Chinese
Folk Dance Company
of the New York Chinese Cultural Center
Wednesday 8 May 2002
J.C. Penney Auditorium
University of Missouri - St. Louis
Dr.
Joel Glassman (R), Director of the Center
for International Studies, University of Missouri -
St. Louis and Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Golden,
President of Fontbonne University
 
Presented
by the Center for International Studies, Dr. Y.S.
Tsiang Professorship in Chinese Studies, University of
Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL), the Chinese
Culture and Education Foundation (CCEF) and the St.
Louis Chinese American, the Chinese Folk Dance
Company of the New York Chinese Culture Center had a
great show on Wednesday, May 8, 2002, 8:00 PM at J.C.
Penney Auditorium.
About 200 families and their children enjoyed
watched the excellent performance of dancers, Peking
Opera actors, and musicians.
Dr.
Hung Gay Fung, Professor, Dr. Y.S.
Tsiang Professorship in
Chinese Studies, University of Missouri - St. Louis
and
Ms. Ms. Xuemei Chen, the host of
the show
 
Founded
in 1973, the New York Chinese Cultural Center is a
community based arts organization that nurtures,
teaches, and preserves the traditional Chinese
performing arts for present and future generations of
Chinese-Americans, while introducing Chinese dance,
music, and visual arts to audiences throughout the
United States. Through performances, workshops,
lecture-demonstrations, classes, and recordings, NYCCC
creates a focus for community pride and inspiration,
builds bridges to other communities, and promotes
knowledge and appreciation of Chinese arts and
culture.
Lion
Dance
The
Chinese Folk Dance Company is the resident touring
Company of NYCCC comprised of award-winning
professional dancers and musicians. The Company brings
the richness of traditional dance, Peking Opera and
music to audiences across the country.
 
Peacock
(Dancer: Jing Wang)
On
May 8 at UMSL, the Company presented Lion Dance,
Peacock, Harvest Drum, Moonlit Spring Night over a
River of Flowers, The Monkey King (Peking Opera
Excerpt), Flying Aspires, Prairie Festival, Silk
Clouds, At The Crossroads Inn (Peking Opera Excerpt),
and Red Ribbon. The
Chinese instruments Erhu and Yangqin were also
introduced and played by 2 musicians. Ms. Xuemei Chen,
the host of the show, explained to the audience the
gestures and movements of Chinese folk dance and
Peking Opera. She
also taught audience to say Chinese ¡§How¡¨ (means
¡§good¡¨), ¡§Xie Xie (¡§thanks¡¨) and Cai Jen
(¡§good-bye¡¨).
Audience enjoyed the show and say ¡§How¡¨
many times to all performers.
Monkey
King (Dancer: Ge Bai)
 
 
At
the Crossroads Inn (Dancers: Ge Bai and Guohui Zhang)
11
dancers from The Chinese Folk Dance Company, led by
Xiaoliang Yang, Artistic Director, are on St. Louis
stage. Ms. Xiaoliang Yang is a graduate of the Beijing
Military Performing Arts Academy and a member of the
Chinese Dancers Association. Arrived at New York from
China, Ms. Yang is a teacher, a choreographer and a
dancer. Her performances of classical and folk dances
earned many top prizes in China's national dance
competitions since 1986. She was invited to
participate in the 1988 International Arts Festival in
Hong Kong and performed "the Mural". In
1993, Her work as a choreographer was included in the
"Dance Volume" of the publication
'Contemporary China'. In 1994, two of her students won
first and third prizes in the fourth National
"Tao-Li Cup" Dance Competition. Ms. Yang has
performed and choreographed with the Chinese Folk
Dance Company since 1995.
 
The
05/08 Chinese folk Dance performance is one the 2002
season of the UMSL International Performing Arts
Series. This
program invites outstanding artists from around the
world perform live, sharing their rich cultural
traditions and celebrating St. Louis¡¦ flourishing
cultural diversity.
Musicians
Baoli Zhang (Erhu), Liqun Li (Yangqin)
(From
L to R) Dr. Chingling Tai, Board director, CCEF,
Mrs. Sheila Onuska, Cooperative School District,
and
Ms. Sandy Tsai, Publisher, St. Louis Chinese American News
 
Families with adopted children from China and friends
enjoy the show
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