On Mar. 26, the 2019 Elegant Art on Campus & Special Performance of Dance Drama Silk Road, organized by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Finance, was staged in the Grand Auditorium of University of Jinan. More than one thousand students and faculties, including Zhang Shuoqiu, Deputy Secretary of UJN’s Party Committee, Wang Zhi, UJN’s Vice-President and other relevant functional department directors, watched the performance.
This classic Chinese dance drama, performed by actors from Gansu Opera & Dance Drama Theater, is a touching portrayal of a Chinese father and his daughter who help those travelling foreign merchants along the ancient Silk Road at the risk of their lives. It brings the magnificent Dunhuang Frescoes to the stage, creating a visual effect of light and shadow. Combining Chinese classical dance, Dunhuang dance, Indian dance, black towel dance, Persian horse bell dance, Persian drinking dance, and Turkish dance, the drama vividly exhibits the extensive, profound Dunhuang culture and the imposing, prosperous ancient Silk Road. Thus, it is reputed as a Classic Chinese Dance Works of the 20th Century, a Landmark in the History of Chinese Dance Drama, the Best Chinese Dance Drama, a Model of Chinese National Dance Drama, and the Oriental Swan Lake.
There were rounds of applause during the performance since the scenes changed with the rhythms, the dance was graceful, and the storyline was fascinating. Before the performance, the dancers from Gansu Opera & Dance Drama Theater had a friendly exchange with the teachers and students from the Dance Department, School of Music, University of Jinan as well as dance lovers. They explained and demonstrated dance techniques, folk dances and Dunhuang dance. Their sophisticated skill and rich body language made students present so stunned that every one of them agreed they benefited a lot.
The activity of 2019 Elegant Art on Campus is designed to improve student’s artistic and cultural quality, guide them to promote excellent traditional culture and develop them in an all-round way by integrating elegant art into campus cultural construction, enhancing campus cultural tastes and enriching campus culture.