We were privileged to be able to view the performance of the Yulin Folk Art Troupe of the Chinese Province of Shaanxi this afternoon at the Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, Michigan. I knew it would be a great opportunity to witness some of the Chinese performing arts firsthand, but I was unprepared for the reality.
This week is the only time this troupe will be in the United States, and the only venue is at the Midland Center for the Arts, which is hosting the fabulous exhibit “Timeless Warriors and Relics: 1500 Years of Ancient China“. This exhibit’s centerpiece is two of the terracotta warriors from the tomb of first Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuang (246 – 210 BC), along with some stunning examples of Chinese culture. The exhibit and performance are part of the four month program, A Celebration of China.
We viewed the terracotta warrior exhibit several weeks ago, and the kids were eager to see more of the Chinese culture, so we signed with our homeschool group to be a part of the thousands of children who would get to see the troupe perform. The troupe performed traditional dances, played music, sang folk songs, and performed acrobatics for each group of school children.
The program was fantastic, and all of the kids enjoyed the performances immensely. The dancers were beautiful, with the grace of the women contrasting with the strength and energy of the men, as they swirled and twirled around the stage. The bright colors, flashing fans and spinning parasols delighted the smaller children, who couldn’t help but stare at the stage and clap wildly at the end of the dances. The acrobatic ballet that was performed as a tribute to the terracotta warriors was exquisite. My children were especially taken with the strength of the ‘warrior’ and couldn’t figure out how he could hold up two women with one hand - while they were balancing a plate of wine glasses on a long stick! It was a memory I am positive will not fade for many years to come.
The musicians were very talented, brought to life the sounds of nature, and sparked the imaginations of the students as they tried to picture the tiger stalking through the jungle, and ducks playing (and arguing!) on the pond. The kids were very taken with the unique instruments, and the musicians who could make such interesting sounds. I’m sure my children will never again look at a pond full of water fowl without thinking about that performance.
The folk singers were an act that we had not anticipated, and will likely remember for years to come. Their voices hit notes an American child rarely hears, and I could hear little girls all around me trying to make those same sounds come from their own throats - will little success. It is obviously a talent encouraged from a young age, as we found it impossible to replicate later. You really need to experience the music in person to fully appreciate the vocal talents of these singers.
While we did not get to experience the troupe’s entire performance, as this experience was tailored for the children’s enjoyment, we were pleased we had attended the event. I was disappointed that the full show for later this week was already sold out, as I would have loved to have taken the whole family again. I am sure there are more beautiful dances, exciting acrobatic feats, and lively musical performances that we would have enjoyed even more.
I strongly encourage anyone that has the opportunity to attend a performance of the Yulin Folk Art Troupe of the Chinese Province of Shaanxi to make the effort to experience the troupe firsthand. While the troupe will only be performing this week in the United States, we have discovered they have also performed in Europe and Australia. If encouraged, maybe they will even return to honor us with their talents someday in the future. I sincerely hope so!