(Clearwisdom.net) The Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition hosted by NTDTV held its final round of the competition and on June 21, 2009 at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in Manhattan, New York. The three-day competition witnessed outstanding performances and the talented contestants' perfect understanding of the bearing and expression of Classical Chinese Dance. They have pushed the art of the Classical Chinese Dance to a new zenith on the world's stage.
Awards ceremony for the third annual NTDTV "International Classical Chinese Dance Competition" on the evening of June 21, 2009.
On the stage at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on June 21, contestants performed with wholehearted dedication, executed highly difficult movements fully and precisely, and skillfully used the art form and vocabulary of classical Chinese dance to convey deep inner meanings. Throughout the course of the 2-3 minute piece, contestants vividly portrayed figures in ancient Chinese history. They demonstrated the extraordinary creation, vitality, expressiveness and inspiration of classical Chinese dance. The audience was fascinated and applauded enthusiastically.
The First Place of Junior Female Division: Contestant No.11 Angelia Wang at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The Second Place of Junior Female Division: Contestant No. 10 Miranda Zhou-Galati at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The Second Place of Junior Female Division: Contestant No. 13 Alison Chen at the third annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The First Place of Junior Male Division: Contestant No. 22 Tony Xue at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The First Place of Junior Male Division: Contestant No. 25 Rocky Liao at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The Second Place of Junior Male Division: Contestant No. 24 William Li at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The First Place of Adult Female Division: Contestant No. 32 Cindy Liu at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The First Place of Adult Female Division: Contestant No. 37 Jennifer Su at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition Fairy of the Phoenix
The First Place of Adult Male Division: Contestant No. 60 Golden Li at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The Second Place of Adult Male Division: Contestant No. 59 Seongho Cha at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
The Second Place of Adult Male Division: Contestant No. 58 Steve Wang at the Third Annual International Classical Chinese Dance Competition
Judges: Contestants Display Authentic Art of Pure Righteousness and Compassion
The judges were impressed by contestants' extraordinary performance: Judge Cao Yi said, "Contestants have comprehensive capacity and advanced skills. They put on extraordinary performance on the stage. 90% of contestants have a very good understanding and mastery of pure truthfulness, pure compassion and pure beauty of classical Chinese dance. They play a positive role in promoting classical Chinese dance and restoring authentic culture of humanity for professional dance artists and ordinary audience members. "
Another Judge Michelle Ren said that she could see from the competition that the contestants have put a lot of effort in terms of their techniques and skills, stage performance and presentation, and she is pleased with their performance and moved by their dedication. She said, "The contestants are remarkable, they use their hearts to understand and learn what the pure compassion and pure beauty of classical Chinese dance are, how to express authentic culture of humanity, and fulfill their mission of restoring and promoting traditional culture."
Displaying the Expressiveness of Classical Chinese Dance
Judge Cao Yi said that contestants have not only mastered the advanced degree of difficult movements, but the quality and steadiness of dance movements are also excellent. Their dance postures are graceful and elegant, and tempo is appropriate. They execute highly difficult movements smoothly and gracefully. Artistically, the bearing of classical Chinese dance is fully expressed. They can portray the characteristics of a figure within two to three minutes. While displaying skills and forms, rhythm is also incorporated. They put much effort into presenting the "spirit" and "bearing" of classical Chinese dance.
Contestants are Humble and Polite, Presenting Extraordinary Dance Caliber
Alison Chen, winner of the Second Place of Junior Female Division shared her understanding of taking part in the competition. She said that psychological qualities are very important. The competition differs each day, and is a learning process and also an opportunity to be aware of one's shortcomings.
Tony Xue, winner of the First Place of Junior Make Division said that his biggest achievement is performing experience on stage, not only skills, but also getting into the roles. He added that Classical Chinese Dance has rich and diversified expressions, two persons perform the same role, and they will perform differently. The expression of thought and emotions is different.
Chelsea Cai, winner of the Second Place of Adult Female Division said the techniques are not enough, performers have to incorporate the techniques into dance performance, and dance with graceful bearing. Performers should also improve their comprehension through learning Chinese history and culture. Participating in the competition aims to improve and gain more stage experience. The biggest achievement is also stage experience.
The contestants agreed that through careful studying and portraying different roles, they have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
"It's a miracle that God creates"
Another Judge of the dance competition Ms. Guo Xiu used to work in The Song & Dance Ensemble of Gansu Province, China. She said after the final round of the competition that male contestants achieved female's suppleness, and female contestants achieved male's quickness, not only one or two of them, almost every one of them. Without seven to eight years of stringent training, performers are unable to achieve such a level, and moreover, they have to start training from childhood. Some highly difficult movements, not only one or two, but a series of the movements, the contestants were able to perform them smoothly. It's very difficult to do so. It's "a miracle of God, I believe that these contestants have made enormous efforts."
After the final round of the competition that evening, the host of the competition especially invited Shen Yun Performing Arts to perform at the New Jersey State Theater in New Brunswick. The awards ceremony of the competition was held after the show.
List of Winners of the 3rd Annual NTDTV International Classical Chinese Dance Competition:Junior Female
1st Place: Angelia Wang (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
2nd Place: Miranda Zhou-Galati (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Alison Chen (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
3rd Place: Alina Wang (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Chialing Chen (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Honorable Mention:
Yong Cheng (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Faustina Quach (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Junior Male
1st Place: Rocky Liao (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Tony Xue (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
2nd Place: William Li (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
3rd Place: Rick Li (Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Chad Chen ((Feitian Academy of the Arts)
Honorable Mention:
Alvin Song (New Jersey, USA)
Fengnian Liang (Edmonton, Canada)
Ben Chen (London, UK)
1st Place: Jennifer Su (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Cindy Liu (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
2nd Place: Madeleine Lobjois (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Chelsea Cai (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
3rd Place: Anna Li (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Ting-Jie Huang (Taipei, Taiwan)
Rachael Bastick (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
1st Place: Golden Li (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
2nd Place: Steve Wang (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Seongho Cha (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Leon Chao (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
3rd Place: Brian Nieh (Washington DC, USA)
Ming Liu (Los Angeles, USA)
Honorable Mention:
Kokuei Chen (Maryland, USA)
Alex Chun (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
Jerry Zhang (Shen Yun Performing Arts)
