An evening of surprises - Chinese Folk Dance Company JCPenney Building, UMSL 

By Bill Lee

This performance was a grand way to introduce Chinese
culture to the American community.  Over 200 families
and friends, predominantly non-Chinese Americans,
attended.  UMSL, Dr. Joel Glassman, Director of the
Center for International Studies, University of
Missouri and the St. Louis Chinese American News can
be credited with much of the successful turnout.

Everyone of the ten segments of the show was just
super!  Beautiful hostess Xuemei Chen was very
entertaining.  The Lion Dance was funny.  One could
have heard the tiny ping of a straight pin hitting the
floor during the Crossroads Inn skit.  The loudest
sound was that of the occasional swishing of swords. 
These and the Monkey King skit martial arts dancers
were all very skillful.  

Liqin Li and Baoli Zhang have indeed learned to bring
out the character of the ancient hammered dulcimer and
two-string violin.  Liqin Li's solos were artful and
symphonic.

And how can one describe the stamina, grace and
perfectly timed movements of the dancers -- it
certainly tests the limits of my English.  The
costumes were breathtaking; the dancers were beautiful
-- every one worthy of star status.  The
interpretations were eloquent.

My last words are these:  If you had an opportunity to
go and you did not, too bad -- you missed a great
show.  If you were looking for some outstanding way to
spend this Wednesday evening, this is where you should
have been.  Like me, you should make it a point to be
here next time this group graces our doorstep.