14 September 2017
On 15 June, the annual summer school project sponsored by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission kicked off once again at the Shanghai Theater Academy. 25 foreign students gathered at the Huashan Road campus, learning Chinese traditional opera art and experiencing the charm of Chinese culture. Some of the students this year were from the “Belt and Road” countries, including India, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan etc. Apart from being a Sino-foreign cultural exchange program, the summer school this year also reflects the response of the Shanghai Theatre Academy to the “Belt and Road” initiative of our country and the efforts to promote the same.
The summer school this year was for 21 days. In this short period of time, the foreign students not only had the cultural classes and Chinese language classes, but also learnt the skills of the Chinese traditional opera such as the stage steps, body movements, water sleeves, swords and spears, and learnt the singing of Peking opera fragments. In addition, a rich program of extracurricular activities were also arranged for the students to tour the Zhujiajiao water villages, walk through the Shanghai lanes of Stone Gate houses, observe the musical concert and acrobatic performance, so that students were able to experience the essence of Chinese culture from multiple angles. The foreign students participated actively in these activities with a high enthusiasm. On the afternoon of 6 July 6th, these lovely foreign students made a full display of their learning results at the New Space Studio of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, including the performance of selected scenes of the newly adapted Peking opera “Miss Julie” and “Confucius Disciples” and the traditional repertoire "Qiujiang". Although they had only learnt for a short period of threes weeks, the foreign students did quite well in their performances in terms of singing, speaking, acting and stage fighting. At the end of the reporting performance, Professor William Sun congratulated the students and presented the certificate of completion to them.
This year, a student sharing session was added after the Chinese traditional opera reporting performance, during which the foreign students brought the performances and gifts with the characteristic features of their hometown to the teachers and students of the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Madhura, the girl from India, showed a juggle dance combining beautiful sound and deep feeling. After that, Paula and Nicolas from Colombia showed a dynamic Latin dance. Aleksandra from Poland performed a scene of the film version of "Hedda Gabler" in which she had played a role. Rana from Canada, Rita from Jordan and Tina from Finland showcased the lives of international students at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in a 10-minute sketch play. The student from New Zealand sang a Maori song which ignited the audience. Hassan from Pakistan presented the hats and shawls featuring strong local traditions from the Pakistani Pashtun family to the teachers, symbolizing the lasting friendship and respect for friends.
The get-together is short, but friendship is long lasting. The summer school has enabled the foreign students from all over the world to forge a deep friendship with the teachers and students of the Shanghai Theatre Academy. "I love Shanghai, I will definitely come back." This is what the foreign students said the most. The emotion of reluctantly bidding farewell has made this feeling more precious. Today we gather at the Shanghai Theatre Academy learning the Chinese traditional opera, tomorrow the seeds of Chinese culture, peace and friendship will take root, grow and bear fruit in the rest of the world.
