Wen | Ouyang Wenjiang, a reporter at the Liuyang Rong Media Center
A few days ago, the results of the 11th "Xiaohe Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition were announced - selected by the Liuyang Dancers Association (hereinafter referred to as "Liuyang Dance Association"), choreographed by Tian Yu and Gan Yanping, and performed by the students of Qiankun Art Training School, the children's dance "Liuyang Riverside Firecracker "Chong"" won the "Little Lotus Star" (Gold Award) of this exhibition. This is the first original children's dance work of the Liuyang Dance Association to win the gold medal of an important national competition since its establishment in 1995.
"Using the world-famous Liuyang fireworks as a dance theme to tell the story of Liuyang, the perspective is unique, not to mention the lofty intention." The "Xiaohe Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition is a national children's dance exhibition and performance activity approved by the Central Propaganda Department and under the leadership of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and is a major review of the national children's dance creation and performance level. After winning the award, "Firecrackers on the Liuyang River" caused a huge response in the dance world.
National gold medals
Fill in the gaps of 26 years
With the gentle background music of "Liuyang River", the fireworks bursting out in the near distance illuminate the night, and in the distance is the warmth of the "Bird's Nest" lights. On the banks of the Liuyang River, a vigorous little girl appeared in a graceful dance posture, followed by a group of "Liuyang firecrackers" dressed in red. Subsequently, the little girl interacted with the "Liuyang firecrackers", and in the process, the little girl had a deeper understanding of the Liuyang firecrackers - they were not only the spirits of the night, but also went out of the country as friendly messengers and went to the world.
"Self-improvement and dare to be people are first of all the characteristics in the bones of Liuyang people, and we want to tell a story through dance to express the spirit of Liuyang people rushing upward like fireworks." Gan Yanping is the chairman of the Liuyang Dancers Association and the choreographer of "Firecrackers "Chong" on the Banks of the Liuyang River".
She said, "Liuyang fireworks are not only Liuyang's city card, but also a culture, but also a kind of nostalgia. The appearance of firecrackers in a string symbolizes a spirit of unity and cooperation, and it should be very distinctive to use this object as a creative idea... Therefore, the plot of the story is set up as how a girl knows Liuyang firecrackers, plays with them, and finally rushes to the world like firecrackers. ”
"The preliminary round was changed 5 versions, the rematch was changed 6 versions, and the final was changed 3 times. The costumes alone have been changed 17 times! "After the preliminary round, the silver medal of the provincial competition, and then recommended by the provincial dance association to the national competition... This original work called "Liuyang Riverside Firecracker "Chong"" went all the way through the barrier and got the ticket to the national competition.
At the end of August 2021, the 11th "Little Lotus Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition was held in Tianjin. For this competition, the leading teachers took the participating students to Tianjin a few days in advance. On the morning of August 27, Gan Yanping, who was still in Liuyang, suddenly received a call from the head of the Provincial Dance Association, because of the epidemic, asking the team that had not yet started performing to return home immediately.
"36 actors and 12 teachers, who have been rehearsing for more than half a year, are about to drift..." After hearing the news, she was going to rush to Tianjin later, and rushed to Tianjin at two o'clock in the morning in the rain." The second show ended at 11 p.m. on the same day, and as long as the organizing committee and the theater agreed, we had the opportunity to perform. ”
At 8:00 a.m. the next morning, with the help of the head of the Provincial Dance Association, Gan Yanping had the opportunity to meet the staff in charge of the competition of the China Dance Association. After an hour and a half of conference exchanges, Liuyang's participating team was given the opportunity to stay and perform, but only on the condition that it was only 15 minutes long and the whole performance was recorded and broadcast - which meant that this was a performance without any audience in the audience, not to mention any interaction and applause...
The scene was very quiet, so quiet that any sound became an interruption and disrespect to the stage. The children quietly took the stage, and the teachers performed their duties in their respective positions, afraid that any small mistake would ruin the opportunity. The music went on and the children were so engaged that they were afraid that a mistake would spoil the show. The moment the music stopped and the lights dimmed, the teachers and students finally breathed a sigh of relief, "The feeling of almost suffocating at that time is still fresh in my memory." ”
The process is painful, but the result is sweet, Liuyang representative team performance of "Liuyang River Firecracker "Chong"" won this year's exhibition "Little Lotus Star" (gold award). So far, for the first time, the Liuyang Dance Association has filled the gap of liuyang children's original dance in 26 years without a national brand award.
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Wang Yinying (Member of the Presidium of Hunan Dancers Association and Vice President of the School of Music and Dance of Changsha Normal University): As an original dance selected by the Dance Association of a county-level city, "Firecrackers "Chong" on the Banks of the Liuyang River" has been promoted to the final of the 11th "Xiaohe Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition, which has aroused great attention and praise from the children's dance community in Hunan and even the whole country. First, the selection of materials is unique, with the famous Liuyang fireworks and firecrackers industry as the theme, based on Liuyang, looking at the world; the second is to have lofty intentions, exquisitely conceived, with a unique dance image, that is, a variety of fireworks modeling to express the Liuyang spirit of "self-improvement, dare to be the first", inherit the long and splendid Liuyang fireworks culture, with a superb spiritual height; the third is the unique creative perspective, exquisite performance, with the unique perspective and art form of children's dance, telling the story of Liuyang, carrying forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture and Chinese aesthetic spirit, At the same time, the performance after the hard training of the trainees is very in place; fourth, the characteristics of the times are distinct, the artistic personality is outstanding, not only has the characteristics of Liuyang region, but also has a strong color of the times, and is full of innocence and childlike fun, showing the spiritual outlook of children in the new era of happiness and sunshine and striving forward.
Tang Jianjun (Secretary of the Party Group and Director of Liuyang Firecrackers and Fireworks Industry Development Center): "Liuyang Riverside Firecrackers "Chong"" is not only a firecracker hedge in the dance, but also the momentum of the Liuyang fireworks industry to the world. Thank you liuyang dancers for their momentum, not only publicizing and promoting the fireworks and firecrackers industry culture, but also passing on the local traditional culture to the next generation. I was touched and encouraged to learn that they had gone through so many difficulties. Liuyang fireworks people will also maintain their own momentum: not only to let this spirit of innovation and creation be passed on from generation to generation, but also look forward to Liuyang literature and art can continue to help Liuyang fireworks, seize the national fireworks transformation and upgrading concentration area, Xiangganbian industrial cooperation demonstration zone construction opportunities, and constantly polish the "world fireworks capital" brand, to achieve high-quality development of the fireworks and firecrackers industry.
Xu Zheng (Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Liuyang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism and Sports, Vice Chairman of the Municipal Federation of Literature and Literature): "Liuyang Riverside Firecracker "Chong"" can win gold in one fell swoop at the national competition, which is of landmark significance for Liuyang's dance career, and it is also a manifestation of strength. Creation is the central task of literary and art workers, works are the foundation of literary and art workers, and the spirit of the Liuyang Dance Association to overcome all kinds of difficulties and strive for excellence is worth carrying forward. Similarly, this is also the embodiment of liuyang writers and artists maintaining their original intentions. Winning the award is a good way to promote learning by racing, and it is expected that the Liuyang Dance Association can take this opportunity to summarize experience, cultivate more excellent dancers, and create more fine works.
Know more
"Little Lotus Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition
The "Xiaohe Style" National Children's Dance Exhibition is a national children's dance exhibition and performance activity approved by the Central Propaganda Department and under the leadership of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The purpose is to further implement the spirit of the central government's instructions on strengthening the ideological construction and education of minors, promote the quality education of children and young people, and prosper children's dance creation. The first session began in 1998, is an important stage for the exchange and display of children's dance in China, each program is through the national primary selection and re-selection, is a national children's dance creation and performance level of a major review.
Source: Liuyang Daily
The images are provided by the interviewees
Editor-in-charge: Zhou Chan
Review: Luo Wei Song Pan