DAILY, Monday, ftlay 19, 1986

Child dancers off for New York Dancers' Association, Sun has At the age of 15 she joined the vince, Sun became the dean of the by Dai Jiaxiang taught Chinese dances at the Beij Central Song and Dance Ensemble. Department of Chinese Dances. She had been instructed by the Life grew even busier. In 1980, as Sun Guangyan, 51-year-old ing Dance Academy for 32 years. noted dancer Dai Ailian and learn head of the Chinese delegation to associate professor of Chinese Anyone famibar with her work ed Chinese classical dance the International dances at the L ,nce would find it difficult to believe that she would love to teach m o v e m e n t s f r o m P e k i n g o p e r a Dance Camp, Sun taught Chinese Academy, will fly to New York stars Ouyang Yuqian and Han classical dance. Her work in the tomorrow together with 56 Chinese children. Twice a week, however, she goes to the Children's Centre Sichang. She became a teacher at camp was such a success that she is children to participate in the dance the Beijing Dance Academy when now invited to return to Hong drama China as the feature of the near Jingshan Park to teach the it was founded in 1954. annual presentation Event of the children, ising her Textbook of Kong to teach in September this year. Year. Dances for Chinese Children. She specializes in classical "So far, there are no written in Chinese dance, which has borrowed Sun hardly stops for a moment. The dance extravaganza, to be structions in China for teaching many dance movements and perfor Apart from teaching and lecturing held in the Felt Forum of Madison around the country. Sun has writ dances to children. And small m i n g t e c h n i q u e s f r o m c l a s s i c a l ten a number of books and articles, Square Garden in New York on children lack chances to dance. 1 drama as well. Her productions such as Training Methodologies of May 31 and June 1-2, is part of a wish to do my bit of pioneering have received enthusiastic cultural exchange programme in Chinese Classical Dances, The Fun w o r k , " S u n s a i d . response from the public. The volving the National Dance In dance-drama Wencheng Princess, damental Movements of Chinese stitute (NDI) of the United States "To write dancing materials for of which she is one of the Classical Dances, and Textbook of and the China Association for the children as well as to teach them to Dances for Chinese Children with a dance is just a way to fulfil my choreographers and producers, won Advancement of International video tape record. dream of letting children dance." the Distinction Prize from the Friendship in China and the Centre Ministry of Culture in 1983. " A s r e t i r e m e n t d r a w s c l o s e , " for Sino-US Arts Exchange in the Sun is ambitious. To carry out said Sun, "I'm in a hurry to do States. her vision of making the arts ac As one of the originators of train more." A s t h e a r t - d i r e c t o r o f t h i s cessible to adults, she said it is ing methods for Chinese dances, necessary to reach the children she has been invited to dance and Now, Sun is working on a Chinese 56-child performing troupe, Sun dance pro^amme for children, part has worked for the past eight mon first, especially those who might teach abroad several times. Bet ween 1957 and 1959, she taught of which involves the 56-child per ths, choreographing the dance and not otherwise have the opportunity to dance. She is now directing her dance in Sri Lanka. It was the first forming troupe going to the United training the children chosen from time that a Chinese dancing in States. all the children's palaces in Beijing. energy toward spreading to other? structor went to Sri Lanka to teach All are aged about 10. her knowledge of and enthusias' "I'm looking forward to this op Chinese classical dance and she for dance. portunity of exchanging my ideas Now, after all their hard work, gave performance in Colombo. and thoughts with American she and her fledgbngs are prepared At ;he agr of 51, Sun looks back After the "," dancers and to do my best to pro to join the large-scale performance on a ureer that made her one of the best known choreographers in in which she was persecuted and mote aesthetic education for our held in New York City every year sent to Shijiazhuang, Hebei Pro children. and sponsored by Jacques China. d'Amboise, former principle dancer of the New York City Ballet, and his National Dance Institute. In celebration of The Event's tenth anniversary this year, China has been chosen as the theme. The dance drama China will last about half an hour and will include 2,000 American youngsters as well as the young visitors from Beijing. In the dance, after an expedition through the earth's core, the American youngsters will arrive in the Middle Kingdom, represented on stage by a terracotta army in papier-mache, and by the joyous, welcoming group of Chinese children dressed in costumes of China's different nationalities. The show will culminate with a song Hello! and three dances entitled Welcome, Panda, and Lovely Flowerettes. "The show is sure to be a success because of its strong Chinese na tional character," said Professor Sun in an interview. A s a m e m b e r o f t h e C h i n e s e Dancers' Association and council member of Beijing Chinese Professor Sun Guangyan trains children to dance.