NEW YORK—The remaining 31 contestants of the third annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition performed their dance entries one last time before judges and audience in the final round which concluded on Sunday, June 21. Among them is the understanding that their participation in the competition means much more than glory or a medal—it means that they have contributed to the preservation of a grand and profound culture.
Though contest regulations did not stipulate the theme of dance entries, contestants all chose to portray figures in ancient Chinese history. They range from famous generals, legendary Taoists, lady warriors and scholars, to a notorious emperor. To make sure their dances accurately represent the characters, the contestants did hours of research on their subjects.
For her solo, contestant Alina Wang took on the identity of Song Dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao, whose husband goes away to war. Throughout the course of the 2-3 minute piece, Wang portrays Li searching for and finding inspiration as she writes.
“I had to do a lot of research and learn about her inner feelings and what she went through,” Wang said.
First place winner of the junior male competition, Rocky Liao played a military general at the end of a war in his dance piece, titled “Surrounded on All Sides.”
“He’s surrounded by tens of thousands of [enemy] soldiers and he only has about 800 people left,” he explains. “Before he crosses the river to return to his homeland, he realizes that all the people he led to attack have all died.” Deciding that he can’t face the parents and friends of his soldiers, the general commits suicide. “It’s a tragic story,” Liao said.
First place winner Tony Xue, and second place winner Alison Chen, both of the junior division, depicted noted warriors in their youth.
“It takes imagination,” said Chen, whose dance is titled “Little Mulan.”
“Most people know about her going to war, but few know her as a child. So I decided to portray her as a child who knows martial arts.”
Xue performed “Junior Han Xin,” which captures the general in his youth. Xue begins the dance reading from a bamboo scroll and later displays swordsmanship.
“In ancient times men were both well-versed in literature and martial arts, and Han Xin embodies that,” Xue said.
Chen and Xue both study at the Feitian Academy of the Arts, where they learn Chinese culture and history to complement their study and practice of dance.
“In class we learn about a lot of historical figures, legends, and traditional values,” said Chen. “The teachers teach us these things in the hopes that we can incorporate them into our dances to reflect positive things.”
Judge and classical Chinese dance specialist Yi Cao, summarized the purpose of the dance competition: “Human culture is deteriorating. Recently, I saw a classical Chinese dance competition in mainland China, the technical skills of the contestants were good, but the content of their pieces had no classical character. In seeking new stuff, they tend toward modern dance styles. Classical Chinese dance is rooted in Chinese traditional arts aesthetic. If this [deviant] trend continues, will classical Chinese dance disappear? This is what many artists don’t want to see.”
Cao has been on the judge panel since the competition began in 2007. In three years, she has seen the improvement in global understanding of classical Chinese dance. “I would say that 95 percent of contestants understand what classical Chinese dance is,” Cao said. “In three years, we have let the professional art world and audiences gain a clear understanding, and revive true Chinese culture. The competition has been a driving force of that.”
Winners of the 3rd Annual NTDTV International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
Adult Male
1st Place: Golden Li (Shenyun Performing Arts)
2nd Place: Steve Wang (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Seongho Cha (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Leon Chao (Shenyun Performing Arts)
3rd Place: Brian Nieh (Washington DC, USA)
Ming Liu (Los Angeles, USA)
Honorable Mention:
Kokuei Chen (Maryland, USA)
Alex Chun (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Jerry Zhang (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Adult Female
1st Place: Jennifer Su (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Cindy Liu (Shenyun Performing Arts)
2nd Place: Madeleine Lobjois (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Chelsea Cai (Shenyun Performing Arts)
3rd Place: Anna Li (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Ting-Jie Huang (Taipei, Taiwan)
Rachael Bastick (Shenyun Performing Arts)
Junior Male
1st Place: Rocky Liao (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Tony Xue (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
2nd Place: William Li (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Chad Chen ((Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Honorable Mention:
Alvin Song (New Jersey, USA)
Fengnian Liang (Edmonton, Canada)
Ben Chen (London, UK)
Junior Female
1st Place: Angelia Wang (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
2nd Place: Miranda Zhou-Galati (Feitian Academy of the Arts)Alison Chen (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
3rd Place: Alina Wang (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Chialing Chen (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Honorable Mention:
Yong Cheng (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Faustina Quach (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
