Facts
The dance shown in the video is called Beautiful Chinese Umbrella Dance, and the choreographers are professionals from Michael J. Fox Theatre, located in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and was shown in 2012. The umbrella dance is over a thousand years old and is traditionally performed during critical events such as weddings, birthdays, and others. Dancers are usually between 16 and 20 years old, and umbrellas are symbols of wealth.
Space, Time and Energy
Dance is abstract, but it has its unique features. The main emphasis is placed on red umbrellas, symbolizing wealth and prosperity in China. Dancers create different shapes by folding umbrellas or running all over the stage. Each movement is unique and does not repeat each other. The transitions are smooth, the dancers are always smiling, and the audience can see bizarre figures from the umbrellas folded in different ways.
Music for dance is essential since, during the dance, viewers can hear both energetic motifs and subsiding, calm and smooth. People can listen to national Chinese phrases at the very beginning and end of the melody. Still, the softer middle lacks words, and the audience can enjoy the gentle and iridescent music. The melody is based on traditional Chinese folk instruments that help the audience feel the atmosphere of the Celestial Empire.
The dance has a unique energy, combining well-directed energetic moments with unhurried ones. The energy that the dance itself and its performers carry is special because it demonstrates the peculiarities of China and its nation. The performance ends with magical music, allowing the audience to imagine that they have just seen an exciting Chinese fairy tale.
Most Important Part of the Dance
The most outstanding thing for me was how easily the dance was performed and how the choreographers were able to convey the peculiarities of Chinese traditions. Throughout the dance, the girls combine and alternate the smoothness of their movements and fast and energetic elements. The dance is filled with many movements that are not repeated, making it so unique.
Dancer Performance
The dancers proved themselves professionals because they remained energetic at the beginning and throughout the performance. All the movements are carefully worked out, and no one gets out of the general mass and does not make mistakes. Despite many dance elements, the girls performed each with high professionalism, which does not correspond to the beginners’ level.
Music Choice
The choice of music is aimed at demonstrating Chinese culture. Based on the characteristics of the melody, the girls perform their dance at a fast or slow pace, which creates particular transitions in the mood of the dance. Such music was chosen precisely so that the viewers would feel as if they were in China, with its active rhythm of life during the day and calmer by night.
Costumes deserve special attention since they are not traditional for China but still have unique features for this country. Viewers can see several red elements in costumes that match the color of umbrellas and demonstrate wealth. The upper part of the costume depicts the symbol of China – the dragon. The dancers’ trousers are made of a flowing light fabric that gives additional lightness to the dance.
Lighting and Technology Use
The lighting is also peculiar, as the stage is illuminated from behind with warm red and pink shades. In the foreground, the yellow light is visible, dimmed following one or another element of the dance. This illumination style was chosen to give the audience the most profound immersion in the dance and to understand its details and transitions accurately.
No decorations were on the stage, but umbrellas were used as props. They are the basis for the dance, and with their help, the girls create various figures. Since dance was invented thousands of years ago, when technology did not reach significant heights, choreographers excluded them from their production. This allowed the audience to feel like a traditional Chinese holiday.