CHINA DAILY Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 19 YOUTH Making drama out of a holiday

Children perform in the birthplace of Greek theater and unleash their creativity, Tan Weiwei (right) performs with singer Zhang Jie at a concert Chen Meiling held in Chongqing on July 27. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY reports.

he stage was set and histo­ ry provided a stunning Music students need backdrop as Chinese chil­ dren mastered the intrica­ Tcies of Greek theater at a recent to have a clear goal summer camp, the first venture of its kind between the two countries. By CHEN NAN The seven­day program, held this [email protected] month in the southern Peloponnese region, involved half a dozen “actors” Pop singer­songwriter Tan Wei­ I didn’t know then if I aged between 8 and 15 from Shen­ wei was invited to share her views would make it or not, zhen and Chengdu. They attended Maria Mikedaki, a teacher at the on musical education at an inter­ Greek theater classes and performed summer camp, who’s assistant pro­ national music summit in Beijing but I think this is in workshops, learned about Greek fessor at the University of the Pelo­ recently, as she is regarded as a where I wanted to be music, history and mythology in lec­ ponnese, says she was impressed by good example of a music­major tures and visited historic sites as well the Chinese students’ level of knowl­ graduate. — I just loved ... as local theaters. edge about Greek mythology, English The pop star, a vocal perform­ everything I could Two highlights marked their jour­ language and their ability to distin­ ance major who graduated from ney to the cradle of Western civiliza­ guish between tragedy, comedy and the Sichuan Conservatory of experience with the tion. The group staged their version satyr (similar to burlesque) plays, Music in 2001, spoke about her music, and with my of the Greek drama, The Birds, by three key genres of Greek drama. school days and also about the voice.” ancient playwright Aristophanes, at Greek drama is universal, says music scene in the country. the Trianon Theatre in Nafplio. And, Mikedaki. “It does not refer only to At the event, Tan asked the Tan Weiwei, singer­songwriter after they visited the Archaeological Greeks but to the concerns of every­ audience: “What’s your goal when Museum of Nafplio, they performed one on Earth,” she explains. “It it comes to learning music? Pas­ a self­scripted 15­minute drama on applies to communal problems of sion for music or the pursuit of Tim H. Lee, who is associate the grand stage of the Ancient Thea­ today and deals with the big themes fame?” director of international recruit­ tre of Epidaurus. This venue, con­ of love, pride, the abuse of power and Tan, who was born and raised ment at Berklee College of Music, structed at the end of the 4th century the conflicts between man and god, in Zigong, Sichuan province, used Boston, says that, though more BC, is famed for its acoustics and aes­ children and parents, good and evil.” to sing in local pubs while in col­ Chinese students were now learn­ thetics and is normally only open to Miao says the program has lege. She rose to fame as the run­ ing music, either classical or con­ professional performers. Top: Students warm up before the play. Above: Teachers Miao Bin received solid support from the local ner­up on the third season of temporary, the college was looking Greek theater, dating back about and Anna Tsichli take students to watch an ancient play at the government and educational insti­ Super Girl in 2006, one of the for students with a clear goal of 3,000 years, has had a profound Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY tutes. Athanassios Katsis, rector of country’s most­watched singing what they want to achieve. influence on Western drama. “How­ the University of the Peloponnese, reality shows. “Musical talent is just one aspect ever, Greek drama is still a novel con­ says this summer camp has success­ Tan says: “I started as a folk sing­ of success,” Lee says. cept to many Chinese people, who he couldn’t express himself well in the parents played the humans. fully connected the Chinese stu­ er but then switched to pop music Meanwhile, Berklee College of are more familiar with Shakespeare’s English or his lines were too short,” Wen Haoyu, 10, says he both liked dents with the cultural heritage of after I realized that it’s much more Music, founded in 1945, has plays,” says Miao Bin, founder of the Huang recalls of her son’s experi­ and disliked the role of a bird. Greece. expressive and free. signed a memorandum of cooper­ Muse Academy, one of the organizers ence at the summer camp. “I liked it because I can be the lead “The goal is to promote these “I didn’t know then if I would ation with Shenzhen, Guangdong of the summer camp. “When Chinese “I told him that nobody is sup­ actor again. However, I disliked that endeavors and formulate an insti­ make it or not, but I think this is province, to build a music center think of Greece, as far as I know, they posed to be the main character all the birds were mean by spitting at tutional pathway in order for these where I wanted to be — I just in the city in the future. may be more familiar with its the time and it needs teamwork to the humans and refusing to cooper­ actions to take place on a regular loved the rehearsing, performing The center’s goal will be to mythology or philosophy, rather finish a play.” ate with them, even though the basis,” says Katsis, who hopes to see and everything I could experience introduce an online contempo­ than drama.” Huang adds that the event was humans promised not to steal their more educational and cultural with the music, and with my rary music education system for Other organizers of the trip were more about playing games, discus­ eggs or hunt them,” he says. exchanges between the two coun­ voice.” Chinese students, with regard to Study in Greece, a nonprofit organi­ sions and brainstorming. For exam­ Haoyu adds that he used to feel tries. As a student, she recalls, she creating, playing and performing zation under the Greek education ple, when preparing for the nervous talking to people, but over­ Christos Michalakelis, president loved listening to songs from the music, according to Xu Xiaoying, authorities targeting international performance of The Birds, a comedy came his fears. “It’s challenging of Study in Greece, says the two 1980s and 1990s, especially origi­ general manager of the Alliance students, and the Theater Studies dating back to 414 BC, both the chil­ because everybody looks at you on countries, among the oldest civiliza­ nal rock songs, which she consid­ Art Group, the school’s Chinese Department of the University of the dren and the four participating par­ stage.” tions on Earth, have a lot in com­ ered “powerful and sincere”. partner. Peloponnese. ents worked on the lines and His mother, Zhou Lianhong, says mon, and the program was well­ Tan is known for her wide vocal Xu points out that many music­ “The program aims to introduce choreography. They not only per­ it really surprised her that he designed to provide an experiential range. With six albums, she has major graduates have difficulty Greek theater to Chinese people by formed, but also promoted the play exceeded himself by approaching way of learning. expanded her horizons as a pop finding jobs, which can be “very inviting them to an on­site experi­ by painting posters and distributing strangers on the street to encourage Euthymios Athanasiadis, press star by performing with Chinese frustrating” for those pursuing ence, and it turned out to be a suc­ them to passers­by on the street. them to watch the play with his lim­ and communication counselor at rocker Cui Jian and with a cross­ their musical dreams. cess,” Miao says. In the performance, humans ited grasp of English, and he got a the embassy of Greece in Beijing, over performance alongside a “It’s crucial to realize that the The young participants are still grow discontented and seek to build dozen people to turn up. says the event hints at the growth group of Qinqiang Opera mas­ benefits of a musical education excited about their experience, he an ideal new homeland with the “I think it’s more meaningful than for educational tourism. ters. The art form is a high­ extend far beyond the classroom,” says. One of them is Peng Zixuan, birds. Out of fear and distrust, the a classroom education,” she says. “Educational tourism, as a form of pitched local opera from Shaanxi Xu says. 10, who has been learning drama at birds refuse at first, but eventually Haoyu learned much about him­ thematic tourism for young Chi­ province. “We want our students to have an institute in Shenzhen, Guang­ an accommodation is reached, and self and his emotions, even before nese, has a great potential in Tan says that she was offered a essential cognitive and social skills dong province. they begin a new life together shar­ performing. Initially, he had no lines Greece,” he says, and hopes to see teaching job at her alma mater, that better prepare them for suc­ “It is fun! I can devote myself to ing their most precious goods. The to say. He managed to keep his emo­ more Chinese children visiting the and she has taken it, but has yet to cess.” playing the role of someone else,” play tries to convey the idea of envi­ tions in check, but lost his temper country to experience all its facets, start teaching. Maria M. Iturriaga, executive Zixuan says, adding that he felt no ronmental protection and building with his younger brother, also a par­ such as art, math, science, dance “Before I become a teacher, I director of the Berklee College of difficulty studying at the summer a harmonious relationship between ticipant, just 30 minutes before the and sports. want to learn more, like classical Music campus in Valencia, Spain, classes. An added bonus was the cui­ humans and nature. Indeed, mod­ play started. His mother suggested The organizers are planning a music, traditional Chinese music, accentuates the need for interna­ sine, especially “the dry bread and ern day critics suggest it was one of that he should tell the group about winter drama school for children by musical instruments and English,” tional exposure, adding that the salad with feta cheese at dinner”. the first plays to highlight environ­ his frustration. He did, and was giv­ the end of this year. More activities, she explains. “I want to train music campus boasts students from over Zixuan’s mother, Huang Lihua, mental issues. en lines to recite. including Sino­Greek concerts, dra­ students who have passion, rather 40 countries. also a theater fan, says the event Education authorities in Greece One of the functions of learning ma performances and related edu­ than just churn out stars.” “Students from different back­ aroused Zixuan’s passion for drama, have put the play on the school cur­ theater, Zhou says, is to help express cational events are on the way. Besides Tan, a number of music grounds study together there, and spurred his interest in ancient riculum. oneself in multiple ways — facial professors also shared their views while retaining their own culture, Greek civilization. In the play performed by the visi­ expressions, eye contact, body Contact the writer at on musical education at the sum­ which is very important,” she “Sometimes he became anxious if tors, the children played birds and movements and words. [email protected] mit. says.