Chen Ailian's daughter Chen Yu
On November 21, the dancer Chen Ailian passed away, and all walks of life have remembered this outstanding dancer. Guo Lanying, who has been running a school in Panyu, Guangzhou, Chen Ailian's hometown for 33 years, said of Chen Ailian: "Our colleagues have been colleagues for many years, and their feelings are very deep. I know: dance has been integrated into her soul, into her blood, and she is worthy of her beloved dance career! The famous dancer Bai Shuxiang said: "Dance is her, she is dance." ”
Chen Ailian's second daughter, Chen Yu, who is also a dancer, told reporters: "My mother's departure is really a big loss for me and my sister, because it is too sudden, and many things to do have not been fully unfolded." Mom gave us life, and she was our mentor in her career. She is not only a 'home', but also a goddess, a goddess that we will always look up to. She is particularly beautiful and pursues perfection and perfection in her career. ”
Chen Ailian, whose ancestral home is Panyu, was born on August 28, 1939 (the fourteenth day of the seventh lunar month) in the old city of Shanghai, where her father Chen Xikang worked in the police station. According to the old custom of Panyu, in the summer, the lotus mountain is a pleasure, and in order to send home friendship, Chen Xikang named his daughter born in the summer "Love Lotus". Of course, for those who are familiar with Chinese culture, the ancient "Ai Lian Said" integrates the high purity of the literati into two sentences: "out of the mud without staining, Mao Qing lian without demon", which should also be the meaning of the father's name for his daughter. Chen Ailian was taken by her father to listen to plays since she was a child, and at that time, all kinds of plays could be seen in Shanghai, and movies were more foreign. Affected by this atmosphere, the clever and clever, well-said and active Eileen had the desire to become an actress, and even got the news that the film company was recruiting young actors, and her father took her to audition.
However, in 1949, Chen Xikang suddenly fell ill, and sifu Xinxin, a female textile worker, died immediately. The pearl in the palm of her former parents was orphaned in an instant, and Chen Ailian and her sister Chen Meili became a seller and had to pick up garbage to survive. The well-meaning neighbors sent the two children to the Shanghai Yixin Correctional Institution. Although this experience lasted only about four years, it became an unforgettable memory of Chen Ailian, and her autobiography was also named after her , "I Came from an Orphanage".
In 1952, Beijing experts went to the Shanghai orphanage to select dance seedlings, and 13-year-old Chen Ailian was selected with a sketch of "Finding Needles". When she arrived in Beijing, Chen Ailian had the opportunity to see the Soviet film "Ballet Master". Peng Dan mentioned Chen Ailian in "Chen Ailian: Dance Integrates into My Life": "This gave me a very good lesson, I realized what dance is, it is a kind of 'silence is better than sound' performance, it is aware but not straightforward, it shows the beauty of all aspects of the body, let you know and enjoy." ”
In 1954, the Beijing Dance School was established, and she became the first batch of students. Because she dreams of being "China's Ulanova", Chen Ailian is more diligent than other students. Others get up at 6 o'clock to practice, she gets up at 5:30, starting, riding horses, kicking legs, lower waist, running round field... Day after day, without interruption...
20 years old, starring in China's first national dance drama "Fish Beauty"
In 1959, Chen Ailian, who was about to graduate, participated in the rehearsal of the dance drama "Fish Beauty". "Fish Beauty" is about the fish beauty who lives in the underwater world and falls in love with the human hunter. The fish beauty is smart and kind, and the hunter is industrious and brave, but this heaven-made love is destroyed by the mountain demon. Finally, with the help of the ginseng elderly, the fish beauty and the hunter formed a partnership, expressing the beautiful ideal of "a lover will eventually become a family member". The play was composed by Wu Zuqiang and Du Mingxin of the Central Conservatory of Music, and Soviet expert Pi Ann Gushev served as the chief choreographer and director. During her years at school, Chen Ailian learned as many dance techniques as possible. Known as the "foothold" of the symbol of Western ballet, Chen Ailian also boldly learned and integrated into the shaping of the fish beauty.
When the curtain opened, the fish beauty floated from the deep sea, the lightness and agility of the fish, Chen Ailian naturally used the "foothold tip" technique. The fish beauty was indulging in the human scenery on the shore, and when someone came, she quickly hid: she saw the young hunters began to work in the morning sun. The fish beauty is attracted to the hunter, and the spring heart is stirred, giving birth to infinite love. The solo dance of the fish beauty expresses the longing for the human world and youth, and the "tiptoe" can awaken the sense of flow of the footsteps and thus present the ease and spirituality of the fish. Chen Ailian's interpretation has been recognized by experts.
The national dance professional performs "Fish Beauty", and the ballet professional performs "Swan Lake". After the two shows were performed, the prevailing view was that "Fish Beauty" surpassed "Swan Lake". Chen Ailian told the media many years later that this "more than" is manifested in the actor's second creation. Dancing according to the ballet method is not enough, nor is it purely rigid national dance. "Standing on the tip" is not the main difference between Eastern and Western cultures. She said: "There is a particularly superficial view that the foothold is Western ballet, and the non-foothold is Oriental ballet. In fact, this is just a technical problem, I think the tiptoe is just a skill, the right one can be used. "Learning dance should be a comprehensive training in general subjects, and Chinese classical, Western ballet, Chinese folk, Spanish dance and Italian dance should all be understood." In "Fish Beauty", Chen Ailian plays a Chinese fish, and she integrates various dance techniques in order to create the image of "Chinese fish". As a result, the work has a Chinese charm.
When "Fish Beauty" premiered, Chen Ailian had a fear of difficulties due to physical discomfort and wanted to let the B group star play. The choreographer insisted on letting Chen Ailian premiere, and said: "It doesn't matter if "Swan Lake" is not successful, "Fish Beauty" is a new work, if the actor's interpretation is not successful, it is equivalent to the whole work is unsuccessful. Based on the trust of the choreographer, Chen Ailian insisted on performing and achieved complete success, and became the first outstanding dancer trained in New China. Chen Yu told reporters: "'Fish Beauty' is China's first national dance drama, and her mother plays the main role of Fish Beauty. After that, she played the big villain in the middle, the beautiful snake, which was her very successful artistic shaping. ”
Since then, professional art groups have rehearsed "Fish Beauty", pure ballet appears stiff and has no Chinese taste, and pure Chinese classical dance does not have a strong sense of elegance. The image of the fish beauty created by Chen Ailian at the age of 20 has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and has become a classic of Chinese national dance drama.
At the age of 23, the classical beauty "Spring River Flower Moon Night" conquered the world
"Fish Beauty" was successful, and Chen Ailian stayed in school. In the summer of 1962, she was preparing for class when her teacher Yang Zongguang told her the good news: "The World Youth Festival is going to be held in Helsinki, Finland, and there will be a dance competition!" "From getting the news to the official match, it's only two months. Chen Ailian originally thought that the teacher Yang Zongguang was going to participate in the competition, who knew that Yang Zongguang had come to encourage Chen Ailian to participate. Yang Zongguang said: "Chairman Mao said: You are the sun at eight or nine o'clock, and hope belongs to you in the final analysis. In order to let Chen Ailian go abroad to compete smoothly, Hu Yaobang specially approved Chen Ailian to join the Chinese Communist Youth League.
Traveling to Helsinki, Chen Ailian prepared a solo dance "Spring River Flower Moon Night". The tone of this dance comes from the same title Tang poem, the original poem said: "The tide of the Spring River is even with the sea level, and the bright moon on the sea is born together." Who first saw the moon on the riverbank? When did Jiang Yue shine at the beginning of the year? In the old pipa and guqin songs, there are lonely and lonely "Spring River Flower Moon Night" to express the thoughts of eternity. The solo dance "Spring River Flower Moon Night" creates such an ancient artistic conception for the audience: "Spring birds and flowers are fragrant, and the shadows of the moon in the river are overlapped and overlapped." In the quiet of the night, the birds flutter their wings and fly away..."
Chen Yu said: "At the beginning of "Spring River Flower Moon Night", there were several groups of actors, and my mother may be after five groups. But she took it very seriously, and she didn't say, 'I'm not an A-corner, I just jump.' No, she's very serious. At one performance, the other actors were not there, only she was there. The result is to make her jump, and as soon as she jumps, it becomes hers, and it positions her to jump. This incident is a very good positive energy guide for today's young people. Mom's often hanging on the lips is that opportunities are for those who are prepared. ”
In "Spring River Flower Moon Night", Chen Ailian sent her thoughts back to the Tang Dynasty and talked with Zhang Ruoxuan. On the stage, an elegant woman looks back at the deceased and yearns for love on a spring night under the bright moon by the river. The neon dress is light, and through details such as "smelling flowers", "taking pictures", "listening to birdsong", "learning birds to fly", etc., it expresses the loneliness and cuteness of "Spring River Flower Moon Night".
Chen Ailian later recalled: "In 1962, I went to participate in the 8th World Youth Festival Dance Competition in Helsinki, Finland, and practiced three times a day on the train. Because I am not dancing folk dance, I am playing with waist and legs to play technology, one day does not practice their own knows, two days do not practice peers know, three days do not practice the audience knows. If I don't practice for a week, how can I win four gold medals in this competition? There are three gold awards all for technology. Why practice three times a day? Because the carriage is too small, I practice in the aisle of the carriage, and the amount of activity that I practice again cannot be reached at all, and I must repeat it in the morning, once in the afternoon, and again before going to bed at night, in order to maintain the level. ”
It is this dedication that in the 8th World Youth Festival Dance Competition, "Spring River Flower Moon Night" won the gold medal.
40 years old, strong willpower to achieve "Princess Wencheng"
After having children, Chen Ailian is still focused on her career. Chen Yu recalled: "When I was a child, my sister and I didn't fully understand, thinking that she was very far away from us, unlike other people's mothers, children can be unscrupulous at any time. It is said that daughters should be used to raising, and in our impression, this kind of thing is relatively rare. Since childhood, she has managed us more strictly, and we are all very calm management. Her love is a bit like a teacher, not too much like a mother. We have always felt that this mother is not close, it may be someone else's mother, better for other children, more fierce for both of us. I always think that this mother is particularly powerful, how is it different from other people's mothers? It wasn't until I was in my thirties that she had a deep conversation with me. She said, 'My love for your sisters is not ordinary love, not small love, but great love.' I hope one day you will understand. I didn't really understand it at the time, because I thought I actually wanted a little love. What a big love, too tired, too heavy a burden, and I didn't feel that kind of love. After I actually gave birth to two children and became a mother, I have been with my mother to manage the school, and I have found the difference between small love and big love that she said, in fact, she really loves us. ”
Chen Ailian, who has responsibility on her shoulders and is about to enter the "year of no confusion", has ushered in the "second spring". After experiencing more ups and downs, she also has a deeper understanding of dance and life. In 1979, in order to present the 30th anniversary of the National Day, the China Opera and Dance Theater where Chen Ailian worked created the dance drama "Princess Wencheng". At that time, Chen Ailian was 40 years old, and she had to challenge herself to a new role.
Princess Wencheng lived in the Tang Dynasty more than 1300 years ago, and became a legend for thousands of years because of her pro-Tubo. The story takes place in 641, when Princess Wencheng was 16 years old and married Songzan Gampo after many hardships. She is not a fish, nor is she a sentimental Tang Dynasty girl, she is a "messenger of peace" with responsibility. Having just experienced the "Cultural Revolution", Chen Ailian has a different understanding of "He" and is full of respect for the "messenger" of "He".
The first dance drama "Princess Wencheng" was called "Zhi Recognition Princess", and marriage envoys from all over the world gathered in Chang'an Daming Palace to identify Princess Wencheng. Songzan Gampo's marriage envoy told the story of Songzan Gampo folding arrows, which touched Princess Wencheng, who made him recognize himself, so Tang Taizong agreed to marry. And the second "farewell to relatives and strong farewell", Princess Wencheng left the Tang Palace, and Tang Taizong Baqiao bid farewell. Then there are plots such as "Building a Pavilion to Greet Relatives" and "Throwing a Mirror to Forgive Deng", and the Potala Palace was built by Songtsen Gampo to marry Princess Wencheng, and has become a symbol of civilization and peace in the snowy plateau.
In the play, Chen Ailian is Princess Tang, although she does not say a word, but she uses a delicate and graceful dance posture to express the character and peaceful and clear inner world. In 1979, "Princess Wencheng" performed a gift, and won the second prize for creation and the first prize for performance. When the repertoire became a "twentieth century dance classic", the highest honor belonged to the lead actor Chen Ailian.
Chen Yu said: "When Princess Wencheng was rehearsed, my mother was very ill. But she completed the show with great willpower. At that time, she couldn't stand for a while, but finally she was able to jump off the whole field. Her perseverance is not something that ordinary people can have. Mom often said that success is not difficult, the hard thing is to persevere, and to be able to bite the teeth. ”
42 to 80 years old, she is not old "immortal lonely forest"
In 1981, the China Opera and Dance Theater adapted the Chinese literary collection "Dream of the Red Chamber" into a classical dance drama, which was premiered by Chen Ailian. That year, Chen Ailian was 42 years old, would she play 14-year-old Lin Daiyu into a middle-aged woman because she was too old? In the face of doubts, Chen Ailian studied the original work assiduously, and because of her unique background, she let the sensitive and weak Daiyu "live" on the stage.
Why do the audience like Lin Daiyu, played by Chen Ailian? Chen Ailian said: "I especially highlight the sunny and good things in her heart. In my opinion, Lin Daiyu has four qi: one is the 'immortal qi' that is transformed from the daizhu immortal grass; the second is the 'noble qi' of the Zhong Ming Ding Food Family; the third is the 'talent qi' full of body; and the fourth is the 'popularity' that attracts people. After several rounds of performances, Chen Ailian's Daiyu was praised by the whole society.
Douban commented: "The dance drama "Dream of the Red Chamber" focuses on the use of traditional classical dance materials, forming a unique elegant and light dance drama style. She put aside the grand scenes and large jumps used in general dance dramas, and used the materials in classical Chinese dance, such as the round field, water sleeves, flower steps and other typical Chinese classical dance movements, thus laying a foundation with the characteristics of the times for the establishment of the dance image of Bao, Dai and Chao. Successfully created the familiar "when idle like flowers shining on the water, the action is like a weak willow to support the wind" Lin Daiyu and 'looking for sorrow and hatred for no reason, sometimes like a fool like crazy' Jia Baoyu's artistic image"
In 1989, the "Chen Ailian Art Troupe" was established, and Chen Ailian served as the leader. In 1995, the "Chen Ailian Dance School" was officially established, and Chen Ailian served as the principal. After setting up the school, Chen Ailian thought about cultivating the inheritors of Chinese dance and passing on her skills. At that time, her daughter Chen Yu was young and willful, and although she learned dance from an early age, she did not continue to work in the dance career for several years. Chen Ailian talked to Chen Yu: "Don't you always 'pull the drawer', you gave up on yourself under such good conditions?" You see, Mom now runs a school, and I think you have very good conditions in your dance career and have the ability to perform. It would be a shame not to come out. ”
Chen Yu also knows that her mother has always had a dream, that is, she wants to become a "dance family". I want to train my daughter to be a successor, to take over her class in the dance career, to continue to dance like her, to keep dancing, not to stop, not to change careers. Chen Ailian encouraged her daughter Chen Yu: "I think you should still come back and continue to dance, you have this condition." ”
After running the school, students can not only train the basic skills. Chen Ailian and her daughter said: "To truly inherit classical dance or Chinese dance, it should be on the repertoire, not just the small repertoire, because the small repertoire is narrow. Going to a big repertoire and practicing on the stage is very meaningful for children learning to dance. In this way, Chen Ailian Art School learned how to perform from an early age, and can perform on stage to infect the audience. ”
At first, Chen Ailian wanted to restore "Baolian Lantern" starring Zhao Qing, because her daughter performed "Long Silk Dance" very well, Chen Ailian said: "Playing the Three Virgins, you can just pass on the unique job of throwing long silk!" Chen Yu recalled: "My mother did not say selfishly at that time, you jumped my show. She believes we should carry forward the best things in Chinese dance. ”
Listening to her mother's suggestion to rehearse "Baolian Lantern", Chen Yu thought about it and said to her mother: "Then why don't we arrange "Dream of the Red Chamber"? First, this is your classic, can you take me, isn't it better this way? As a result, the mother and daughter agreed, and in 1996, they launched the re-rehearsal of "Dream of the Red Chamber".
Chen Ailian is Lin Daiyu of Group A, and her daughter Chen Yu is Lin Daiyu of Group B. In this way, mother and daughter play the same role. There were more reports in the newspaper praising Chen Yu, and Chen Ailian repeatedly reminded her daughter: If you can't be praised by others, you will feel that you are great, and you must not your tail. ”
In 1997, 16 years after the premiere of "Dream of the Red Chamber", the 58-year-old Chen Ailian invested 1 million yuan to rearrange "Dream of the Red Chamber" and toured the country. This year I was a reporter for The Music Life newspaper and interviewed the show. Many years later, Chen Yu recalled: "After all, she was 58 years old, and at that time, public opinion said that my mother could not come down from the stage, and she was very sad. But the audience is willing to watch her jump Lin Daiyu, and I have fewer opportunities for this B corner. Mom said, 'So, how about you jump Xue Baochao?' In this way, our mother and daughter on the same stage will change from playing the same role to mother and daughter playing love enemies on the same stage, how? I also think it's quite meaningful, it's fun. ”
As a result, "Dream of the Red Chamber" has become a dance drama that Chen Ailian can always dance. Chen Yu said: "The more she acted, the more she melted into the blood, and Dai Yu became a 'living Dai Yu'. Some people even said that if she died, there would be no more Daiyu. ”
81 years old, did not carry out any traumatic rescue
After the Spring Festival in 2020, Chen Ailian felt that her appetite was not good. By the middle of the year, the situation was even worse, and there had been no appetite. Even so, when the school started, she still went to class and practiced. On September 28, she also went to Tongzhou to attend the opening ceremony of the painting, woodcut, photography and calligraphy exhibition of Gao Zhanxiang, a veteran minister of the Ministry of Culture. She said: "I must attend if I am unwell, and friends are going to support each other." If I don't go tomorrow, I'll fall on the bed. People around her said that this was her last appearance and stage. After that, she went to the hospital, from the Temple of Heaven Hospital to the People's Hospital. The result is advanced stomach cancer and bone rotation.
A friend Qiao Zhi is compiling a picture album about Chen Ailian, and he has saved several WeChat messages of Chen Ailian on October 11 and 14. Chen Ailian, who is in the hospital, said: "I will definitely get together again in a few days, find a place where I can sing and perform, eat, sing, dance, recite, and splash ink." The artistic atmosphere is a little stronger, serial, cross-line performance, foreign appearance can be, as long as you can be happy. ...... It is estimated that there are several more examinations to comprehensively consult and make a more appropriate conditioning and treatment plan. I really have such a rare opportunity to forcibly hide in a small building into a unified quiet, I will seize it to enjoy it! ”
On the evening of November 18, Chen Ailian said to her daughter Chen Yu: "I can't carry it for long, I have to leave." The album must be brilliant and bright, not black or dark. On the 19th, Chen Ailian began to have a fever; on the 20th, she could not speak at noon. Family members and doctors respect Chen Ailian's wishes: "Do not carry out any traumatic rescue. ”
At 0:59 on the 21st, Chen Ailian passed away. On the occasion of her death, her family changed her into a neon dress for the performance of "Spring River Flower Moon Night". Chen Yu said: "My mother has left, I think she is just a kind of physical departure, she continues to accompany us in another form, because she has sublimated into a spirit - the spirit of Eileen!" "Really, this time it was the dancing fairy who returned to her place, and since then she has gone to heaven to "dance and clarify the shadow"...
Text/Liu Hongqing Courtesy photo/Qiao Zhi Chen Yu