Yang Liping's Latest Dance Show: Tibetan Riddle

November 26, Thursday night

I have already attended three dance concerts in the last 4 days. I was writing my review on Dynamic Yunnan and had to look up the title of Yang Liping's latest dance show. When I surfed on to the ticketing site piao.com.cn, I saw that there were still cheap tickets available for the Sunday afternoon matinee. I wondered whether I would regret not watching her dance now, as she is almost 50 yrs old and will likely not be dancing on stage for too much longer. I call the ticketing agency and they tell me that there are round 50 tickets left at that price. The show was opening tonight at the Poly Theatre. I decide to go on an adventure and try my chances with the scalpers. I took 200 yuan cash with me and if I couldn't get a ticket for that price, I'll go home and book a ticket for Sunday. Tickets for all other shows were sold out.

I got to the Poly Theatre at around 6:15pm which is still very early. I walk to the two scalpers I recognized as they shooed me away before and ask whether they have tickets for tonight's performance. They said they would have tickets at around 7:10pm and for me to return then. One of them recognizes me and I feign ignorance. I head towards McDonald's and walked until I found a cheap, but popular noodle joint close by. The wind was nasty this evening and I was not dressed warmly enough to be outside for too long.

I went back to the theatre and ran into another scalper, who would try to locate a ticket for me. As time wore on, I stood close by where the scalpers were trying to pawn off their tickets. They were wanting ridiculous prices of 400 & 500rmb. Of course, they were good seats but I just needed a seat. I asked for a ticket and then decided not to buy it. A couple standing by me was also trying to purchase a ticket. They only had one but needed another and I needed one. They suggested that they sell their ticket to me and go home. They told me that it would be best, they do not live far away so it was not a bother to go home and try for another performance. I bought their 280 rmb ticket for 200 rmb. I then find out that she is a retired Peking University professor of German. How amazing! I thank them profusely for the ticket.

I head on into the auditorium. I had a seat in the upper right box. I am excited to see what they have in store as now Yang has updated technology at her disposal. The stage has Tibetan prayer wheels and incense burning. Actors are turning the wheels and occasionally the horn is blown. The story line and translation of the songs are flashed on the side screens. I am able to read parts of it as I cannot read that fast yet. I am enclosing the outline of the program below found at http://www.piao.com.cn/en_piao/ticket_2028.html and will be inserting my comments in italics. Please observe the Chinglish!

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The newest work of Liping Yang, the most popular Chinese ethical dancer and choreographer Coryphaeus by Rongzhong Erjia, the legendary Tibetan singer
A splendid and soul-shocking ethical music banquet in Beijing after its 80 shows’ tour around other cities

About Tibetan Riddle/Enigma:
Tibetan Enigma is a painstaking works of Liping Yang and Rongzhong Erjia. It is an epic showing different styles of pure Tibetan colorful music and dance in different regions.

“The Tibetan people are born to be the master of dance and singing, I can’t learn all their unique skills,” said Yang. Therefore, she invented some Tibetan men and women to take part in this show. It is the first time for all these folk performers to walk out their hometown and daily lives. They will be a great surprise to the audience in the choreography by Yang.
I'm not sure how one is supposed to invent people ... but the invention is very convincing.

Tibet Enigma debuted in 2008 as an audial and visional banquet. Nonprofessional Tibetan performers will bring local color and amorous feeling of the Tibet. Meanwhile, the Tibetan folk music instruments and vocality like Tibetan guitar and Dafahao (a big-size music instrument used in a Buddhist mass) will be firstly used on the stage. Three thousand Tibetan local costume, accessories and treasures will be exhibited in the show. It took five years for the choreographer to create and perfect the show.

It is specially worthy of mentioned that the Tibetan farmers will playing the Tibetan guitar, singing the folk song and dancing the tap dance at the same time. It is the unique performance style of Tibetan people.

The story
The story of Tibetan Enigma is about an old Tibetan woman’s experience along her pilgrim journey. Tibetan lives, culture, customs, and religion are all exhibited to the audience by the song, dance and music instruments.

Audience will see Liping Yang’s totally new profile and dance as well as Rongzhong Jiaer’s romantic voices. It is a collection of Tibetan sing and dance, a fashion show of ethnic costumes, and music festival with one-hundred folk Tibetan artists. The production has been prepared by Liping Yang for five years. She will perform a fairy who leading the old woman to the pilgrim road.


Scenes

Scene I
Tibetan Guitar and Long-leave Dance
Tibetan Guitar by all actors
Long-leave Dance by all actors and actress
Leading Singer: Baimalaji Cairangnanjie
This is what I like most about Yang's work. She incorporates music, song and dance into her show. These people were not just performing, they were thoroughly engaged with what they were doing. It's hard to be distant when one is singing, dancing and playing an instrument at the same time. I enjoy it when dancers are accompanied live, especially when they accompany themselves. The long-leave dance is a form of tap dancing.

The women came on stage singing a song. It sounded really familiar to me and I then realized it was the same song the ladies sang at the Niu Tibetan Village which we visited. Isn't that amazing? Or they just have very similar songs. This song and dance brought back fond memories of our study tour.

Scene II
Trash Highland Barley and Lover antistrophe
Leading Dancer: Naimaer Gudehamu
Leading Singer: Rongzhong Erjiar

Yak Dance lead by Dadanzeng The yak dance was the most light-hearted of all the dances. The yak herder had a script and he would also give commands to the yaks. To make things interesting, there was only one female yak amongst the male ones. The singers in this portion were three women and their song was sung in close dissonant harmony (in 2nds almost the entire song).

Scene III: Trash Aga, Shower Festival, Costume Race Festival
Leading Singer: Cairangnanjie Yinzhoucao
Notes
Trash Aga: A strange dance from the saint labor of repairing Potala Palace
If I'm not mistaken this involved clapping their hands together, followed by full prostration and is definitely religious in nature.
Shower Festival: It is an annual festival in Lunar Tibet Year when Tibetan women will have a shower in saint lake.
Costume Race Festival: It is a festival when the Tibetan youth will compete with their costumes and accessories. On the festival, these young boys and girls will have their most luxuriant gaudery on. For Tibetan people, the gaudery is the symbol of richness. The most expensive assets are ceremonious costumes and accessories.

Scene IV Nirvana Dream
Programs
1. Pilgrim
2. Tibetan Guitar
3. Long-leave Dance
4. Trash Highland Barley The dance was by the young people and they used their brooms as rhythmic instruments.

5. Lotus Drolma (Solo by Liping Yang)The crowd gives Yang a warm welcome as this was her first appearance of the evening. She is dressed like a Bodhisatva and dances on a lotus platform. Her dance movements are similar to the Moon Dance and the Peacock Dance. It was amazing to watch her dance and see what an excellent flexible dancer she is. I was glad I brought my binoculars with me as I watched her closely for the whole dance.

6. Yak Dance (reprise)
7. Song: Pilgrim, King Gear (Sing by Rongzhong Erjia)
8. Trash Age

9. Costume Race (Lead by Liping Yang) This was similar to the water dance in Dynamic Yunnan. Yang is the lead dancer in the center of an inverted triangle. The rest of the dancers are male.

In this dance, Yang's graceful actions are replaced by energetic street dance style movements. The dance is aptly name "Black Hat".
10. Nirvana (Drolma by Liping Yang ) Yang comes out one more time and dances something similar to the nirvana dance.

Casting
Art Director/ General Choreographer/Leading Actress: Liping Yang
Producer/ General Executive/Leading Actor: Rongzhong Erjia
Choreography/Leading Actress: Sun Flower
Stage Design: Jiangtao Luo
Music Director/ Music Executive: Xiao Pang

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At the end of the show, Rongzong Erjia introduces all the main dancers of the show. He leaves for the finale of the show and then when all the dancers are on stage, he acknowledges Yang. The audience claps and waves to the performers fondly. I can see them hug and spin each other on stage. They are very happy and proud of their successful debut in Beijing.

Central University of Nationalities Ethnic Dance School

As I had mentioned earlier, this school is famous for its dance and ethnic music program. This is the third evening in a row that I have attended a performance. No, I am not tired out from this. In fact, this is what I have waited for the whole semester. I am glad the tickets are free.

I have adapted very well to living back in Asia. I now fully remember what it is to have free seating and have to arrive at a concert venue way in advance to get a good seat. It is also ethical to save seats for your friends if you arrive early. I get to the university auditorium at 6:50pm and the front door is already crowded with students. I stand on the top stair of the entrance, a fairly precarious position as I could fall anytime. At around 7:10pm, the ushers shoo us off and told us to let the teachers in first, else we would not be permitted in. I do not move all the way down the stairs as I know there will be a chance to sneak back into the crowd. I am successful, when they do not notice I make my way back to the front and this time I am the first person at the door. I begin to prepare for the "land rush" by removing my scarf and unbuttoning my coat. You may think this is all too funny to read, but I had no qualms about being obnoxious tonight.

The security guards unlatch the door and I have my game plan ready. As soon as I get into the hall, I head for the first row of the rear section of the hall. I fling my coat on the fifth seat, dump my scarf on the 4th, fling my purse on the 3rd and I sit immediately on the first seat and keep my arm on the 2nd seat. Yes, I have 5 seats in a row. I text Allison, Andrew, Dario and Matthew to come as quickly as possible, as I don't know whether I'll be able to hold the seats.

Our teachers arrive sooner so they see me and don't see the rest of the gang yet. Hahah I beat them to the good seats! Mrs Lee was all too proud of her Class no. 5 whom were all sitting in a row with legroom especially for the tall guys. :) She was a little giddy, as of course she does have bragging rights in front of all the other teachers. :) Our class asked for so many tickets that they didn't have any left to give. She said most other classes only 1 or 2 students wanted to go. We had 8 people who wanted tickets.

We can't wait for the performance to begin as this concert. I left my program at home but this time I brought an extra memory card and extra batteries to capture as much of the dance performance on video as possible. The dancers had won competitions recently in the national, regional, or city level. We had watched two of the dances performed tonight at the Yi festival. The men's Mongolian dance was much better than the previous performance. The women in the Korean drum dance was consistently good both times. I believe repeated performances just push the standards higher each time and that is true in this case.

I had watched a similar performance done by more mature dancers for the Genghis Khan show and it looked better. This is an interesting point in which I had discussed with my teacher. She was also at the Genghis Khan performance. The dance was performed by more mature men, hence there is more muscle build and strength there. A friend raised this question: this critique is like saying the girls aren't skinny enough so it didn't look nice? Yes, I revealed my bias.

The dances all lasted around 5 minutes each. The solo dances are challenging for the performers as they have to keep engaged and energized the whole time. It was evident that the dancers enjoyed what they do. I noticed this particularly with the Tibetan dancer. The Dai solo dance was also interesting as it was a reminder of Yang Liping's dance style but this dancer's costume was creatively designed. At first it was like a body suit pulled over her head, but at the right moment, it was pulled down and it became an overlay for her dress. I wonder who thought of this design.

A major critique I have of this performance is the audience behavior. The hall was packed to the brim with not an empty seat in the house. It was standing room only and some people thought the aisles were free game too, walking in and out as they so pleased. There were children who would also stand anywhere they liked even when they are obviously blocking everyone's view. I also thought this was the hardest crowd to please. The applause after each item was short, barely lasting long enough for the performer/s to leave the stage. I find this rather unacceptable. My friends and I clapped loud and long, just to keep the applause from dying too soon.If these dancers were performing in the USA, there would be thunderous applause and a few bows. Even before the finale was over, people started walking out. How sad! Are Beijingers always in a hurry?

Why is this so? In my opinion, I think Beijingers are spoiled with excellent performances. After watching too many excellent performers, one is desensitized to the amazing skills, talents, capabilities and hard work. There is always the need for something better and someone who can do more. There is this unhealthy craving of excellence and dissatisfaction in the Beijing audience. I am having to consciously guard myself against this now that I have been to almost a dozen concerts of high quality. I would not want to perform in Beijing to a jaded audience.

Dance Reviews: Dynamic Yunnan

Yes, this is another installment of an assignment. I type faster than I can write.

Dynamic Yunnan, Kunming.
We were in Kunming for the day. After an interesting noodle meal for dinner, we headed off to a dance performance in the city. Dynamic Yunnan is the brainchild of Yang Liping, dancer and choreographer. Yang Liping is now a household name in China, raising the standards of ethnic dance performances in China. Although this performance was in Yunnan, I have decided to include this in my Beijing journal project as it will put other dance performances in Beijing in perspective.

Dynamic Yunnan features the dance traditions of the different minority groups in Yunnan. The Chinese have been constantly praised for technical excellence in the performing arts, but have also faced constant criticism of their lack of performance and emotive skills. It is also usual to find ethnic performances which are watered down just for entertainment purposes and is not challenging both to the performer and audience. Yang, decided to change all this. The dancers would be required to have expression, expressing motion and emotion through their bodies and faces.

The show included Dai, Tibetan, Miao, and other minority dances. The show also involved live drumming. The music featured was a blend of traditional and modernized forms of minority dance music. The lighting and technical elements of the stage were well-planned. The costumes were nicely designed to include traditional elements but also classy enough for stage. The dancers were very involved in their performance, making it look extremely easy, belying the amount of practice and hard work they have put in. The choreography was intricate, and the motions required of the dancers boggled our minds.


My best experience at the show was the Moon dance and the Peacock Dance, which were both originally danced by Yang Liping herself. Currently the main dancer of this troup is Yang Wei. Her name sounded very familiar to me during the show. For one of the dances, Yang Liping was the singer on the music accompaniment track. The Dai dance required flexibility and suppleness of the entire body. Words will not adequately describe the beauty of this dance. A few weeks before I left for China, I had watched CCTV 9's Centre Stage program featuring a dance extravaganza. The Peacock Dance was featured on the show and I am now almost certain Yang Wei was the dancer. I was thrilled to be able to watch this dance live. I remember watching it on tv and wondering whether it was actually humanly possible to be that flexible.


Pat had warned us that the show is a little dated but it inspired many other similar dance shows in China. Imitation is the best form of flattery. Like we say in China, genuine imitation is good, but imitation can be of extremely poor quality. I hope this explains my comments on the "Cyclone of Gengkhis Khan" and why I found the show to be a little lacking. Currently, Yang Liping has a new dance show out called "Tibetan Riddle". I have decided I will give it a miss as I can't afford to spend USD$100 on a ticket.

(I have posted the links to the Moon & Peacock Dance. Take a look, you won't regret it!)
Yang's Biography

Last Week of Feb: A Marathon

I am wondering where did the month of February go. The flu robbed most of the month and I'm still not 100% well. I am on my second course of Tamiflu and looking at the prescription bill eat away my scholarship money. It has been a hectic month trying to keep everything together and getting well. I thought I was caught up on all my stuff as a teacher and of course, mid-term grades had to be due. I spent most of Friday staring at my computer entering 130 grades.

Other than learning to walk in my freedom, the good news is that my lecture topic was approved by the graduate coordinator. No nitpicking :) I had prayed for a topic because I was so stuck and the same night, an idea hit me. I went online the next day, did some research and submitted all my interlibrary loan requests. All the articles came within the week and all the books I needed were at Gorgas. This is frankly amazing! The better part is I have six of sixteen pages of text as of Saturday. I am waiting to hear back from the rest of my committee members before scheduling the lecture. I intend to give this lecture sometime within the next two weeks. After which, it's one down two to go.

"Dance to the Music" will be this Friday. It will be my official first dance recital. I found an outfit which is a little out of character (Meg, you'd be proud!). If I'm wearing a spaghetti strap dress on stage, the audience better be paying ;) I'm involved with a group swing dance routine. Since my partner has been so busy, we have not been able to practice together. Gosh, the jokes about this are still going around and they are rather funny. Hopefully we'll practice soon. As for Friday, I'm the official tech person during the day. For the dress rehearsal, I did get my hair and makeup done in 10 mins, so I'll stick to the record. I've got to figure out how I'm going to change and get ready for the evening showcase.




Saturday is Birmingham Music Club auditions.. so it means no sleeping in. In the evening, there will be a swing dance.. so it starts all over again. The group swing dance routine will also be performed here and I think my friends will be there.

And Sunday.. maybe I won't be playing with the praise team on piano. If I get back on the tambourine, it still means getting to church at 8:30am. On Sunday afternoon, there is a recital honoring my former teacher. I should be there but my presence will not be very welcomed. If I'm exhausted by then, I'll politely stay in bed at home than force myself to stay awake at a recital.

Anybody willing to slip into my shoes this week? :) Back to writing my lecture...