Black Theatre Visits China China was so much more than we hoped, expected or imagined. This was the first trip to China for all of us, except our interpreter and coordinator, Xiujie Sun, and we all hope that it will not be our last. It was a privilege for us to go to China but especially to perform African American Theatre. The audiences at our performances were receptive to our productions and to discussions on African American culture and history. They were able to find the similarities in our cultures and those elements that made us distinctive. This made our ambassadorship not a job but an honor.
Members of the Delegation:
Many heralded our trip for so long, and finally on Sunday, December 2, 2008 we boarded the plane in Louisville to begin our journey of 16 days. We flew to Chicago and then for about 14 hours over the North Pole and arriving the next day in Beijing. By all accounts, it was a successful trip on so many levels.
Ambassadorship In Beijing we capitalized on the experiences we were able to have. At the Beijing Foreign Studies University, our students had seen some Chinese students playing basketball when we went to perform. Our students assumed that the Chinese students were not accomplished in basketball, so they utilized the transit systems and visited them. First, our students were well received and, second, they learned that many of the Chinese students could play very well. They were surprised that they were beaten a couple of times. However, a fellowship and an exchange of brotherhood developed. After their games, the Chinese students helped the Black students get back to our hotel, accompanying them at their own expense. They exchanged numbers and e-mails.
Visiting the Buddhist Temple was way of viewing worship in another culture. Many times it is difficult to know and to understand Buddhism. However, it was humbling to see the adoration and expansive giving of the Chinese as they worshipped. They appeared sincere, reverent and open in their praise and worship. We were all very moved. We were also able to see the largest Buddha in China. Carved from a tree, it was impressive at about 30 feet tall.
In Xiamen, we were privileged to have at least one or two personal volunteers for each of us to assist us throughout our residency. This provided monumental opportunities for sharing and exchanging cultures. During a panel discussion where our students were presenting on Racism in America, we learned a valuable lesson. It was one about the Challenge of Color. The Chinese, Indonesians and Indians have the same problems with color as we do between light and dark African Americans. While we bemoaned our treatment in the United States, both inside and outside our culture, the students in China from various cultures began to do the same. There were Indonesians and Indians in the audiences as well. While we all talked about the pros and cons of being light and dark, we could see so many similarities. Before going to China our initial contact with the Chinese Academy of Theatre Arts was made by Xiujie Sun. We were the first African American university troupe to perform in China, so when we performed it was our first time meeting them and their first time meeting us. It was not until after we had exchanged performances that interest was piqued on both sides. Now they are interested in learning more about Black Theatre, and we are equally interested in learning more concepts about the Chinese Traditional Theatre. While we had the opportunity to experience exercises of Peking Opera concepts, time did not permit our presenting information and exercises on Black Theatrical theory.
Beijing Foreign Studies University We performed Seven Stops to Freedom and Harlem Renaissance Revue. We were well received and got to know the students. We met a young woman from Cuba who was elated to have us there and felt it provided a major sustenance for her tenure there. She had not seen many Blacks while there and, though she was not in theatre, she was delighted with the performances. After the performances we were given a wonderful dinner at the school’s hotel and received gifts from the International Office. The dinner allowed students of both universities to mingle together, while the officials were in a private room receiving kudos and acknowledgements. I was happy that we had brought gifts to distribute to the officials who were forthright in giving to us.
The National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts We performed the Harlem Renaissance Revue.
By far. establishing a relationship with this Academy was phenomenal and a major accomplishment for our tour. We performed our production and then were able to view a performance by the students of the Academe. They provided a short display of Peking Opera scenes directed by their graduate students. After the performance, they engaged our students in Peking Opera elements with examples and then a hands-on workshop. We were happy that we had seen a production at the Beijing Peking Opera Company that same week, for we were able to see examples of the structure presented there. It was exciting and intriguing to learn concepts of such an old tradition from the people themselves, and it was so much fun. The company was happy about our students’ enthusiasm and that the students were so quick to notice the elements. They asked us about Western Theatre Concepts, and I was able to explain that we utilize an Afrocentric Perspective, which can be viewed as a heightened version of some Western traditional concepts. They really seemed confused but intrigued.
As we talked, it became important to extend an invitation to this Academy to come to our University in February of 2009. They plan to come here for five to ten days during their Chinese New Year and do workshops with our students and perform once or twice. We did explain that this was tentative until we received permission from our Dean. For the visit they must secure their own financing to get here and then we can host them. If they can come, I plan to share their ten days with Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky and/or Kentucky State University and possibly Indiana Southeast. This way the costs would be shared and they would be able to reach a greater number of contacts.
Xiamen University We performed Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, Seven Stops to Freedom and Harlem Renaissance Revue.
The Xiamen University experience was unique in many ways. First, it was the university that provided our initial invitation; therefore, they had an organized a program utilizing our resources to the fullest. Everyone participated by providing a lecture and/or workshop not only for the students of Xiamen but for all the students in the surrounding universities. We also provided, for many, their first Christmas Party. We sang Christmas Carols, told stories of how we celebrate Christmas and provided Santa Claus, who introduced peppermint candy canes to all.
One custom they have that I like is there are no classes from 12-2 pm daily, for everyone has lunch and then takes a nap.
Xiamen Foreign Language School We performed Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. The Principal, Deputy Principal and Secretary of this middle and high school greeted us. This exceptionally beautiful school is a public boarding school. The computer, which randomly selects those to enter the public schools there, handles entrance to the school strictly. I found this very intelligent. We performed for a little more than 1,000 tenth-graders and their faculty and were received with a standing ovation.
Sight-Seeing: Historical & Wondrous! We had the opportunity to view Tian An Men Square, the Forbidden City, the Imperial Garden, a performance at the Beijing Peking Opera, a Buddhist Temple (and seeing the largest Buddha built in China), and, of course, the Great Wall. These were major highlights during our trip. In Xiamen, we visited the Island of Gulangyu. We found these trips breathtaking, inspirational, spiritual, helpful in developing an endless love with China and educational beyond any classroom experience! |
