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Elderly folk artists on route to Europe
By Wing Tan |
July 5, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FOLK art troupe made up of retirees and the elderly from the Pudong New Area's Tangqiao Community will today board a plane to Germany to take part in the 9th International Folklore Festival Lusatia 2011 and the International Beeke Festival, held from Thursday through July 17.
"We've introduced many overseas folk art shows to China over the past decade, but now it's time for us to step out of China and display our own folk wonders on the international stage," says Yu Baming, a director of the 13th China Shanghai International Arts Festival.
It's one of only few times that a Chinese folk art team made up of elderly amateurs from local neighborhoods performs at an international art festival abroad.
The 9th International Folklore Festival Lusatia 2011 and the International Beeke Festival, held every other year, are a platform for folk artists from all over the globe to show their talents, meet new friends and display various cultures and traditions to each other.
A total of 24 performers from Tangqiao Community are invited, all more than 60 years old with the oldest 73.
They are from all walks of life - civil servants, teachers, factory workers and housewives, but they share a common passion for folk art after retirement.
Though old in appearance, these art lovers are still young at heart. They are skillful at different local operas, musical instruments and folk dances.
Performances they will give on the folk art festivals include shadow play, folk dances, erhu (Chinese fiddle) shows and the Shanghai boaters' work songs popular on the docks along the Huangpu River in the late 19th century, which is listed as one of the country's intangible cultural heritages.
"They are all amateurs, but they are as good as the professionals," says team leader Wang Xibao.
During the festivals, the folk artists will also participate in seminars on how to better protect and promote folk arts and cultures.
"We've introduced many overseas folk art shows to China over the past decade, but now it's time for us to step out of China and display our own folk wonders on the international stage," says Yu Baming, a director of the 13th China Shanghai International Arts Festival.
It's one of only few times that a Chinese folk art team made up of elderly amateurs from local neighborhoods performs at an international art festival abroad.
The 9th International Folklore Festival Lusatia 2011 and the International Beeke Festival, held every other year, are a platform for folk artists from all over the globe to show their talents, meet new friends and display various cultures and traditions to each other.
A total of 24 performers from Tangqiao Community are invited, all more than 60 years old with the oldest 73.
They are from all walks of life - civil servants, teachers, factory workers and housewives, but they share a common passion for folk art after retirement.
Though old in appearance, these art lovers are still young at heart. They are skillful at different local operas, musical instruments and folk dances.
Performances they will give on the folk art festivals include shadow play, folk dances, erhu (Chinese fiddle) shows and the Shanghai boaters' work songs popular on the docks along the Huangpu River in the late 19th century, which is listed as one of the country's intangible cultural heritages.
"They are all amateurs, but they are as good as the professionals," says team leader Wang Xibao.
During the festivals, the folk artists will also participate in seminars on how to better protect and promote folk arts and cultures.
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