25 March 2014
On 24 March at 7 pm, the students of Year 2013 Traditional Chinese Opera Musical Theatre Class started their debut reporting performance at the Black Box Theatre on the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA)'s Huashan Road Campus. STA President Han Sheng and STA Vice President Guoyu, STA Traditional Chinese Opera College Associate Dean Huang Dunwei, as well as teachers and experts such as Ma Lan and Zhang Zhongnian, observed the performance with great interest, which provided a comprehensive report on the basic professional training. The Black Box Theatre was fully occupied by the audience, with fantastic atmosphere and warm applause throughout the performance.
The reporting performance showcased the students' professional skills, including musical instruments, calligraphy, traditional Chinese opera posture, body shaping, vocal and lines. Reporting in the form of "combined training" reflected the bold experiment and innovation of the teachers of the traditional Chinese opera musical theatre in terms of the teaching model. Yang Jia, head of traditional Chinese opera musical theatre, introduced this specialized major and the teaching team to the audience. She said, "Rhythm is the theme of this reporting performance. Rhythm training is particularly important to musical drama performers. This is why rhythmic performance had been included in the courses for the first year students in order to tap their potential to the fullest extent. This "combined" reporting performance has originated from the aspiration from the rhythmic performance classes.
Upon the conclusion of the reporting performance, the establishment of the 211 Band, as part of the Year 2013 Traditional Chinese Opera Musical Theatre, was announced. STA President Han Sheng issued the certificate of honor to the members of the band. President Han made a brief speech, giving full acknowledgement of the efforts of the students and the teaching results of the teachers. After seeing the reporting performance, with great excitement, teacher Ma Lan said, "The students did an excellent job tonight and I was dazzled with the talent and charm each of you has demonstrated during the performance. Your future belongs not only to the Chinese stage, but also the international stage. We should go international. Prof Zhang Zhongnian was also deeply touched by the enthusiastic and dynamic performance of the students. He said, "You are a young team with passion, ideas and courage to try and practice. It has been a good attempt to link by rhythmic performance, which highlighted the characteristics of the musical drama. The entire reporting performance was thoughtfully structured and smoothly run. That is no easy job."
Traditional Chinese Opera Musical Drama, as a major in STA, was founded by teacher Ma Lan in 2009, with teacher Yang Jia as the head of teaching. It has been six years since its inception. It is a combination of the western musical drama and the Chinese traditional art. It is the first of its kind in China as a specialized study program and reflects the dualistic features of STA's musical drama teaching. It is beyond doubt that traditional Chinese opera musical drama, as a specialized major for study, will embrace an even more splendid future.
Stage photo
Group photo
