The Heritage of Chinese Culture and Dance

Offering a fascinating tour of distinctive dance styles tied to groups and cultures living in (or occupied by) China, The Heritage of Chinese Culture and Dance is a colorful production. Among the several dance styles captured here is a tribute to Buddhist deity Guanyin, a bodhisattva of compassion who sports many arms. A troupe of deaf dancers here invoke Guanyin through movement, with a dozen or so women waving their arms in perfect synchronicity behind the main dancer to create a magical and dazzling effect. The long-sleeve dance—with its lyrical, floating movements of sleeves—is an integral aspect of Chinese opera. The Dai people practice many rituals involving water and rivers, the fluidity of which has a mesmerizing influence on local dance (the Dai's “Peacock Dance” is an elegant solo piece that conjures the mysteries of the titular bird). Along with Aini, inner Mongolian, and Han, Tibetan dance is also represented, the latter coming across as both earthy and spiritual, recalling the hardships of a culture that has been oppressed by many for centuries. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)