The Art of Chinese Dance

Although John Travolta made disco look a little long in the tooth as he spun around the floor with Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, the Saturday Night Hoofer's moves are mere baby steps on the dance timeline compared to the Chinese, who still continue to perform dances that date back some 5,000 years. In this handsomely shot compilation, viewers are treated to a sextet of traditional Chinese dances--ribbon, sword, fan, lion, Mongolian chopstick, and a dance celebrating the Dagon Boat Festival--incorporating colorful costumes and various props (ribbons, fans, a two-person lion costume), all set to music. Performed by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance company, highlights include the beautifully choreographed ribbon dance in which a trio of young women swirl green, pink and yellow streaming ribbons; and the fan dance, featuring a pair of female dancers artfully wielding pink silk fans. A "how-to" segment during the final seven minutes of the program demonstrates a series of stretch, balance, kicking and gesturing exercises. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)