On 26th October 2018, Confucius Institute at University of Mauritius was very pleased to welcome and host “The Tour Group of CI”. The event, held in the Auditorium of University of Mauritius, was sponsored by Confucius Institute Headquarters/HANBAN and organized by Dalian University.
Dalian University holds a Conservatory of Music which was founded in 2001 following a merger of the Art Department of Normal College of Dalian University (1987) and the Music Department of Dalian University (1995). The Conservatory has now 8 departments: Music Education; Dance; Western Orchestral Instruments; Ethnic Orchestral Instruments; Piano; Vocal Music; Literature & Art Conducting; and Music Theory. It also has one Music and Dance Art Research Unit. The Conservatory has extensive academic exchange activities both nationally and internationally.
The theme of the tour was “Sentiment Rhyme of China” and covered a series of Traditional Chinese performances. The performances started with a dance named “Region with Rivers in Dream”. The dance presented the audience with a beautiful scenery of Southeast China of which the rivulets around the houses are the defining characteristics; the sounds of streams and cranes merging together.
The second performance was a bamboo flute solo played by Yu Lei and the theme was ‘Tone of Peking Opera’. The music uses the ‘expressive flutes to imitate the familiar singing voices of Peking Opera.’ Next was the female solo artist, Feng Lina, whose powerful voice seemed natural through the song ‘Jasmine Flowers’, the lyrics of which expresses ‘the simple and honest feeling between men and women by praising the jasmine flowers.’ Other performances included ‘fan dance’ which reflects ‘the elegant and gentle demeanor of Chinese women. Fan has a history of more than 3000 yrs in China; the Zhong Ruan Ensemble played ‘Camel Bell on the Silk Road’ using the ruan which is a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument. Its four strings were formerly made of silk but have now been replaced by steel.
Solo artist, Qu Guofeng, played the suona, a musical instrument which looks like a trumpet. In the Northwest of China, the farmers usually play suona to express their joy when they have good harvests or marry their girls. Yangko dance is very popular with farmers in the North of China. The dancers present different postures to express different moods. The audience were thrilled with the high and bright timbre of the instrument.
The fantastic performances presented by the students and teachers of Dalian University were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience; staff and students of the University of Mauritius, representatives from Cultural Center of China, ABC Company, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, CI students, and the public. The two CI Directors warmly thanked all the students and teachers from Dalian University for such wonderful performances and for taking us on this magnificent tour of Chinese culture.
Plate 1. Dance performance entitled “Region with Rivers in Dream”
Plate 2. Flutist, Yu Lei, performing the solo ‘Tone of Peking Opera’
Plate 3. Singer Feng Lina’s magnificent interpretation of the song ‘Jasmine Flowers’
Plate 4. Artists performing a ‘fan dance’ to reflect ‘the elegant and gentle demeanor of Chinese women
Plate 5. Zhong Ruan Ensemble playing ‘Camel Bell on the Silk Road’
Plate 6. Liu Yue playing the erhu, a two-stringed bowed musical instrument
Plate 7. Solo artist, Qu Guofeng, playing the suona, a musical instrument which resembles a trumpet.
Plate 8. Yanko dance is one of the most traditional dance forms in China. ‘Dance for Happy Days’ expresses people’s desire to be happy and prosperous.
Plate 9. Exchange of gifts between Vice-President of Dalian University, Professor Bai Dan and CI Director of CI-UoM, Associate Professor Naraindra Kistamah
Plate 10. Group photo of artists from Dalian University and two hosts for the show in the company of Vice President of Dalian University and CI-UoM Directors.