classical Dance
Our marking criteria follow closely the goal of holding our competition and what our evaluation is based on, that is to manifest pure Chinese classical dance, so that it will not be contaminated and that it will keep its pureness. Through the competition, we would like to show the world what is pure Chinese classical dance. Of course, since it is a kind of body language, there is a technical standard. The performers must have the necessary techniques and the basic skills, but the contest will not be a competition merely for the title or based on movements alone.
The beauty of Chinese classical dance should be a treasure shared by all people. It is also something we should cherish and continue to purify. We should treasure and protect traditional Chinese culture. We do not want it to be impacted by more things, the purer the better.
Promoting and developing pure Chinese classical dance and advancing it to the global stage is a mutual historical mission for dance artists, because it is the culture our ancestors have left us. We have the responsibility of carrying it on. This competition is a great opportunity for all of us to learn from each other, promote cultural exchange and improve our understanding of what is pure Chinese classical dance.
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