LOS ANGELES—Through an array of colorful costumes and dances, performers at the 2008 Chinese Dance Festival put on a satisfying show of traditional Chinese folk dance at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium on Saturday, April 19.
With a style much different than that of Western dance, the performances pulled from various cultures throughout Asia, including traditional performances from China's various dynasties. Dancers from more than 16 different schools displayed their talents throughout the show.
"Every movement within every dance has meaning. Whether it's telling a story or just expressing the culture of ancient China, everything is related to a really deep inner content," said Ryan Mitchell, one of the performers.
Mitchell went on to describe the value that he has derived from learning the art, "I think that the Chinese traditional arts have a lot to teach young people about living an upright life and having real meaning in your life," said Mitchell. "Unlike modern rock music or modern art, which are about giving up meaning or escaping responsibility, these kinds of arts really represent something that helps you to strive towards improving yourself. I think this is something young people really need to be exposed to."
The night opened with an energetic Mongolian chopstick dance, moving on to performances with long water sleeves, flower-like fans, swords, and many others, each presentation telling a unique story. One performance entitled, "Feather Elegance," pulled from a legend from the Tang Dynasty and depicted a man dreaming of the moon.
Another piece, entitled, "The Phoenix Sings in the High Sky," accompanied by the serene music of the zither, portrayed a phoenix descending to the earth and ascending into the sky.
According to Yuan Mei, the coordinator and choreographer of the Clear Cosmos Art Studio, Chinese classical dance goes beyond mere surface expression and emphasizes three main elements: sight, movement, and inner meaning. Each piece should tell a story or evoke a certain emotion in the viewer.
The dance Yuan Mei coordinated for the night's performance, "The Phoenix Sings in the High Sky," incorporated golden swords, a symbol of defending what is just, which she said is one of the most difficult things to convey through dance. "We use four zithers to express the phoenixes flying between the stars of the night sky. The music has a very free feeling to it," said Mei. "It brings about a very peaceful feeling, and this is the feeling we want to express."
One of the dancers from the Clear Cosmos Art Studio, Wen Chen, said that she's always wanted to do such a performance. She said, "Tonight, I feel like my dream is fulfilled."
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