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Beijing RDFZ Troupe Celebrates Chinese New Year
On Friday, February 3, Severn's Upper School hosted the highly acclaimed, award-winning Art Troupe of the High School Affiliated with Beijing's Renmin University (RDFZ). During the visit, visiting teachers and students engaged in classroom discussions, toured Teel Campus and participated in instrumental, choral, and dance workshops. The highlight of the day was the high energy Chinese New Year Celebration performance in Price Auditorium.
About RDFZ
At RDFZ (a school of 6,000 students), more than 500 junior and senior high school students aged between 13 to 17 participate in eight student art clubs (symphony orchestra, choir, dance team, boys’ dance team, martial arts team, aerobics team, marching band, and electronic light music team). The Renmin High School is one of the most competitive academic high schools in China, and students participate in the arts as an extracurricular activity. According to the school publicity, The Troupe is devoted to developing and spreading traditional Chinese culture through international cultural exchange activities all around the world. The school aims to "...respect individuality, discover potential, for the development of students, for the prosperity of our nation and for the advancement of humanity," according to the mission. This is the 11th American tour for the RDFZ’s art troupe."[The Renmin High School students] help our students understand that there is a bigger world than Annapolis, Severna Park and the United States. They can see the riches of culture beyond Severn School. — Ms. Bea Fuller, Upper School Head"
Admirals for a Day
The day began bright and early as our 83 students, faculty and coaches from the symphony and dance clubs of RDFZ arrived on the Teel Campus. After introductions and formal welcomes with an exchange of gifts ( including a beautiful, hand-made calligraphy scroll from RDFZ) between the visiting principals and Ms. Fuller and Mr. Lagarde, the visiting students and teachers split into groups to attend academic classes and engage in cross-cultural discussions, before returning to the auditorium for three hours of rehearsals. Our Middle School dance and performing arts students were excited to be invited to observe some of the rehearsal and see all the efforts and dedication that go into staging a performance in a new theater space.
The Performance
At 1:30 pm, the RDFZ students shared a beautifully choreographed and smoothly executed performance to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. The first part of the show included classical Chinese symphonic and traditional chamber music such as Spring Festival Sinfonia, Butterfly Lovers, and Radetzky March, played by the student symphony orchestra, and the student folk music band performed two classical Chinese folk songs Blooming Flowers & Full Moon and The Racing Horse. The second half of the show focused on dance and movement. The Marching War Drum and New Charm of Classical Dance displayed classical charm, while Pretty Huadan combined opera music and Chinese folk dance. And finally, a highlight of the show included martial arts performances Shi Feng and Rivalry, which vividly demonstrated the combination of strength and flexibility in the essence of Chinese martial arts. The students’ passion and discipline were clear in every performance, and Severn students were vocal and exuberant in their appreciation for the talents of our Chinese visitors.Workshop Sessions
Following the performance, RDFZ students participated in three break-out workshop sessions where Severn students shared American instrumental, choral, and dance styles. The afternoon's activities encouraged the cultural exchange between students and through such activities and enhanced the understanding and friendship among the students. With new friendships forged and cultural barriers broken, Students ended the day concluded with a pizza dinner, an exciting cheering section at Severn's boy's basketball game, and of course, selfies.
