Colors blazed across the stage of the plush Luckman Theater at California State University, Los Angeles, as a dramatic night of original dance unfolded, inspired by Chinese traditional and ethnic folk dances presented by nearly 100 US-born Chinese teenagers.

In dazzling costumes of red, lime green, electric blue and more, Chinese-American students from all over the United States came together to celebrate their cultural heritage at the annual dance concert hosted by the Sino-US Performing Arts Organization.

None of them were professional dancers.

They were students from a training program run by the host organization, whose aim is to foster communication and collaboration between dance professionals in the US and China.

Performing to a packed auditorium, the students took to the stage in a mixed program of traditional Han and ethnic minority dances, Peking Opera, and modern interpretations, wowing the audience.

Susie Shu, CEO of the host organization, said she had no idea that the youngsters would perform so well.

"They had only one month to rehearse. I was amazed at the quality of their performance for such a short time," she said.

"Chinese dances are beautiful and full of meaning," she told Xinhua.

"So I thought it would be nice to teach them to students in America, and to combine the Eastern and Western cultures in a new, unique, artistic way everyone can appreciate."

Seasoned professional dancers, many from the Beijing Dance Academy, were also invited to perform at the event.

Speaking about the show, Gao Du, a professor at the academy and an adviser to the dance program, said: "Dance conveys the basic elements of human nature. Every person in the world experiences happiness, hardship, joy and suffering. These feelings are the same for everyone."

The program concluded with a dance drama, Yellow River, performed by two Chinese cultural dance and ballet schools - New Century Dance School of San Francisco and the Shin Dance Academy of Los Angeles.

It featured sashed "farm women" who tilled the land and twirled their threshing baskets to encourage a bountiful harvest and celebrate a hopeful future.

The musical accompaniment was a combination of traditional Chinese and Western classical, blended with experimental elements.

"We hope these dance dramas will convey the message that life's journey is the same for all people," said Gao.

"True art is a bridge that can help people understand each other better. That is the very nature of art, dance and culture."

Xinhua

(China Daily 08/22/2018 page18)