Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”, Blossoms and Blades in the Palm of Your Hand, 3 Self-Care Tips: Traditional Chinese Style. This is why you can often see fan dancers at festivals, theater performances, and other exhibition-style events where the performers are able to promote their rich roots in history. You’ve seen this move in our shows: a dancer lifts one leg until it’s over her head, forming a 180-degree angle—a straight vertical line with foot soles poles apart. Feather fans and silk fans both are part of the traditional Chinese dance that has its roots in the Han Dynasty, circa 206 BC. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, DanceTeacher: Instructional Video of the Month. Sword dance, known as 剑舞 (jiànwǔ) in Chinese, has roots in many cultures throughout world history. But what happens when you throw in some explosive power? Fan dance costumes can vary from traditional Chinese clothing to colorful lyrical dresses you can find at any dance supply house. How to Do Moves for a Traditional Ribbon Dance. Check out this blog to find out. They often offer a free lesson for the audience, and anyone who wishes to try out a few steps may do so. In a tàn hǎi (探海), a dancer raises her back leg sky-high while lowering her torso until it is parallel to the ground, thus creating a perfectly graceful pose that calls to mind overlooking the sea, which is exactly what “tàn hǎi” means. Historically, the fan dance has been categorized in two ways - civilian and military. The technique’s name literally means “a step toward the sky,” and there are many ways to ascend on this lofty path, including bringing your leg up from your front, side, or back. By incorporating some serious leg power into their beautiful movements, classical Chinese dancers are able to create a myriad of splendid postures. Sure, these techniques are great for displaying flexibility slowly and gracefully. On Somber Anniversary, Shen Yun Artists Recall Persecution, Famous Parallel Figures 1/10: Kangxi and Louis XIV, Up Close With SYSO Concertmaster Astrid Martig, Competition Winners: 'Color With Shen Yun', The Launch of a New Clothing Brand—Shen Yun Dancer. This, of course, is one of our dancers’ favorite poses when taking photos at the beach! Raise your arms abruptly overhead while crossing one fan in front of the other. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Tibetan dance reflects the topography and lives of people who inhabit the high Himalayas, with the forward-slanted stance, energetic turns and jumps, and rhythmic, bouncy steps required for navigating steep climbs while carrying heavy loads. It also expresses feelings of joy. Believe it or not, this astounding move is a basic requirement for dancers because, in classical Chinese dance, it's important to have a good foothold and a good hold of your foot. Being responsible enough to attend regular rehearsals and performances is another form of personal discipline. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Many Chinese fan dancers learn the craft from older friends or family members, or as part of their school curriculum. The dance is composed of consistently changing rhythms paired with consistently changing body positions. We’ll never know for sure, but we do know he wrote some beautiful poetry: “Flowing East of Mount Jieshi, I gaze at ocean azure. China has 56 ethnic minorities, each of which has a culture that is characterized by, among other features, a set of unique folk dances. Copyright ©2020 Shen Yun Performing Arts. It represents beauty, grace and delicacy, according to the Chinese Educational Development Project (http://www.cedp.org.uk}. As the choreography varies, the specific techniques of opening, closing and fluttering the fans remain. You will sometimes see military members on display, using their weapons similarly to how civilian performers use fans, simulating the same movements in a more rigid and authoritative style. *These are not the actual names of the moves, if anybody knows the real names, please change them!!! Both tourists and younger Chinese generations learn classic tales and lore of China's past through the fan dance. These lines from the poem, “Viewing the Deep Blue Sea,” (觀滄海) perfectly express the feeling behind our next technique. Finally, Chinese fan dancing serves as exercise, as well as an exercise in discipline for its participants. This technique is especially challenging. Its unique placement in history allowed it to be passed on to generations, causing it to be more of a familial tradition than a studio-focused style of dance. The origins of the fan dance are rooted in the Han Dynasty, which dates to around 200 AD. Since each ethnic group's folk dances reflect the peculiarities of that group's religious, cultural and historical narrative, as it were, the dances – their choreography and their colorful costumes – naturally relect this ethnic narrative. That said, many of the dances of ethnic minority groups share commo… Many of the traditional dances have a long history. The fans can also be used as proprs to depict everything from a food basket to a buried treasure. Hold this position for a few seconds as this pose represents power. Lower arms back to the start position with arms to the side. © 2006-2020 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. One of the essential techniques for female dancers to master is known as the zǐ jīn guān (紫金冠), or “gold standard crown.” In this technique, the dancer swings her back leg upwards, grabs it, and holds that posture while staying perfectly still. All Rights Reserved. Both tourists and younger Chinese generations learn classic tales and lore of China's past through the fan dance. This is detailed and graceful, resembling ballet in its pace and form, using fans and other props such as feathered banners to accentuate the beauty of the dancing. Among the best-known of the Chinese traditional dances are the Dragon dance and Lion dance, and both dances were known in earlier dynasties in various forms. First, it is used to help pass down stories and traditions of Chinese culture. Touch Your Toes To the Sky You’ve seen this move in our shows: a dancer lifts one leg until it’s over her head, forming a 180-degree angle—a straight vertical line with foot soles poles apart. The Chinese fan dance is performed in celebration of Chinese culture. Repeat for another count of 8. Fans cause limbs to look longer and more delicate; in addition, the fans bring more attention to the choreography, and add a beauty that cannot be duplicated by more modernized forms of dance. Like many other forms of dance, the choreography that comes along with fan dancing requires physical fitness and the ability to memorize routines. The waters dance so serenely, the mountains loom so lofty.”. Following the lead taken by some media and other organizations, we are now also referring to the coronavirus as "the CCP virus," as it is the Chinese Communist Party's mismanagement and cover-up that has led to the global pandemic. Why wasn't this page useful? Tibetan Dance. Most who take in a fan dance performance are viewing the civilian form. You can also sometimes find fan dancing teams and lessons in the United States, especially in cities that have a Chinatown district or other cultural heritage center where Chinese culture is celebrated. Feather fans and silk fans both are part of the traditional Chinese dance that has its roots in the Han Dynasty, circa 206 BC. This step may be repeated throughout the choreography by facing different directions or including walking steps. As a westerner, you can learn fan dancing by visiting a local festival or other event where fan dancers are on the entertainment roster. Male dancers wear high-heeled boots and both male and female dancers wear the traditional Tibetan tunics and trousers. This is why you can often see fan dancers at festivals, theater performances, and other exhibition-style events where the performers are able to promote their rich roots in history. Please help us improve. Since fan dancing is used for storytelling, the costumes are often chosen as part of the tale being told. For a dancer to be able to touch her back leg with her head and then hold it there, she must have incredible flexibility, core strength and balance. Imagine the hours of excruciating training and stretching dancers have to undergo! The infamous warlord Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period was so skilled in martial arts that he may have even had the flexibility required to be a classical Chinese dancer. There are also fan dancing groups that perform for tourists, and these take a more formal studio approach to their productions. After lowering the arms while fluttering the fans, bring your arms in front of you (as if you are reaching for something). They are also rarely simple paper fans, rather they are embellished with feathers, jewels, bamboo or other native décor to add to the overall effect. How to Learn Traditional Japanese Fan Dancing. The Chinese fan dance plays a few different roles in China. It is one of the four classical dances employed in traditional Chinese opera as well as a dance often performed in Tai Chi. You'll turn your torso to the right and left (see Fun Dance Workshop at dancemedia.com). Bend your knees, moving up and down, while fans are held close together and arms are outstretched in front of you. Continue by tilting your upper body to one side while raising one arm overhead while the other arm is out to the side. Variations of this move include kicking your back leg and catching it with both hands, or lifting your back leg slowly until you can pull it up against your head. This can be a way for young Chinese dancers to enrich their bodies and minds with an activity that means something to them both personally and culturally. The Han Dynasty was the first to value and preserve the arts, which is probably why fan dancing endures today.
Beyoncé Visual Album,
George Groves Height,
Waking The Witch Book,
Chile Fifa Ranking,
The Heart Of The Matter Synonym,
Shop Zimmer Biomet,