From America to China
—2011 Tour of American Young Artists to China
Photo by Li Xiaoyuan
Beginning of a Magic Journey
From June 9 till 22, US Youth Art Troupe of 49 people, sponsored by Celebrating Children: US and China (CCUC), came to China for a tour performance and conducted cultural exchange with school teachers and pupils in Beijing, Inner Mongolia and Zhejiang.
In 2010, China Young and Teenager Art Troupe was invited to US and gave 19 performances in Utah and Hawaii, which was warmly welcome and highly praised by H.E Jon Meade Huntsman, then American Ambassador in China. Completely recognizing this kind of cultural exchange, he suggested that CCUC organize American young art troupe to visit China in 2011. China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC) extended its official invitation to CCUC as well.
In the welcome banquet hosted in Beijing, Feng Yuan, vice president of CFLAC, gave a high appraisal of this event. In his remarks, “exchange leads to mutual learning for both parties’ perfection; exchange will help establish friendship and enhance understanding”, which bears an important and positive significance. Just with the consensus of this significance, Julie H. Haupt, president of CCUC, determined to create this wonder to bring American young artists on this magic journey to have a look at China.
“One important reason we have come here is just to build a bridge of friendship.” Julie said.
Photo by Zheng Rongjian
Photo by Zheng Rongjian
Photo by Zheng Rongjian
Beijing—Inner Mongolia—Zhejiang
For this journey to China, Walter Young, a banker, took his part in fundraising, and Paul Winkelman, art supervisor and choreographer of the opening ceremonies of both 2002 Salt Lake City Olympiad and 2004 Athens Olympiad, volunteered to serve the Troupe because he believed that the event will promote China-US cultural exchange and friendship.
In China side, International Liaison Department (ILD) of CFLAC took charge of event reception and comprehensive planning. “Generally speaking, memory in young and teenager days will exert important impact on his or her whole life. It is important to have exchange among young people. As they are still simple in character, they can observe foreign country and nationality from unbiased and objective perspective.”
Photo by Zheng Rongjian
Photo by Li Xiaoyuan
Photo by Li Xiaoyuan
Photo by Li Xiaoyuan
How to bring those American youngsters to know China, to experience the cultural and geographic diversity in China, to understand that China is still a developing country yet with amazing development speed becomes a main question. Beijing—Inner Mongolia—Zhejiang finally became the schedule planned by ILD, along with an ambitious expectation. Beijing, capital of China, will showcase a modern international metropolis with time-honored history ad profound cultural deposit. Grassland in Inner Mongolia will demonstrate vast landscape and magnificent spirit in North China as well as harmony of varied ethnic groups in China. Zhejiang will display waterside scenery with exquisite beauty and gentle and kind atmosphere. Even the means of transportation were deliberately selected from coach to train and airplane, which provided different windows for American guests to see and know China. Through those varied windows, they can find serenity and hard work in the field, tradition and modernity, poverty and development in contrast. What they see is a real China.
In Beijing, the Troupe visited Summer Palace, climbed on the Great Wall, and sang or danced in Bird Nest and Water Cube where the motto “One World One Dream” was realized. They even entered Taoranting Park to feel vividly the morning exercise of senior citizen in Beijing. In Hohhot, they were deeply moved by warm welcome and hospitality by the people in Huiteng Xile Grassland. There cloudlike herd of sheep and poles of windmill showcased the magnificent development of new energy. In Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, American young artists not only appreciated the in-depth deposit of Chinese traditional culture in Ancient Longmen Town but also witness the prosperity of New Rural Construction in Huang Gongwang Village.
Multi-faceted Close Contacts
“Performance is only a small part, and the extensive and profound exchange between young people from China and US is far more important.” CFLAC defined this event in this way and from the moment they arrived in Beijing on, this ideal was invariably carried out. When pupils from 161 Middle School raised name cards to look for American friends, all the barriers were removed. Those Chinese and American young people started to talk about the next day plan of Family Day like old friends. Girls preferred South Luoguxiang and Rear Sea, and some boys of soccer fan decided to play football.
The first performance was set in Meilanfang Grand Theatre on June 13. In rehearsal, Paul Winkelman specially designed an interesting scene in choir performance. Performers from China and US stood one-to-one with backs against each other. When it came to the turn of one country, performers of this country faced audience; in chorus part, all the performers faced audience hand in hand as a symbol of “heart-to-heart” wish for everlasting China-US friendship. As this continued in Hohhot and Hangzhou, this was commonly acknowledged as the most touching part.
Dream Comes True, Hard to Say Goodbye
On June 20, in Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art, those young cultural envoys dedicated their devoted works “An American Tapestry—2011 Tour of American Young Artists to China” as their last chapter in China.
Afterwards, the Troupe came to Fuyang City to join the gala with teachers and pupils in Jiangnan Middle School. On the evening prior to departure, working staff from both China and US particularly presented a slide of their journey in China. When pictures of performance, shots of smile and hug appeared on the screen, American youngsters called out their voice: “We will love more even if people suppose enough; we will carry on even if people think risky; We will endeavor at most even if people never think our dream can come true…” Lin Jingjing, vice president of CCUC, who was born in China and now lived in US, had her own feelings. She had been longing for building a bridge for young exchange between China and US, and by that moment her dream finally came true.
