MN Sunshine Dance has a lot to celebrate these days, not only just finished a successful guest appearing with 28 dancers at the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium with “China the Beautiful” show, but also completed the China Performance Tour last August, 2010.
MN Sunshine Dance is a traditional Hmong dance troupe, has long history of success under the Artistic Director Iny Mai Vang’s leadership, with tones of honors, including multi-years’ 1st Place of Dance Competitions in the Hmong New Years. It all starts with few talented Hmong girls practicing at the home basement around 2000, to now a 52 members dance troupe with 4 levels of classes and a touring program. Reflecting the success, Artistic Director Mai has made a humble remake; “Our success comes from our dedicated young dancers, and parents. Their enthusiasm for dance has inspired me to create, choreograph and want to bring the best opportunities to these youth.”
And the best opportunity has to count in the recent Cultural Exchange Opportunity with China. MN Sunshine Dance has spent a month (July 7th – August 4th, 2010) in China to perform at various cities, like Shenzhen, Jinan, and Qufu in China. They were invited by two international organizations – to perform Hmong traditional dances at 2010 China-US Youth Performing Arts Festival, and Shandong International Youngsters’ Cultural Festival. Besides performances throughout the cities, the 20-dancers’ delegation team also participated at various cultural events, with the enthusiasm to share US culture with Chinese counterparts.
In order to make reality of their dream trip to China, not only the girls have practiced 40 hours a day in learning various dances, but also they had to take the basic Chinese language lessons (at the conversational level), so they can better enjoy the exchange experience. Beyond that, they spent every Sat since Feb., 2010, hosted garage sales, hip hop competitions to earn their own traveling money. With such hard work, they have won much applause from oversea with their high artistic quality of dances, and great manners of representing USA.
Their adventure started in Shenzhen, China, the Minnesota delegation along with other youth from Harvard University, the University of Maryland, Alaska Youth Orchestra and other youth groups, and jointly with 200+ local Chinese youth, have participated at cultural activities sponsored by the American International Students Foundation. Each of the two countries’ youth presented their best performances. Minnesota Sunshine dancers have presented 4 dances – Hmong Water Bucket dance, Bollywood, Hip-Hop and Robot dance, which not only highlight their various dance skills, but also showcase the American culture. To this end, the Preparatory Committee of Shenzhen 2011 World University also invited the Minnesota delegation to the famous Shenzhen Civic Center for the Opening of World University Games with performances, balloon releasing, and signing the pledge activities. MN delegation’s performance has received high remarks form audience, a number of media events and interviews with the delegation, including, the only English-language newspaper in Shenzhen – Shenzhen Daily, to the local business journal.
In Shenzhen, the Minnesota delegation also spent time to teach Chinese Youth English, hosted Halloween party, and made presentations about MN, along with others interaction with local citizens, such as learning Chinese fan dance and tai chi. The girls also had fun at one-day Hong Kong tour, visiting the Star Avenue, taking pictures with Jackie Chan’s hand print, feeling the breeze blowing in from Victoria Bay, window shopping at famous brand-name stores, and at Night, everyone was impressed by a stunning laser show at the Bay area.
At July 25, the Minnesota delegation concluded the exchange activities in Shenzhen. The most difficult part was saying good-bye to other delegation friends, and volunteers, girls were busy in exchange e-mail, QQ addresses to take advantage of modern technology to maintain the friendship. Later the Minnesota delegation arrived in Jinan, Shandong Province, to participate in the next event from July 26 – 31. MN delegation participated at the Shandong International Youngsters’ Cultural Festival, which as hosted by the Shandong Foreign Affairs Government. Minnesota delegation once again performed at the Open Ceremony with hundreds of youth from worldwide. Later, the Minnesota delegation and other youth from around the world have visited the famous Leopard Spring Park, Thousand Buddha Mountain and the origin of the Yellow River (as one of the cradles of Chinese civilization). At nights, the youth had enjoyed world-class Peking Opera and Acrobatic performances. Later the youth headed to the hometown of Confucius in Qufu, and received the warm welcome and generous hospitality from local officials. Young friends all over the world visited Confucian Temple, experiencing 2200 years-old ceremony, visited the Confucius’ birth/burial places, and enjoyed the traditional music and dance performances, along with appreciation of Confucian philosophy of education, and his vision for the world.
In July 28, Qufu, Shandong Experimental Primary School students and all the youth delegation members exchanged cultural games, and arts activities, planned the Friendship Trees together, later all the youth delegation members were invited to local students’ homes for a “A day in China” activity – to experience the daily life of students in China. Such life experience has inspired real discussion among our Minnesota delegation members – how different, but enjoyable moments with their Chinese host families. This is the experience that many young people have never experienced before, such as: eating dinner in the open air, going out to the street for public bath facilities, taking the Human-powered Tricycle Truck, eating authentic Chinese food, and most importantly making Chinese friends through body languages.
The next day, the Confucius Six Arts Museum hosted the Welcoming Ceremony with the ancient “Spring and Autumn Period” costume, welcomed the young people to the museum. In the Six Arts Museum, the youth experienced those arts – chess, music, writing, painting, arching, and horse riding – as defined by the Confucius – the most important skills for adults. Before the end of visit, all youth were awarded the ‘Certificate’, and put together the ancient style, blue Graduation Gown with picture taken as the perfect conclusion for such cultural exchange.
Later the Minnesota delegation left Jinan, headed to the capital of China – Beijing for a relax sight seeing tour. Minnesota delegation visited the famous Forbidden City, Tianmen Square, Beijing National Palace Museum, climbed the Badaling Great Wall, and had great time to shop at Beijing’s flee market. After leaving the century-old city – Beijing, the delegation visited the China’s largest modern city Shanghai and toured the World Expo, experienced different countries in a condensed version.
In August 4, Minnesota Delegation finally came back home with over-weighted luggage that full of souvenirs, gifts, honors, and friendship, which concluded the successful exchange experience in China. This unique opportunity has led to the invitation to perform at annual CAAM Chinese Dance Performance at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium last January. They have performed a world debut piece – Qeej Hmoob (pronounced keng hmong)
Qeej is a bamboo and wooden mouth organ found throughout Eastern Asia, and is a traditional music instrument played by the Hmong people. The qeej has six pipes of different lengths attached to a wooden air chamber, and is played in major holidays and ceremonies. When playing, the musician has to perform the mandatory steps, which include spinning (to confuse evil spirits which may try to prevent the soul of the deceased from joining his ancestors) and larger circular patterns (which indicate the journey on horseback of the soul). MN Sunshine Dance Artistic Director/Choreographer Iny Mai Vang adapts the tradition and incorporates with graceful dance movements and enhances with group formations to honor the Qeej. This debut performance not only becoming the highlight of the “China, the Beautiful” show, but also has successfully reflected the cross-cultural experience these girls had, and a Vision – honoring their own cultural heritage throughout the world – which they would carry on forever.
MN Sunshine is supported by Asian Media Access, COMPAS, MN Regional Arts Council, and MN State Arts Board’s “Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.” For more information about MN Sunshine, enrolling in the program, or participating at and their future performance, please contact their fiscal agent – Asian Media Access, at 612-376-7715 and amamedia@amamedia.org.
You can see more of MN Sunshine at:
- Feb 5th: Chinese New Year Celebration at North Star Ballroom, UMN Campus, St. Paul, 3 – 7pm.
- March 6th: Asian Media Access’ Lunar New Year Gala at Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, noon – 3pm
- May 1st: Pan Asian Arts Festival, at Landmark Center, St Paul from noon -5pm
- May 28 – 29: Pan Asian Dance Festival, at Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Burnsville (for detailed info, please visit www.panasisanartsalliance.)
MN Delegation Members toured the Leopard Spring Park in Jinan, China
Mn_Delegation member Ruthie Stein receiving media interview in ShenZhen Civic Center, China
MN_Delegation performing “Hmong Water Bucket” dance in ShenZhen Civic Center, China
MN_Delegation members concluded the Hong Kong Tour, and making funny faces in the subway
Mn_Delegation Members hosted the Halloween Party for Chinese children in ShenZhen, China
