Young dancers in step with community project
October 23, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TO dance together means to understand each other; to laugh and learn from each other. This is the philosophy behind the Community Dance project - dance for everyone. Some 130 children in Shanghai have had the chance to participate in this experience this autumn in training for intercultural dance project "Harmony Shanghai 2012 - Firebird."
Under the guidance of renowned British choreographer Royston Maldoom, the young students have been learning his choreography for Stravinsky's "The Firebird."
The end-product of their labors "Harmony Shanghai 2012 - Firebird" will be performed on tomorrow, at 7:30pm at the Shanghai Grand Theater, as part of the China Shanghai International Arts Festivals.
"The main motivation behind Community Dance is to bring people together," explains Maldoom, a key figure in the international Community Dance movement. "It means to dance with anyone, at any time - irrespective of talent and experience, age and gender, color of skin, ethnic or social background."
This dance philosophy developed in Britain in the late 1970s. Since then, Maldoom has sought to establish Community Dance around the world as a platform for intercultural exchange.
Interest in the movement broadened through the acclaimed German 2004 documentary "Rhythm is it!" that featured Maldoom.
Maldoom is convinced that art can influence life and communities to promote understanding and enhance social life.
"Harmony Shanghai 2012" gives children the chance to dance together, overcome borders and cultural differences through the language of dance, building a strong connection between the children, explains the choreographer.
Each weekend they gathered on the campus of the German School Shanghai, and during the National Day holiday training culminated in an intensive week on campus at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.
Unique experience
"Being part of the Firebird project is a unique experience for me," says 16-year-old Tamiko Hoppe, who goes to DS Shanghai EuroCampus.
That most the children have no dance experience and come form different intercultural backgrounds is exactly what makes Community Dance special, says Maldoom.
Its slogan - "FIGHT - for your discipline and concentration. SHINE - in your own power. UNITE - in a dance" - reflects the character of this form of dance, say organizers.
"I am really thrilled to see how professional the performance will be, which we have created after only 120 hours of training," says Hoppe, looking ahead to her big night in the Shanghai Grand Theater.
Maldoom is also looking forward to the event, which he says will show the progress the young dancers have made. "My work is done when I see the pride on the faces of participants as they stand and receive the approval of their peers," he explains.
Earlier in training, young dancers had expressed their excitement about the project.
"I am sure we will grow together a lot during training," says Anna Fleischer, a student at the German School Shanghai Pudong. Her Chinese dance partner, 17-year-old Zhang Ruqi had special praise for their choreographer. "Royston Maldoom has a special charisma, I believe we can learn a lot from him for our future lives."
Organizers say "Harmony Shanghai 2012" will also contribute to exchanges between Germany and China. As this is the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and China, it is an ideal opportunity to mark the occasion, they say.
The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai has listed the event as one of the main festivity highlights. Shanghai Daily is the exclusive English media sponsor of the event.
"Young people are the future of the friendship between Germany and China. We hope that the performance of 'Firebird' can bring the young people of China and Germany even closer together and become a perfect testimony of the friendship between the two countries," says J?rn Hassenfuss, deputy managing director and commercial executive director of Shanghai Volkswagen, the main sponsor of the event.
Tickets: 400-106-8686,www.shgtheatre.com
Under the guidance of renowned British choreographer Royston Maldoom, the young students have been learning his choreography for Stravinsky's "The Firebird."
The end-product of their labors "Harmony Shanghai 2012 - Firebird" will be performed on tomorrow, at 7:30pm at the Shanghai Grand Theater, as part of the China Shanghai International Arts Festivals.
"The main motivation behind Community Dance is to bring people together," explains Maldoom, a key figure in the international Community Dance movement. "It means to dance with anyone, at any time - irrespective of talent and experience, age and gender, color of skin, ethnic or social background."
This dance philosophy developed in Britain in the late 1970s. Since then, Maldoom has sought to establish Community Dance around the world as a platform for intercultural exchange.
Interest in the movement broadened through the acclaimed German 2004 documentary "Rhythm is it!" that featured Maldoom.
Maldoom is convinced that art can influence life and communities to promote understanding and enhance social life.
"Harmony Shanghai 2012" gives children the chance to dance together, overcome borders and cultural differences through the language of dance, building a strong connection between the children, explains the choreographer.
Each weekend they gathered on the campus of the German School Shanghai, and during the National Day holiday training culminated in an intensive week on campus at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.
Unique experience
"Being part of the Firebird project is a unique experience for me," says 16-year-old Tamiko Hoppe, who goes to DS Shanghai EuroCampus.
That most the children have no dance experience and come form different intercultural backgrounds is exactly what makes Community Dance special, says Maldoom.
Its slogan - "FIGHT - for your discipline and concentration. SHINE - in your own power. UNITE - in a dance" - reflects the character of this form of dance, say organizers.
"I am really thrilled to see how professional the performance will be, which we have created after only 120 hours of training," says Hoppe, looking ahead to her big night in the Shanghai Grand Theater.
Maldoom is also looking forward to the event, which he says will show the progress the young dancers have made. "My work is done when I see the pride on the faces of participants as they stand and receive the approval of their peers," he explains.
Earlier in training, young dancers had expressed their excitement about the project.
"I am sure we will grow together a lot during training," says Anna Fleischer, a student at the German School Shanghai Pudong. Her Chinese dance partner, 17-year-old Zhang Ruqi had special praise for their choreographer. "Royston Maldoom has a special charisma, I believe we can learn a lot from him for our future lives."
Organizers say "Harmony Shanghai 2012" will also contribute to exchanges between Germany and China. As this is the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and China, it is an ideal opportunity to mark the occasion, they say.
The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai has listed the event as one of the main festivity highlights. Shanghai Daily is the exclusive English media sponsor of the event.
"Young people are the future of the friendship between Germany and China. We hope that the performance of 'Firebird' can bring the young people of China and Germany even closer together and become a perfect testimony of the friendship between the two countries," says J?rn Hassenfuss, deputy managing director and commercial executive director of Shanghai Volkswagen, the main sponsor of the event.
Tickets: 400-106-8686,www.shgtheatre.com
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