Lorita Leung Dance Company of Vancouver, Canada brought their best to the University of Idaho last weekend. The company was selected by Festival Dance in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Idaho partially to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which falls on Saturday, Jan. 28 this year.
The event consisted of a variety of Chinese dance including classical, folk, ethnic and contemporary and pieces com- bining the traditional and modern styles.
“We’re so excited to be able to share our love of Chinese Dance with you,” said the dance academy’s Artistic Director Jessica Jone.
The series loosely began with more modern Chinese dance in Act 1 before progressing to more traditional dance in Act 2. During Act 1, Jone said although they may sound similar, Chinese contemporary dance and contemporary Chinese dance are subtly different.
“Contemporary Chinese dance is Chinese dance with contemporary influences, while Chinese contemporary dance is contemporary dance with Chinese influences,” she said.
Many of the dances were performed by dancers in threes. Jone said three in Chinese sounds similar to the word for birth, and is considered a lucky number.
All of the dances were characterized by gracefully detailed costumes, often with flowing fabric. Most included props of some sort, whether they were pink fans, tasseled spears or chopsticks. Often, these props added audible as well as aesthetic elements to the dance, complementing the music. Bowls were important to the final dance, which Jone said is one of the company’s favorites.
“The Bowl dance demands much of the dancers. They require the skill and finesse to balance four ceramic bowls on their heads while also being able to portray the free and exuberant spirit of the Mongolian people,” she said.
After the event, some audience members went onstage to meet the dancers, and some tried balancing the bowls on their own heads.
Some community members came to the event for the cultural experience. Troy Jensen said she attended the show after seeing information in the paper because her sister, Jill Balmer of Lewiston, said they needed the culture.
Balmer said she was impressed with the performance and said she thought more people should come to the programs.
“More students need to be here,” she said.
Jensen said they look forward to the next Festival Dance production, Kaha:wi, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Apr. 21 in Jones Theatre Daggy Hall at Washington State University. Festival Dance Executive Director Abby Glanville said the performance will be a mixture of indigenous and modern dance.
“Our core mission is to ensure access to the performing arts,” Glanville said.
The Confucius Institute will also host various events throughout the semester, including a talk by Dr. Michael Murphy Feb. 8 about his experience teaching music in China, a Chinese Food Club event Feb. 10 and China on the Palouse Feb. 18, said Confucius Institute Co-Director Matthew Wappett. Wappett said if students are interested in learning more, they should contact the Confucius Institute.
“Our job is to make China more accessible to you,” he said.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NinaRobin7