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Choi Seunghee Performance Photo

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Performance Photo
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜剧照
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi juzhao
Description: In 1951-52, the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) was invited to teach a year-long course at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. At the time, Choi was based in North Korea. Choi was one of the most important modern dance artists in Asia from the late 1930s until the early 1960s and had a major impact on the development of modern Chinese dance.

Choi Seunghee Performance Photo

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Performance Photo
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜剧照
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi juzhao
Description: In 1951-52, the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) was invited to teach a year-long course at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. At the time, Choi was based in North Korea. Choi was one of the most important modern dance artists in Asia from the late 1930s until the early 1960s and had a major impact on the development of modern Chinese dance.

Choi Seunghee with North Korean Students

Title (English): Choi Seunghee with North Korean Students
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜与朝鲜学生
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi yu Chaoxian xuesheng
Description: In 1951-52, the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) was invited to teach a year-long course at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. At the time, Choi was based in North Korea. Choi was one of the most important modern dance artists in Asia from the late 1930s until the early 1960s and had a major impact on the development of modern Chinese dance.

Choi Seunghee and Mei Lanfang

Title (English): Choi Seunghee and Mei Lanfang
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜与梅兰芳
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi yu Mei Lanfang
Description: This photograph shows the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) with the famous Chinese Peking opera performer Mei Lanfang (梅兰芳 1894-1961). Mei was one of the artists who inspired Choi’s love of Chinese indigenous theater (戏曲 xiqu).

Choi Seunghee Performance Photo

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Performance Photo
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜剧照
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi juzhao
Description: In 1951-52, the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) was invited to teach a year-long course at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. At the time, Choi was based in North Korea. Choi was one of the most important modern dance artists in Asia from the late 1930s until the early 1960s and had a major impact on the development of modern Chinese dance.

Choi Seunghee

Title (English): Choi Seunghee
Title (Chinese): “我敬仰的朝鲜舞蹈家，老师——崔承喜先生”
Title (Romanization): Wo jingyang de Chaoxian wudaojia--Cui Chengxi xiansheng
Description: In 1951-52, the world-renowned Korean dancer Choi Seunghee (Sai Shōki/Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi/최승희/崔承喜, 1911-1969) was invited to teach a year-long course at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. At the time, Choi was based in North Korea. Choi was one of the most important modern dance artists in Asia from the late 1930s until the early 1960s and had a major impact on the development of modern Chinese dance. Here, we see a photograph of Choi inscribed by her student Siqintariha, a dancer of Mongol ancestry based in China. The inscription reads “The Korean Dance Artist I Admire---Madame Choi Seunghee.”

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban
Description: This image shows a group of Chinese and Korean students at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in 1951-1952 studying “martial male” (武生 wusheng) movements from Chinese indigenous theater (戏曲 xiqu) with the world-famous Korean dance artist Choi Seunghee (Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi 최승희1911-1969).
Date: 1951-1952

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban
Description: This image shows a group of Chinese and Korean students at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in 1951-1952 studying “young male” (小生 xiaosheng) movements from Chinese indigenous theater (戏曲 xiqu) with the world-famous Korean dance artist Choi Seunghee (Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi 최승희1911-1969).
Date: 1951-1952

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban
Description: This image shows a group of Chinese and Korean students at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in 1951-1952 studying with the world-famous Korean dance artist Choi Seunghee (Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi 최승희1911-1969). The dance featured here is “Southern dance” (南方舞 Nanfang wu), a style Choi had developed based on Southeast Asian dance forms.
Date: 1951-1952

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. Here, Siqintariha and her classmates visit a local factory as part of their social research and engagement activities during the Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class held at the Central Academy of Drama (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in 1951-1952.
Date: 1951-1952

Siqintariha and Friends

Title (English): Siqintariha and Friends
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈与朋友
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha yu pengyou
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This photograph shows Siqintariha and two of her friends around 1951-1952, when she would have been about twenty years old. With their braided hair, humble clothing, and hopeful, upward-oriented gazes, the three women capture the feeling of young revolutionaries in China during the early socialist period.
Date: 1951-1952

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class Performance

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class Performance
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班展演谢幕
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban zhanyan xiemu
Description: This image shows the final group performance by Chinese and Korean students who studied with the world-famous Korean dance artist Choi Seunghee (Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi 최승희1911-1969) in 1951-1952 at the Central Academy of Drama (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in Beijing.
Date: 1952

“Ordos Dance”

Title (English): “Ordos Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《鄂尔多斯舞》
Title (Romanization): “E'erduosi wu”
Description: In 1955, the People’s Republic of China received four awards for new works of national folk dance presented at an international dance competition held at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Warsaw, Poland. Among them, one of two first place awards went to “Ordos Dance,” the work pictured here. It is a four-minute Mongol-themed group dance piece created by a Manchu choreographer from named Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017) and starring Mongol dancer Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932). It used music composed by Ewenke musician Ming Tai and was originally premiered in 1953, at the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团). Later, in 1955, it was restaged at the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学校). "Ordos Dance" is one of the most famous works of Mongol dance in China. It is named after Ordos, a region of Inner Mongolia.
Date: 1955

“Song in My Heart”

Title (English): “Song in My Heart”
Title (Chinese): 《心中的歌儿》
Title (Romanization): “Xinzhong de ge’er”
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) Siqintariha, like many dancers trained in the early Mao era, suffered political persecution and was not permitted to perform Mongol dance in official events. The Mongol solo dance “Song in My Heart,” which premiered in 1976, was Siqintariha’s first Mongol dance work created after the Cultural Revolution. This marked the beginning of a new period of Mongol dance creation in China, in which Siqintariha was a leading figure.
Date: 1976

Siqintariha

Title (English): Siqintariha
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha
Description: This a portrait of Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) taken during the 1960s. Siqintariha was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China.
Date: 1960s

“Hunter and Canary”

Title (English): “Hunter and Canary”
Title (Chinese): 《猎人与金丝鸟》
Title (Romanization): “Lieren yu jinsiniao”
Description: This is from a single-act dance drama called Hunter and Canary created and performed in 1959 by the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团). It starred Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932), the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China.
Date: 1959

“Hope”

Title (English): “Hope”
Title (Chinese): 《希望》
Title (Romanization): “Xiwang”
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This image shows Mongol dancers Siqintariha and Wu Yun (乌云) performing the Mongol dance duet “Hope” at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Budapest, Hungary, in 1949. “Hope” was choreographed by Wu Xiaobang (吴晓邦, 1906-1995), known as the “Father of Chinese New Dance.” Wu was a guest artist at the Inner Mongolia Cultural Work Troupe (later the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble 内蒙古歌舞团) in 1947, when he created this work for the Ensemble. This is considered one of the earlier works of modern Mongol dance in China. The dance was set to a Mongol folk song and depicted two young women on their way to a local festival, feeling hope for the future.
Date: 1948

“Cup and Bowl Dance”

Title (English): “Cup and Bowl Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《盅碗舞》
Title (Romanization): “Zhongwan wu”
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This image shows Siqintariha performing the Mongol dance female solo work “Cup and Bowl Dance.” The work was originally choreographed by Jia Zuoguang and featured a dancer balancing a candle on her head and performing a solemn dance on a dimly lit stage. In 1959, Siqintariha transformed the work by replacing the candles with a stack of drink bowls, placing small drink classes like castenettes between dancer’s fingers, and brightening the lighting and pace. The idea to do this came from a drinking game often performed by folk artists in Inner Mongolia. The work became an almost instant classic after it was shown in a major performance festival held in Inner Mongolia in 1961. In 1962, “Cup and Bowl Dance” (performed by Modegema) represented China at the World Youth Festival in Finland, where it won the Gold Prize. A video of Modegema’s rendition of “Cup and Bowl Dance” can be viewed at the link below. This clip is taken from the dance film Colorful Butterflies Fly About (彩蝶纷飞 Caidie fenfei), released by the Beijing Film Studio in 1963. “Cup and Bowl Dance” has sparked numerous adaptations and remains a common part of the female Mongol dance curriculum in China.
Date: 1961-1962

Meeting Mao Zedong

Title (English): Meeting Mao Zedong
Title (Chinese): 与毛泽东见面
Title (Romanization): yu Mao Zedong jianmian
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This image shows Siqintariha meeting the Chinese leader Mao Zedong, possibly at the National Cultural Workers’ Representatives Meeting held in Beijing in 1959.
Date: 1950s

Studying Cup Dance with Folk Artist from Etuokeqi

Title (English): Studying Cup Dance with Folk Artist from Etuokeqi
Title (Chinese): 向鄂托克旗盅舞民间艺人学习
Title (Romanization): Xiang Etuokeqi Zhongwanwu minjian yiren xuexi
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. In this image, Siqintariha is shown studying “Wine Cup Dance” with a renowned Mongol folk dance artist Nashunhutu (那顺呼图) from Etuokeqi, a region in Inner Mongolia. This photograph was taken in 1959. Soon after, Siqintariha would incorporate this technique into the female Mongol dance solo “Cup and Bowl Dance.”
Date: 1964

"Milk Station Dance"

Title (English): "Milk Station Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《牛奶站舞》
Title (Romanization): ”Niunaizhan wu“
Description: This is a publicity postcard for the Mongol female group dance “Milk Station Dance,” a popular Mongol-style national folk dance work in China during the 1950s. It was originally choreographed by Gao Tai and later adapted by Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017).
Date: 1958

60th Anniversary of Autonomous Region (Ordos Dance)

Title (English): 60th Anniversary of Autonomous Region (Ordos Dance)
Title (Chinese): 内蒙古自治区成立60周年纪念大会(鄂尔多斯舞蹈)
Title (Romanization): Nei Menggu Zizhiqu chengli liushi zhounian jinian dahui (E'erduosi wu)
Description: The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) was established in 1947. As one of the most important dance artists from the region, Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was invited to participate in a performance celebration of the Region’s sixtieth anniversary in 2007. Here, she and Jia Zuoguang are performing their 1955 work “Ordos Dance” together with other dancers. Siqintariha is shown performing here on stage at the age of seventy-five.
Date: 2007

60th Anniversary of Autonomous Region

Title (English): 60th Anniversary of Autonomous Region
Title (Chinese): 内蒙古自治区成立60周年纪念大会
Title (Romanization): Nei Menggu Zizhiqu chengli liushi zhounian jinian dahui
Description: The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区) was established in 1947. As one of the most important dance artists from the region, Siqintariha was invited to participate in a performance celebration of the Region’s sixtieth anniversary in 2007. Siqintariha is shown performing here on stage at the age of seventy-five.
Date: 2007

“Song in My Heart”

Title (English): “Song in My Heart”
Title (Chinese): 《心中的歌儿》
Title (Romanization): “Xinzhong de ge’er”
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) Siqintariha, like many dancers trained in the early Mao era, suffered political persecution and was not permitted to perform Mongol dance in official events. The Mongol solo dance “Song in My Heart,” premiered in 1976, was Siqintariha’s first Mongol dance work created after the Cultural Revolution. It represented the coming of a new era, which saw the revival of national folk dance practices from the 1950s and early 1960s. This marked the beginning of a new period of Mongol dance creation in China, in which Siqintariha was a leading figure.
Date: 1976

Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble 40th Anniversary Performance

Title (English): Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble 40th Anniversary Performance
Title (Chinese): 内蒙古文工团四十周年纪念演出
Title (Romanization): Nei Menggu Wengongtuan sishi zhounian jinian yanchu
Description: The Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团, formerly the Inner Mongolia Cultural World Troupe) was founded under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party in Zhangjiakou on April 1, 1946. It is the most important professional performing arts company of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and one of the oldest performing arts ensembles in China. The Ensemble specializes in the musical theater and dance styles of ethnic minority communities in Inner Mongolia. The initial size of the ensemble was thirty members, but by 1962 it had grown to over 250 members. Between 1946 and 1986, Ensemble members performed internationally in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. This photograph is from a special performance held in 1986 to honor the Ensemble’s fortieth anniversary.
Date: 1986

Siqintariha and Jia Zuoguang in "Ordos Dance"

Title (English): Siqintariha and Jia Zuoguang in "Ordos Dance"
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈与贾作光(“鄂尔多斯舞”)
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha yu Jia Zuoguang (E'erduosi wu)
Description: This is a close-up of the 1955 Mongol dance work “Ordos Dance.” In 1955, the People’s Republic of China received four awards for new works of national folk dance presented at an international dance competition held at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Warsaw, Poland. Among them, one of two first place awards went to “Ordos Dance,” the work pictured here. It is a four-minute Mongol-themed group dance piece created by a Manchu choreographer from named Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017) and starring Mongol dancer Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932). It used music composed by Ewenke musician Ming Tai and was originally premiered in 1953, at the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团). Later, in 1955, it was restaged at the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学校). "Ordos Dance" is one of the most famous works of Mongol dance in China. It is named after Ordos, a region of Inner Mongolia.
Date: 1964

On Tour

Title (English): On Tour
Title (Chinese): 巡回演出
Title (Romanization): Xunhui yanchu
Description: This photograph shows three members of the Inner Mongolia Cultural Work Troupe, including Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932), during a domestic performance tour in central China.
Date: 1958

50th Anniversary Celebration of Jia Zuoguang's Art Career

Title (English): 50th Anniversary Celebration of Jia Zuoguang's Art Career
Title (Chinese): 庆祝贾作光从艺五十周年
Title (Romanization): Qingzhu Jia Zuoguang congyi wushi zhounian
Description: This image shows Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932), Jia Zuoguang (贾作光, 1923-2017), and others dancing improvisationally during a celebration held to honor the fiftieth anniversary of Jia Zuoguang’s dance career.
Date: 1990s

Teaching Mongol Dance at Dedema Art School

Title (English): Teaching Mongol Dance at Dedema Art School
Title (Chinese): 在德德玛艺术学院教授蒙古族舞蹈
Title (Romanization): Zai Dedema Yishu Xueyuan jiaoshou wudao
Description: As one of the first and most renowned creators and performers of modern Mongol dance in China, Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) is a leading figure in the professional Mongol dance community. She regularly judges at Mongol dance competitions and serves as an advisor to many dance schools and performance ensembles. Here, Siqintariha is serving as a guest teacher at the Dedema Art School.
Date: 2009

“Farm Work Dance”

Title (English): “Farm Work Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《政治舞蹈农作舞》
Title (Romanization): “Zhengzhi wudao Nongzuowu”
Description: This was one of the earliest works performed by the Inner Mongolia Cultural Work Troupe (later the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble 内蒙古歌舞团). It was a political-themed piece created in 1948 that depicted agricultural work and likely had a specific educational message specific to the time it was created. Like much dance choreography in China at the time, it drew movement elements from everyday life. Little is known about the content of this work, and it did not become part of the Ensemble’s lasting repertoire.
Date: 1948

Beijing Dance School Graduation Photo

Title (English): Beijing Dance School Graduation Photo
Title (Chinese): 北京舞蹈学校毕业照
Title (Romanization): Beijing wudao xuexiao biye zhao
Description: This is the photo from Siqintariha’s (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) graduation from the Beijing Dance School (北京舞蹈学院) in July, 1956. Siqintariha is in the second row eighth from the left. Dai Ailian (戴爱莲 1916-2006), President of the School, is in the front row sixth from the right.
Date: 1956

“Chopsticks Dance”

Title (English): “Chopsticks Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《筷子舞》
Title (Romanization): “Kuaiziwu”
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This photograph shows Siqintariha performing a “Chopsticks Dance” during the 1960s. Chopsticks dance was one of the first styles of Mongol folk dance adapted for the stage. Like “Cup and Bowl Dance” it was derived from the dances performed by folk artists during banquets and is associated with the Ordos region of Inner Mongolia. In this photo, Siqintariha is accompanied by a “minzu yuetuan” (new Chinese orchestra) composed of adapted Mongol folk instruments including the horse-headed fiddle.
Date: 1960s

“Andai Dance”

Title (English): “Andai Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《安代舞》
Title (Romanization): “Andaiwu”
Description: This photograph shows a group of dancers performing the “Andai Dance” during the 1950s. Andai dance was one of the first styles of Mongol folk dance adapted for the stage. Unlike “Cup and Bowl Dance” and “Chopsticks Dance,” Andai dance was not originally a form of entertainment. Rather, it is derived from a communal healing ceremony that was once practiced in areas of today’s Eastern Inner Mongolia. Members of a local performance ensemble in that region first developed the dance based on their observations of these ceremonies.
Date: 1950s

Siqintariha Giving a Toast

Title (English): Siqintariha Giving a Toast
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈举杯
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha jubei
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. This photo shows Siqintariha toasting friends during a celebration banquet. It accurately illustrates her personality in everyday life.
Date: 2000s

“Khalkha Dance”

Title (English): “Khalkha Dance”
Title (Chinese): 《哈拉哈舞》
Title (Romanization): “Halaha wu”
Description: This image shows members of the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Ensemble (内蒙古歌舞团) performing a dance they learned from a visiting artist from the Republic of Mongolia. It is in the style of “Khalkha” (哈拉哈), one of the major Mongol tribes in the Republic of Mongolia. The name of the visiting artist who taught them this dance is pronounced in Chinese as “Daoligu’ersurong” (道力古尔苏荣). She worked with the ensemble for approximately two years during the mid-1950s, and this photograph is likely from that time.
Date: 1956

Siqintariha Improvising

Title (English): Siqintariha Improvising
Title (Chinese): 斯琴塔日哈即兴舞蹈
Title (Romanization): Siqintariha jixing wudao
Description: Siqintariha (斯琴塔日哈, b. 1932) was the first famous female Mongol dancer in the People's Republic of China. During Mongol social occasions and banquets, it is frequent for dancers to improvise for one another or as a group. This photo shows Siqintariha improvising in a friend’s home.
Date: 1990s

Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class

Title (English): Choi Seunghee Dance Research Class
Title (Chinese): 崔承喜舞蹈研究班
Title (Romanization): Cui Chengxi wudao yanjiuban
Description: This image shows a group of Chinese and Korean students at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing (中央戏剧学院 Zhongguo xiju xueyuan) in 1951-1952 studying “flowery female” (花旦 huadan) movements from Chinese indigenous theater (戏曲 xiqu) with the world-famous Korean dance artist Choi Seunghee (Ch'oe, Sŭng-hŭi 최승희1911-1969).
Date: 1951-1952

“Butterfly Lovers”

Title (English): “Butterfly Lovers”
Title (Chinese): 《梁祝》
Title (Romanization): “Liang Zhu”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1963, Zhao Qing choreographed and performed in a Chinese classical dance duet set to the violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers." The story is based on one of China's most famous romances.
Date: 1963

"Precious Lotus Lantern"

Title (English): "Precious Lotus Lantern"
Title (Chinese): 《宝莲灯》
Title (Romanization): “Bao lian deng”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1957, the China Experimental Opera Theater (later the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院) premiered what is considered China's first full-length Chinese classical dance drama, Precious Lotus Lantern (宝莲灯). Here, Zhao Qing is shown playing the lead role, the heroine Third Sacred Mother (三圣母). This photograph is likely taken from the 1959 film production by Shanghai Tianma Film Studio. The Ensemble revived this work in 1978.
Date: 1959

“Sword”

Title (English): “Sword”
Title (Chinese): 《剑》
Title (Romanization): “Jian”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1980, the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院) premiered a Chinese classical dance drama called Sword (剑). Inspired by the Gansu Song and Dance Ensemble's 1979, Flowers and Rain on the Silk Road (丝路花雨), it is set in the Middle East. This photograph shows Zhao Qing playing the role of the lead heroine in the 1982 film version.
Date: 1980

"Sword"

Title (English): "Sword"
Title (Chinese): 《剑》
Title (Romanization): “Jian”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1980, the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater 中国歌剧舞剧院) premiered a Chinese classical dance drama called Sword (剑). Inspired by the Gansu Song and Dance Ensemble's 1979, Flowers and Rain on the Silk Road (丝路花雨), it is set in the Middle East. This photograph shows Zhao Qing playing the role of the lead heroine in the 1982 film version.
Date: 1980

"Dagger Society"

Title (English): "Dagger Society"
Title (Chinese): 《小刀会》
Title (Romanization): “Xiaodao hui”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1961, the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater (中国歌剧舞剧院) learned the dance drama Dagger Society (小刀会), originally premiered by the Shanghai Experimental Opera Theater (上海实验歌剧院) in 1959. The performer in the center of the circle is Zhao Qing, playing the role of the heroine Zhou Xiuying. The Ensemble revived this work in 1978.
Date: 1961

"Long Silk Dance"

Title (English): "Long Silk Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《长绸舞》
Title (Romanization): “Chang chou wu”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1978, China sent a group of Peking opera performers, musicians, and dancers to tour the United States, as part of the re-establishment of official ties between the two countries. Here, Zhao Qing is shown performing the Chinese classical dance solo "Long Silk Dance" as part of this tour.
Date: 1978

"Long Silk Dance"

Title (English): "Long Silk Dance"
Title (Chinese): 《长绸舞》
Title (Romanization): “Chang chou wu”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. This photograph was taken by a Hong Kong-based photographer. It shows Zhao Qing performing the Chinese classical dance solo "Long Silk Dance."
Date: 1978

Zhao Qing in New York

Title (English): Zhao Qing in New York
Title (Chinese): 赵青在纽约
Title (Romanization): Zhao Qing zai Niuyue
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1978, China sent a group of Peking opera performers, musicians, and dancers to tour the United States, as part of the re-establishment of official ties between the two countries. Here, Zhao Qing is shown posing in front of the United Nations building in New York City.
Date: 1978

“Moonlit Night in Banna"

Title (English): “Moonlit Night in Banna"
Title (Chinese): 《版纳月夜》
Title (Romanization): “Banna yue ye”
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1963, Zhao Qing toured Japan as part of a diplomatic cultural exchange tour. Here, she is shown preparing her hair and make-up for the Dai dance duet "Moonlit Night in Banna."
Date: 1963

Zhao Qing with Galina Ulanova

Title (English): Zhao Qing with Galina Ulanova
Title (Chinese): 赵青与乌兰诺娃
Title (Romanization): Zhao Qing yu Wulannuowa
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. In 1961, the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater (中国歌剧舞剧院) toured the Soviet Union as part of a diplomatic cultural exchange event. Here, we see Zhao Qing posing with the famous Soviet dancer Galina Ulanova (Гали́на Серге́евна Ула́нова, 1910-1998). Ulanova was a much admired figure for Chinese dancers at this time.
Date: 1961

Zhao Qing with Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi

Title (English): Zhao Qing with Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi
Title (Chinese): 赵青、周恩来、刘少奇
Title (Romanization): Zhao Qing, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi
Description: Zhao Qing (赵青, b. 1936), daugher of famed Chinese film actor Zhao Dan, was one of the most famous early performers of Chinese classical dance in the PRC. Because of its high status as one of only three "Central" dance ensembles during the 1950s, members of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater (中国歌剧舞剧院) regularly performed for and interacted with top political leaders. Here, we see Zhao Qing and other enemble members posing with high-level Chinese leaders Zhou Enlai (far right) and Liu Shaoqi (center right), along with a visiting foreign head of state (center left).

Sword Dance Practice

Title (English): Sword Dance Practice
Title (Chinese): 练剑
Title (Romanization): Lian jian
Description: Fang Bonian (方伯年, b. 1936) was one of the first important performers of Chinese classical dance drama. He was a long-time member of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater (中国歌剧舞剧院). Here, we see Fang practicing his dance technique.
Date: 1950s

Training

Title (English): Training
Title (Chinese): 训练
Title (Romanization): Xunlian
Description: Fang Bonian (方伯年, b. 1936) was one of the first important performers of Chinese classical dance drama. He was a long-time member of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theater (中国歌剧舞剧院). Here, we see Fang practicing his dance technique.
Date: 1950s

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