Wold Expo Fujian Week

Entertainment galore during Fujian week

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-28 07:57

With a strategic geographical advantage, close ties with Taiwan and a friendly environment, Fujian province, a major economic player on the Taiwan Straits, is attracting growing attention from home and abroad. Provided To China daily

With a 500-strong show team, Fujian Week at the Shanghai Expo, which begins today and lasts until July 2, is "set to amaze the world with local unique arts and performances", Xie Nan, chief director of the show, said.

The four major performances are as follows:

Dance spectacle

This show will be played at the Celebration Plaza of the Expo. Performers will present a series of Fujian local dances.

The climax includes the Putian cart drum parade, Fujian hotpot folk dance, Fuzhou Folk Dance with 12 brides, Fujian Minnan "chest batting dance", and a large-scale song and dance performance "Met at the Western Coast of the Taiwan Straits".

This lively show is just 20 minutes long, and will be performed twice a day.

Song and dance gala

This show will be held in a large performance area at the expo. The one-hour gala presents a range of artists from Fujian.

Over 150 professional performers from the Fujian Provincial Song and Dance Theater, Fujian Province Acrobatic Troupe and other troupes will take part.

There will be a male and female vocal duet "Mountain and River Affection", a song from the Puxian Opera called "Spring Grass", Hakka folk songs, and acrobatics. The show will be performed two to three times a day during the week.

Puppet show

The puppet show will take place at a small performance area at the expo.

With a bamboo forest made of Fuzhou paper umbrellas as the stage background, the show exudes a strong local flavor.

The audience can participate in the performance and interact with the performers and puppets.

The puppets include marionettes, palm puppets and writing puppets.

The different plays will include: "Stunt Monkey Training", "Novice Monk Outing", "Lantern Festival", "Four Generals", "Writing Puppet" and "Lion Dance".

Fujian puppetry enjoys a high international reputation, Xie said. He cited the Quanzhou marionette as an example, which participated in the Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and also held a special show at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Around the performing venue, Fujian craftsmen will showcase their puppet-making skills, giving visitors a chance to closely observe the process.

The puppet show, performed by 70 performers, will last 20 to 30 minutes. The show will be played three to four times a day during the week.

Fujian traditional tea ceremony will also be held concurrently. Visitors can have a cup of tea while enjoying the performance.

Lantern Festival

The Fujian Lantern Festival will be performed at the Beihuan Road.

Parading along major venues with street entertainment is a traditional festival custom in many parts of the country.

Likened to a Chinese carnival, Fujian's festival parade has its own unique style, Xie said.

The parade will include a variety of traditional dances, including a drum dance and a female clown performance. The show will last 45 minutes and be performed twice a day.

By Hu Meidong

(China Daily 06/28/2010 page6)