BNU Troupe Gives Performances, Workshop

The UAA CI hosted a performing troupe from Beijing Normal University, the top normal university in China and among China’s top ten overall, for a performance and several demonstrations Tuesday February 23 and Wednesday February 24.

	The troupe’s performance at 7 PM Tuesday February 23 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium featured a variety of dance styles, from traditional to modern as well as musical performances of modern works on traditional instruments like the arhu, a single string violin, lute and flute. There were also martial arts demonstrations. The audience of about 500 hundred enjoyed a lively and tightly produced show. The performers from Beijing Normal definitely demonstrated why their university is so highly regarded.
On the morning of Wednesday February 24 some of the performers gave a special demonstration to 400 elementary school students at Scenic Park Elementary school. The children sat in wrapped attention during the performances but once the performers were done and they came out to meet them a big scramble began to get a chance to speak to the artists. Everyone had a marvelous time.
	From 11:30 to 12:45 the rest of the 23 performers and teachers gave a demonstration for students from the UAA Drama and Theater Department. More than 60 students attended the demonstration, enjoyed a number of music and dance numbers and were able to practice some of the performer’s moves and engage in questions and answer with members of the troupe.
The UAA CI hosted a reception for the performers that evening at the CI office suite attended by Chancellor Fran Ulmer, Provost Michael Driscoll, Dean of CAS James Liszka and International Affairs Director Ted Kassier along with UAA faculty and many members of the Alaska Chinese Association.

Alaska was the final stop on the tour of the troupe which had also visited Oklahoma University and San Francisco State University. They departed for Beijing later that evening and the students will be back in classes as the school year resumes from holiday break on Monday.

The UAA CI extends its thanks to the performers of Beijing Normal University, the senior administrators of UAA, our community partners and all of you for helping to make this visit such a success.