Chinese Theatre in Parks

While the types of performance I mentioned before are unique and interesting, these are the everyday talents that make Chinese performance unique.

The best place to go in China to see a performance is their parks. With the crowded situation in the apartments of big cities, the parks are a great place for people to go to socialize. But they are also home to the "secret" cultural life that you can see for free. People gather to dance to traditional music, do some ballroom dancing, or even learn to dance from one of the pros. Huge crowds can gather around men and women who sing in groups or perform solos. Often times they sing either traditional songs or patriotic ones from the Mao Era. Sometimes singers are even accompanied by musicians and a conductor. People tend to bring their own microphones to accommodate for the large crowds or to draw attention to their talent.

A little further into the park, one might find a more unique kind of entertainment. Those who do Taichi or are skilled with the diablo tend to find the secluded corners of the parks to practice their art. If you are quiet, you can sit nearby and watch the extreme talent of these masters of coordination.

As a performer, I admire the confidence and care-free nature of these people who simply do what they love for the fun of it. They have made use of the space they have and have turned it into a variety show all their own. Without the pressure of the main stage, they have the freedom to make mistakes, learn new skills, and even gain fans. There is something truly beautiful in the innocent enjoyment that these people find in performing.

~Julie

Chinese Theatre on Stage

From the palaces to the streets, performance is an integral part of the Chinese culture. As it gets closer to summer, here are some of the kinds of performances I know I'll see when I move around the world for seven weeks.

I'll start with the infamous Peking Opera. One of the most well-known types of theatre in China, it grew out of the eighteenth century when it was popular among the members of the Qing Dynasty. It consists of extravagant costumes and masks which portray both human beings and animals. There is opera style singing as well as very slow and mechanic dancing. It is particularly popular in Beijing, the city from which it's name comes. 

Chinese acrobatics, although not usually used to tell a linear story, are the pinnacle of Chinese theatre. Popular all over China and with people of all ages, the acrobats are trained from a young age to be able to do mind blowing performances with their bodies. From being able to hold themselves completely horizontal from a vertical pole in mid-air to balancing an umbrella on one toe, each act is filled with amazing performances accompanied by great lighting and music.

A less famous category of theatre in China, Chinese New Years plays are extremely common. Around Chinese New Year, which will be on February 10th this coming year, it is traditional to reenact the history of the Chinese Zodiac. In the Zodiac, there are twelve animals that fall in the same order in each twelve years cycle. This order comes from an ancient story in which all of the animals participate in a race. The first animal to finish was the rat, then the ox, and so forth. It is particularly common to put these shows on in schools to help children remember the story of Chinese New Year. (I played the rat in my school's Chinese New Year play when I lived in Beijing!)

~ Julie