The Acrobats
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
DPOPEJOYR SCHOOLTIMEEAM SERIESC TEACHINGATC GUIDEH GRADES:ER 4S - 12 THE PEKING ACROBATS Dreamcatchers Teaching Guides align with the National Standards and the ENGLISH & SPANISH EDITION New Mexico State Standards. Standards Addressed By Attending the Performance He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and NMCAS dance; one cannot fly into flying.” DA:Re.7.1 MU:Re7.1 - FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE TH:Re7.1 ‘‘ NMSSS Content Standards I and II (History and Synopsis Geography) More people live in China than in any other nation in the world. Yet their lives and ES culture seem very foreign to many Americans. Even the way we talk about China MS suggests a sense of vast separation—China and other countries in eastern Asia are HS referred to as the “East,” whereas the United States and Europe are the opposite: the “West.” China, a nation of ever-increasing influence in the world arena, offers much CCSS to discover. It is one of the few nations in the world today that traces its roots back to ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL the earliest stages of world civilization more than 5,000 years ago. Over this storied history, China developed a distinct culture and appreciation of art and beauty, which Curriculum is witnessed in its performing arts through costumes, movements, music, and stories. Connections The ability to perform the astounding is rooted in centuries of Chinese Performing Arts & Visual Arts/Theatre, Music; Physical history and folk art. Records of acrobatic acts can be found as early as Education; Social Studies/ the Ch’in Dynasty (221 B.C. - 207 B.C.) and Chinese acrobats through History and Geography, the ages have continued to perfect what has become an evolving Cultural Enrichment folk art form. Tradition demands that each generation of acrobats add its own improvements and embellishments. Because of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those skilled enough to become acrobats. An acrobat can be considered the Chinese equivalent of an American opera star. It is telling that the Chinese acrobatic tradition just gets stronger due to the continued innovation of the artists and the endless enthusiasm from their adoring public. A performance by The Peking Acrobats®, therefore, brings with it the opportunity to view the epitome of a rich and ancient folk art tradition, highlighted by today’s technology, melding the ancient and traditional with the modern wonders of the 21st century. 2 The Peking Acrobats MON | JAN 13 | 2020 TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS History of the Chinese Government The earliest and longest enduring system of government in China was the Dynasty, beginning around 2070 B.C.E. During this period, an emperor ruled until he died or passed the throne on to his first-born son, nephew, or grandson. As a result of political upheaval in 1911, led by revolutionaries (the most famous of which is Sun Yat-sen), the Dynastic government finally ended. Years of war and civil conflict followed and, in 1949, the Communist Party of China (under the leadership of Mao Zedong) took control of China’s mainland, and it became the People’s Republic of China. Communism is a form of society where all businesses, property, foods, goods, and services are owned and operated by the government. Today, although private enterprise does exist and is flourishing in China in many areas of endeavor and industry, most Chinese citizens are still employed (either directly or indirectly) by the Chinese government. They receive wages, housing, health care and an education as compensation for their work. In the early part of the 20th century, the city of Peking’s name was changed to Beijing (pron. bay-JING) because, as the story goes, foreigners who visited the city kept mispronouncing the word Peking (pē’KING)! For many, the Chinese government takes over in the education of the nation where the family leaves off. The Chinese government still runs most schools, from kindergarten to college. School begins strate suitability or skill Kung-Fu: movement that can be used in combat or dance; or any individual for children at age 6. After five years of Beijing: the current name of the capital Chinese language, arithmetic, physical of China — previously known as Peking accomplishment or skill cultivated education, music, art, natural science, through long and hard work Capitalism: an economic system in and political doctrine, Chinese students Myth: a traditional or legendary story, enter middle school. Here, students take which the means of production and usually concerning some being or hero classes in politics, Chinese language, distribution are privately or corporately owned or event, with or without a determinable mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, basis of fact or a natural explanation foreign languages, history, geography, Character: what we call each symbol in basic agriculture, physical education, the written expression of the Chinese Pagoda: a tiered tower with multiple music, and art. They study there for language eaves or levels an additional six years. Most Chinese Communism: an economic theory or students do not continue their studies Pantomime: a drama played in actions system of the ownership of all property and gestures sometimes to the after middle school, going to work instead by the community as a whole in a factory, on a farm, in the military, or accompaniment of words sung by a other form of government service for the Contortionist: a performer who is very chorus or with music rest of their lives. flexible and can bend his or her body into different shapes Troupe: a company or group of touring actors, singers, dancers, and other Dynasty: a succession of rulers who performers Vocabulary belong to the same family; also, the Audition: a trial performance, as by an period during which a certain family Water Meteor: swinging glass bowls actor, dancer, or musician, to demon- reigns that move like meteors in the sky 3 The Peking Acrobats MON | JAN 13 | 2020 TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS Historia del gobierno chino El sistema de gobierno más largo y perdurable en China fue la Dinastía, comenzando alrededor de 2070 a.C. Durante este periodo, un emperador gobernaba hasta que fallecía o pasaba su trono a su hijo primogénito, sobrino o nieto. Como consecuencia de turbulencia política en 1911 d.C., dirigido por revolucionarios (el más famoso es Sun Yat-sen), el gobierno dinástico finalmente terminó. Años de guerra y conflicto civil siguieron y en 1949, el Partido Comunista de China, bajo el liderazgo de Mao Zedong, tomó el control de la tierra firme de China y se convirtió en la República Popular de China. El comunismo es una forma de sociedad donde el gobierno es dueño y operador de todas las empresas, propiedades, comida, bienes y servicios. Actualmente, aunque la empresa privada existe y esta floreciendo en China en muchos campos de empeño e industria, muchos ciudadanos chinos aún están empleados, directamente o indirectamente, por el gobierno chino. Ellos reciben sus salarios, alojamiento, asistencia médica y una educación como indemnización por su trabajo. En el principio del siglo XX, el nombre de la ciudad fue cambiada de Pekín a Beijing en inglés porque, según el cuento, ¡los extranjeros que visitaban la ciudad seguían diciendo Pekín incorrecto! Para muchos, el gobierno chino toma el control de la educación de la nación donde se termina el de la familia. El gobierno aún gestiona la mayoría de las escuelas, desde el jardín infantil hasta Beijing: en inglés el nombre actual de la individual o de habilidad cultivado por a la universidad. La escuela comienza capital de China, en español el nombre mucho trabajo duro para los niños a la edad de seis años. correcto es Pekín Después de cinco años de idioma chino, meteoros de agua: tazones de cristal que capitalismo: un sistema económico donde aritmética, educación física, música, arte, se mueve como meteoros en el cilo ciencia natural y doctrina política, los la manera de producción y distribución es estudiantes chinos van a la secundaria. privada mito: una historia tradicional o legendaria, Aquí toman clases de política, idioma carácter: lo que llamamos a cada símbolo a menudo sobre un ser o héroe o evento, chino, matemáticas, física, historia, en la expresión escrita del idioma chino con o sin un fundamento determinable en geografía, agricultura básica, educación comunismo: una teoría o sistema física, música y arte. Ellos estudian allí por hechos o una explicación natural económico donde la posesión de la seis años adicionales. Muchos estudiantes propiedad es de toda la comunidad pagoda: una torre con gradas con chinos no siguen sus estudios después de múltiples aleros o niveles la secundaria, en vez van a trabajar en una contorsionista: un artista que es muy fábrica, granja, las fuerzas armadas u otra flexible y se puede doblar su cuerpo en pantomima: un drama actuado en forma de servicio gubernamental por el diferentes figuras acciones y gestos a veces acompañado resto de sus vidas. dinastía: una sucesión de dirigentes que por palabras cantadas por el coro o pertenecen a la misma familia, también, música Vocabulario el periodo durante la reina de una cierta familia tropa: una compañía o grupo de actores, audición: una obra de prueba de parte de un actor, danzante o músico para kung-fu: movimiento que se puede usar cantantes, danzantes y otros artistas que demostrar habilidad o pertinencia en combate o danza; o cualquier logo están de gira 4 The Peking Acrobats MON | JAN 13 | 2020 TEACHING GUIDE DREAMCATCHERS Chinese Proverbs A book holds a house of gold. Distant water won’t help to put out a fire close at hand. Do not want others to know what you have done? Better not have done it anyways.