The 3rd Drama Education Symposium of the Shanghai Theatre Academy was recently held. The theme of this symposium was "Drama Education and Traditional Culture".
The event was hosted by the Department of Dramatic Literature and the Comprehensive Art Teaching and Research Base of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, with support from the International Theatre Institute. Experts from related universities across the country, principals of primary and secondary schools from various regions, and drama education practitioners participated in the symposium.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Education issued a notice on the comprehensive implementation of the School Aesthetic Education Immersion Action, calling for in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, further strengthening school aesthetic education, and enhancing the educational function of school aesthetic education. The issuance of this document has further clarified the direction for the construction of the drama education program at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. This symposium was held against this backdrop.
Professor Shen Liang, Director of the Academic Affairs Office and Dean of the Graduate School of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, guided the participants to recall their "first experience with drama." With interactive activities, the symposium officially began. Professor Chen Jun, Dean of the Department of Dramatic Literature of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, introduced the construction of the drama education program at the Shanghai Theatre Academy in his speech. He pointed out that focusing on the theme of "Drama Education and Traditional Culture," aesthetic education will be more practical, vibrant and conducive to the construction of a drama education system with Chinese characteristics.
Professor Su Chen, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Education Society, delivered the keynote speech at the symposium.
The ancient poetry musical "Sing to the Sky" was performed at the event, serving as a concentrated demonstration of the latest educational demonstration play - the ancient poetry play. The ancient poetry play maintains the characteristics of verse in its language, and is accompanied by music and dance, with adaptable scenery suitable for various stage spaces and drama classrooms.
After the performance, Professor Sun Huizhu of the Shanghai Theatre Academy hosted the review session. Professor Chen Jun, Professor Su Chen, and Assistant Professor Xu Yiting from Xiamen University provided insightful reviews. Tobias Biancone, Director-General of the International Theatre Institute, remarked that many outstanding playwrights worldwide have created plays using poetry. Drawing from classical Chinese poetry to create drama is a form of theater with distinct Chinese characteristics. The ancient poetry play is based on stories familiar to young people, allowing them to open their hearts and become fond of drama through performance. The performance of the ancient poetry musical, based on the understanding of ancient poetry, is filled with song, dance and rhythm, making it a delightful experience.
The first subtopic of the symposium, "Improvement and Promotion of Educational Demonstration Plays", was chaired by Li Shitao, Deputy Dean of the Department of Dramatic Literature at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. This segment began with the presentation of two short plays based on the same ancient poem and respectively performed by graduate students from the Shanghai Normal University and the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Following this, experts, professors and teachers from the University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Normal University, Weifang Goer School and East China Normal University shared their experiences on the relationship between drama education and the development of students' core competencies, mental health education, moral education and aesthetic education.
The second subtopic, "Research and Discussion on the Teaching of Junior High School Course 'Art·Drama (including Chinese Opera)' in Shanghai", was chaired by Professor Shen Liang. This session invited several researchers, principals and teachers from the city's basic education sector to discuss the implementation, preliminary results, teaching experiences and future prospects of the junior high school course "Art·Drama (including Chinese Opera)" based on the new curriculum standards. The participants engaged in questions and exchanges based on frontline teaching practices, discussing the optimization, improvement and promotion of drama courses.
The 3rd Drama Education Seminar of the Shanghai Theatre Academy provided valuable discussions on drama education and traditional culture. It is hoped that through the months and years of sowing and nurturing by drama practitioners in sowing and nurturing, this topic will yield more new practices and accumulate new experiences.
