On September 12, the 11th NTD “World Chinese Classical Dance Competition” entered its second day of preliminary rounds. After a day of intense competition, 45 young contestants in the youth group advanced to the next round, joining the 28 contestants from the junior group who successfully progressed yesterday, totaling 73 contestants advancing to the next round.
The young contestants poured their hearts into interpreting classic and original Chinese dance pieces, showcasing intricate character portrayals and captivating stage performances. The grace, technique, and skills of Chinese classical dance were masterfully displayed by the performers, incorporating a seamless blend of movements with emotional storytelling, making dance movements a natural language of emotion and thought, showcasing exceptional artistic heights and cultural richness.
Participant Zhou Zhengye, competing for the third time in the NTD Chinese Classical Dance Competition, expressed that “learning dance is not just about mastering the movements; it is about enhancing one’s moral character. Only by practicing with a calm and positive mindset can we truly demonstrate the beauty and goodness inherent in traditional culture.”
Zhou Zhengye’s performance in the preliminary round was based on the story of Mulan in “Loyalty and Filial Piety,” offering a deep historical and insightful challenge for her, being born and raised in Canada. She mentioned, “To convey such a profound story within a three-minute timeframe, only Chinese classical dance can achieve that.”
Throughout her journey of learning Chinese classical dance, Zhou Zhengye gained a deeper appreciation for the pureness, virtue, and beauty of traditional Chinese culture. She emphasized the importance of not just mastering the dance movements but also elevating one’s moral character, as true expressions of cultural beauty and virtue can only be demonstrated through a calm and positive mindset.
Huang Linjie, participating for the fourth time in the NTD competition, advanced to the next round with her self-choreographed dance drama “Dreams of Huahualu,” inspired by the Song Dynasty painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Through the language of Chinese classical dance, she aimed to transport the audience through time, immersing them in the bustling streets of the Song Dynasty and experiencing the extraordinary atmosphere firsthand.
The essence of Chinese classical dance emanates from the spiritual richness cultivated by the 5,000 years of Chinese culture and national temperament. It not only captures intricate details of life but also deeply conveys the changes in inner emotions.
Discussing the embodiment of “essence” in her dance performances, Huang Linjie shared, “I first try to internalize those delicate emotions in my mindset.” She added, “With age, life experiences enrich my understanding of emotions. I accumulate feelings bit by bit from life, then externalize these internal aspects into movements and charm through technicalities.”
She further shared her moments of being deeply moved while observing other contestants’ performances from the sidelines, stating, “Watching other contestants perform from my seat earlier almost brought me to tears. It’s an indescribable resonance – that’s the ‘essence’ of Chinese classical dance, touching hearts and evoking emotions.”
Huang Linjie emphasized that each competition is an opportunity for self-improvement rather than mere pursuit of accolades. She highlighted that in the arts, there is no limit to learning, and each competition offers a chance to learn from others and be inspired, underscoring personal growth in the process as the most valuable outcome of participation.
The NTD Chinese Classical Dance Competition is dedicated to promoting Chinese traditional culture. Contestant Huang Minghui stated, “This is a very noble endeavor.” She believed that participants stepping onto this stage are not seeking fame or fortune but rather aiming to enhance their skills and cultural depth through the competition.
“As many traditional cultures are being forgotten, people are increasingly losing their understanding of them,” she said. “So I believe the purpose of this competition is excellent; each contestant should participate with this mindset.”
Regarding her understanding of Chinese classical dance, Huang Minghui shared, “Whether it’s the gentle and graceful movements of a woman or the expansive gestures, they all possess essence within. It’s not just about external postures but an expression that comes from within. If you genuinely wish to convey your inner emotions to the audience, the movements will naturally flow gracefully.”
She further expressed that dance is an external manifestation of inner cultivation, stating, “If you lack that foundation within your heart, if you’re not truly that kind of person, your stage performance will not appear natural. As people often say, ‘Learn art, then learn to be a person,’ one’s character can genuinely be displayed through dance.”
Born in Taiwan, Huang Minghui enrolled in the New York Feitian Arts Institute seven years ago. She mentioned that her biggest takeaway from this competition was “being able to maintain a steady mindset to face each competition.”
Young contestant Xu Shangzhi, participating for the second time, presented the play “Leaving the Pen for the Sword,” narrating the story of the ancient historian Ban Chao, who eventually decided to leave his pen and join the military.
Through interpreting this play, Xu Shangzhi found an outlet to express his inner emotions. He stated, “It was a fortunate coincidence that I had the opportunity to learn Chinese classical dance.” He attributed his pursuit of learning this art form to the support of his parents, aiming to convey gratitude to them through this play and affirming his determination to study Chinese dance.
Xu Shangzhi believes that Chinese classical dance is an integral part of traditional culture. When expressing these underlying concepts, he feels at home, allowing any emotion or inner feeling to be conveyed through dance.
He noted that true challenges in learning dance often lie not in external factors like flexibility, technique, or physical attributes, but in the perseverance of one’s inner self.
He reflected, “The perseverance required to stay on this path, to go all the way, even in the face of difficulties, setbacks, or limitations in resources, is the greatest challenge I need to overcome.” He emphasized, “Technical skills can be acquired with determination, but this ‘heart’ must be present from the very beginning to see you through till the end.”