Creative Stirrings at China’s Universities
by Cathy Barbash
Understanding that while there is no more “iron rice bowl” for performers in government-run ensembles there is now relative creative freedom, the more ambitious and savvy students in China’s major performing arts schools are beginning to take their futures into their own hands.
Beijing Dance Academy student Han Xu and a team of classmates organized a day-long forum last month on engagement in the performing arts, with a focus on musicals and hip-hop. However, she had the acumen to hold it at Beijing University, in order to reach out into the mainstream university community and benefit from identification with the nation’s leading institution of higher learning. She convinced her own department to pay all expenses, and to allow her to invite both foreign and Chinese speakers.
Tony Stimac, director of Beijing’s new private Reignwood Theater, spoke about Broadway musicals, Chen Jixin, CEO of the Oriental Broadway International Theater Co. and sometime collaborator with the Nederlander’s China enterprise, lectured on Chinese Musicals.
Xiao Chuan and the Audience
Xiao Chuan, one of China’s foremost hip-hop artists, gave a lecture demonstration on hip-hop’s history and practice, including some audience participation (see picture). Han Xu herself discussed why she had created arts leagues at Beijing’s universities, and exhorted the students to make their own musicals.
After the talking heads, excerpts from her team’s current musical were performed and critiqued by the participants, and students from the various university art leagues gave showcase performances, including rock bands, dance, and even cross-talk (a very traditional Chinese 2-person humorous dialogue-think Abbot and Costello “Who’s On First”). After this first success, Han Xu and colleagues hope to create an alliance of arts leagues at Beijing’s universities in order to further outreach efforts, cultivate leadership in the arts and begin creative and production activities.
My note to ISPA, Arts Presenters, and the Major University Presenters consortium: let’s engage in some cultural diplomacy and reach out to this nascent independent initiative.