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YAOUNDÉ, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A group of young African performers dressed in local costumes and masks dance barefoot to the rhythm of traditional instruments in a dance practice room on the outskirts of Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé.
This is the scene where the Abei Dance Troupe selects and trains its performers. Chinese dancer Jiang Keyu, founder of HKB, and her Cameroonian husband, Simon · Abe, have returned to Cameroon to find a new generation of performers for the company's new show, Children of the Sun.
"You see, this is the movement of the Chinese peacock dance, this circle is the movement of modern dance, this is the movement of African dance...... "Ah Bei said pointing to the members of the training group, which is very similar to the scene they trained nearly 20 years ago.
This is Chinese dancer Jiang Keyu and her Cameroonian husband Simon · Abei teaching young people to dance in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé.
A Bei and Jiang Keyu met in Cameroon in 2005. At that time, the choreographer Nales from Qinghai Province participated in the China-Cameroon Cultural Cooperation Project with Jiang Keyu and was responsible for the re-establishment of the Cameroon National Dance Company. They selected 27 dancers, including Abei, and carefully guided the training, helping a dance company on the verge of bankruptcy to complete a magnificent transformation.
Jiang Keyu recalled that when the group of actors joined the troupe, they were all older, and they basically only had some foundation in African dance, so they started training these actors from the most basic movements. "We started with modern dance, let them stretch their bodies, and gradually progressed to multi-person choreography and ensemble dance, and finally to ballet and choreography."
In order to let Cameroonian students without any professional foundation understand modern dance, Nales and Jiang Keyu also thought of using Chinese Tai Chi and yoga from India to explain Tai Chi arc movement and Taoist philosophy to the students, so that students can understand the ideological connotation of Chinese Tai Chi and Eastern culture, and catalyze the integration of ancient Chinese and African cultures.
Abei also said that some of the movements in Tai Chi can be found in Cameroonian folk dances; The "stomping" dance step of Africans drawing strength from the earth is also reflected in the dances of the Dai and Tibetan ethnic groups in China; In Central African folk dances, there are movements such as shaking and twisting the waist to communicate with the gods. "Although China and Africa are far apart, there are many similarities in culture." Abei said.
This is a group of young people practicing dance in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.
Dimitri, a former dancer of Cameroon's National Dance Company, recalls that in the past three years, the Chinese teachers have spent time with them, and many members of the company have become independent choreographers. "After being selected for the National Dance Company, I realized the meaning of dance more deeply, and the Chinese teachers improved my dance skills."
In those years, Chinese teachers taught by words and deeds, so that these actors developed the habit of diligence, punctuality and self-discipline. Ba Yong, a dancer of the Cameroon National Dance Troupe, said that in those years, under the strict requirements of Jiang Keyu and Nars, they used their sweat to achieve the success of the National Dance Troupe, and also achieved themselves.
At that time, the rebuilding of Cameroon's National Dance Company was called "a benchmark for cultural recovery" by the media. In July 2007, the young dance troupe performed with unprecedented success. The dance "Black Beauty" in the "African Night" of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is a special gift from the reborn dance company to the Beijing Olympic Games. "We never imagined that we would one day be on the international stage." Bayong said.
This is Chinese dancer Jiang Keyu teaching young people to dance in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.
In 2009, after the company's redevelopment project ended, Jiang Keyu and Nars left Cameroon. At the farewell party, Ama ·Tutu ·, then Minister of Culture of Cameroon, thanked them for their efforts. "This is a model of fruitful cooperation between Kazakhstan and China," Muna said. ”
This time, the Abe Dance Company brings new productions to Cameroon, bringing the opportunity for Dimitri and Bayong to return to the stage after a long absence. "Dancing is my passion. Even though I'm in my 40s, I still want to get back on stage, maybe I can't dance anymore, but I can choreograph, I can teach this group of young kids. Dimitri said.
After receiving a call from Jiang Keyu, they became the company's contact and coach in Cameroon. They helped the company find 12 young performers and started training non-stop.
"I see the shadow of our group of actors in these young actors, it is a kind of iteration, but also a new life, I am very grateful." Jiang Keyu said that the purpose of the performance organized by the Abei Dance Troupe is to build a bridge, a bridge between Chinese and African cultures.
Celeste · O'Konoor, a 19-year-old dancer who participated in the training, is looking forward to performing on a bigger stage in the future. "The teachers were very professional and taught us different styles of dance, which helped me grow a lot." She said.
This is Chinese dancer Jiang Keyu teaching young people to dance in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.
"Whether it is Africa or China, we are all children of the sun, and this work is the best embodiment of the exchange and integration of civilizations." Talking about the new program "Children of the Sun" that is being rehearsed, Jiang Keyu said that this work will integrate elements of African dance and modern dance, "I want the world to see this group of young people dancing barefoot, I believe they can make the stage light with sweat and enthusiasm!"
"We are the children of China-Africa cooperation, and China's support has made me who I am today." Abei said that in the 12 years since its founding, Abei Dance Troupe has visited France, United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and other countries, and they hope to use their experience and artistic harvest to make more contributions to cultural exchanges between China and Qatar and China and Africa. (Reporters: Wang Ze, Ouyang Ziying; Video Editor: Han Jingyi, Dong Yalei)