College News

Xiamen University performers delight audience

Notice: This article is older than 12 months. Names, contact information, programs, titles, etc. might have changed. If you have any problems please call the main college number, 1-800-682-8353, and we will be happy to direct you accordingly.

Click to enlarge, Waving red handkerchiefs, dancers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe share a traditional Chinese dance welcoming spring during the group’s performance Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Central Carolina Community College hosted the event, which was brought to Sanford through the college’s Confucius Classroom and its partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. It was the fourth in a series of authentic, traditional Chinese cultural events the college has hosted in the area. The Spring Festival Gala, performed by student and instructor dancers and musicians of the Art College of Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China, also celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, which began Feb. 3. For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.

click image to enlarge ⊗

Waving red handkerchiefs, dancers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe share a traditional ... (more)

Click to enlarge, Waving colorful fans, dancers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe, share a graceful Chinese ballet, ‘Jasmine Flowers,’ during the group’s performance Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The Spring Festival Gala, performed by student and instructor dancers and musicians of the Art College of Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China, also celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, which began Feb. 3. Central Carolina Community College hosted the event, which was brought to Sanford through the college’s Confucius Classroom and its partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. It was the fourth in a series of authentic, traditional Chinese cultural events the college has hosted in the area. For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.

click image to enlarge ⊗

Waving colorful fans, dancers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe, share a graceful Chinese ... (more)

Click to enlarge, Musicians of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe performed several traditional Chinese pieces, as well as some well-know American tunes, during the group’s performance Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The musicians and their instruments are (from left) Ning Dengyi, urheen (a two-stringed violin); Wang Liudi, bamboo flute; Zhang Zhewang, hammered dulcimer; Li Jie, lute; and Liu Can, zither. The Spring Festival Gala also included folk dance, ballet and martial arts, all performed by student and instructor dancers and musicians of the Art College of Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China. The show also celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, which began Feb. 3. Central Carolina Community College hosted the performance, which was brought to Sanford through the college’s Confucius Classroom and its partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. It was the fourth in a series of authentic, traditional Chinese cultural events the college has hosted in the area. For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.

click image to enlarge ⊗

Musicians of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe performed several traditional Chinese pieces, ... (more)

Click to enlarge, Liu Can, zither player with the instrumental ensemble of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe, performed several traditional Chinese pieces, as well as some well-know American tunes with the ensemble during the Students Art Troupe’s performance Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The Spring Festival Gala also included folk dance, ballet and martial arts, all performed by student and instructor dancers and musicians of the Art College of Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China. The show also celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, which began Feb. 3. Central Carolina Community College hosted the group’s appearance, which was brought to Sanford through the college’s Confucius Classroom and its partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. It was the fourth in a series of authentic, traditional Chinese cultural events the college has hosted in the area. For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.

click image to enlarge ⊗

Liu Can, zither player with the instrumental ensemble of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe, ... (more)

Click to enlarge, Performers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe welcomed spring with dance and music at a performance Sunday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. At the end of the show, the university’s delegation presented a calligraphic painting to Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant and welcomed the friendship that has been established between the two institutions. Pictured (from left) are Sam Gaskins, Sanford City councilmember; Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive; CCCC President Bud Marchant; Lin Gongming, chairman of Xiamen’s Art College Council and deputy delegation head; Fang Guangzhi, Art College assistant professor; Martin Woods Jr., an American student enrolled in Xiamen’s Overseas Education College and the master of ceremonies for the event; Xiaoying Wang, deputy director for North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute; and Shuya Che, CCCC visiting professor and instructor for the college’s Confucius Classroom. CCCC hosted the event, which was brought to Sanford through the Confucius Classroom in partnership with NCSU’s Confucius Institute. It was the fourth in a series of authentic, traditional Chinese cultural events the college has hosted in the area. For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.

click image to enlarge ⊗

Performers of the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe welcomed spring with dance and music at a ... (more)

02.22.2011 • Arts & Entertainment • College & Community • Special Events

SANFORD — The beauty, grace, and excitement of spring danced across the stage of the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Sunday as the Xiamen University Students Art Troupe shared traditional Chinese dance and music.

The Spring Festival Gala, performed by students and instructors of the Art College of Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China, also celebrated the start of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, which began Feb. 3.

“We wanted to bring the American people our joy in the spring festival and also make friends while we are here,” said Lin Gongming, chairman of the university’s Art College Council and the head of the Xiamen delegation.

The group delighted the audience with dance, music and a tai chi demonstration from some of China’s 55 ethnic minorities, such as the Yi. The numbers ranged from hauntingly graceful to energetic with evocative titles such as “Blooming Flowers and Full Moon.” The performance of some American tunes, such as “Jingle Bells,” added to the fun.

The musicians played traditional Chinese instruments: lute, zither, cucurbit flute, bamboo flute, dulcimer, and urheen, a two-stringed violin. Martin Woods Jr., an American student from Kentucky, acted as master of ceremonies for the show and also sang. He is a student at Xiamen’s Oversees Education College.

The Xiamen University performance was the fourth in a series of Chinese cultural events brought to the area by Central Carolina Community College’s Confucius Classroom, in partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. The Classroom was established in 2009 to help strengthen cultural and economic ties and understanding between China and the area of central North Carolina that the college serves.

“The choreography was excellent and I’m a previous martial arts student, so the show made me feel I was in China,” said Barbara Overstreet, of Sanford. “This was my first time at one of the Chinese cultural events sponsored by the college. I grew up in New York, where shows like this are more common. It’s amazing the college brought this to Sanford — I’m so glad the college took it to this level.”

The Xiamen University Students Art Troupe is on a tour of the South. By the time it heads home, it will have performed at Presbyterian College, University of South Carolina, Western Kentucky University, North Carolina State University, and Middle Tennessee University. Central Carolina is the only community college on its schedule.

“The groups that have come through the college, including this group, have brought exposure to Chinese culture that few places in the United States have,” said Sanford Mayor Cornelia Olive. “The lives of those who have seen them have been enriched.”

At the end of the performance, the Xiamen University Art College delegation presented a calligraphic painting to Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant and welcomed the friendship that has been established between the two institutions. Presenting the painting were Lin Gongming, deputy delegation head and chairman of the university’s Art College Council; and Art College assistant professor Fang Guangzhi.

“The lyrics to the last song this wonderful group sang included the words, ‘we will never forget this evening,’” said CCCC President Bud Marchant. “We at the college and all those who saw this performance never will. We are glad that our Confucius Classroom, in partnership with North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute, was able to bring this tremendously talented group to the public in our area.”

For more information about CCCC’s Confucius Classroom, visit www.cccc.edu/confucius or call (919) 718-7386 or (919) 718-7376.