OPINION: Dance Review

By Hua Chen
 
The Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center (TCCDC) has always been my favorite art institute. However, since the previous artistic director, Qiang Yang, left Minnesota, I haven’t heard much about TCCDC’s activities. That’s why I was so excited to learn that TCCDC just invited their new artistic director from China. I drove 50 minutes to Eden Prairie to see their first show on Dec. 19th.
 
The opening dance “Drumming Awakens Spring” brought us great atmosphere of pleasant and new spring! The beautiful girls danced with the drums by young men, I feel like being back to my hometown again. Throughout the countryside, rollicking percussion echoes the thundering energy of spring. These young dancers grow up in the United States, they do not have the direct experiences of this very traditional and authentic Chinese Han culture, this must be a great challenge for the artistic director. I was amazed by the fantastic work done by the artistic director that those young dancers’ movements brought me back to my motherland.
 
The following dance “Girls behind Banana Leaves” and “A Yao Folk Song” expressed the joyful life of girls in different minorities in China. These kid dancers [were] like angels on the stage!
 
“Martial Arts Dream” is a master piece combining with both Chinese classical dance techniques and Martial Arts. No one can tell that those dancers who with accurate steps and sprits grow up in the United States. TCCDC’s effort of promoting Chinese culture is highly appreciated.
 
“Pursuit of Dream” is another classical style dance. This Han dance reflects the strength of Chinese women who break through the traditional social norms to fully realize their potential. “Peach Fairy” is another style of classical dance; it depicts a bride’s hope to grow a family that thrives like the blooming peach trees. “Shao Duo Li” performed by three wonderful girls put the daily life activities of Dai, one of the minorities in southern China, into graceful steps with Dai music.
 
The Jiangnan dance of “Footsteps in the Spring Rain”, “Enchanting Jasmine” and the western Chinese dance of “Fiery Red Girls”, “Kazakh Swans” and “Happy Uyghur Girls”, all these dances make us feel so warm in the cold winter of Minnesota. I believe this is the magic of dance!  I also enjoyed the song, “A Kashgar Lady”, by the well-known Chinese singer in Minnesota, Mr. Huashao Zhou.
 
I met with the artistic director, Ms. Huanru Zhang, after the show on the back stage. She seems so humble and peaceful. Facing all these flowers and praises from the audiences, she just slightly smiled. “We still need a lot of improvement! Advices are welcome.” I learned from the parents of some young dancers that it only took her three month[s] to prepare for the show!  I believe that under the lead of Ms. Huanru Zhang, TCCDC will present us with more fantastic shows. Like the last dance “Beyond Your Dreams”, TCCDC can also go beyond its dream!