The young dancers stepped onto the big stage, and the Youth Dance Festival was held in Shanghai
On the evening of July 23rd, the 4th Shanghai International Dance Center Youth Dance Festival and Dance Competition came to an end in Shanghai. During the Qingwu Festival, activities such as dance competitions, lectures by renowned teachers, dance master classes, Han Tang dance training camps, and closing performances ignited the enthusiasm and creativity of many children towards art. Huang Doudou, the initiator and dance artist of the Youth Dance Festival, said, "Children who participate in the festival may not necessarily become professional dancers in the future, but their ability to appreciate, experience, and create beauty will accompany them for a lifetime. I believe that they will become the strongest mass foundation for the continuous development of dance art."
Ballet First Prize Winning Work "Blue Bird"
As an important part of the Youth Dance Festival, the Youth Dance Competition has been open to teenagers aged 7 to 15 nationwide since its launch in March. It has received applications from nearly a thousand people from 16 provinces and cities, and has participated in approximately 400 programs, including Chinese dance, ballet, modern dance, and street dance. On July 20th and 21st, the final was held at the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, where the dressed young dancers showcased their talents on a professional stage. Dancers Yang Xinhua, Zhu Han, and Aviv Greenfield formed a jury, and after intense competition, more than 40 outstanding works stood out in nearly 150 shortlisted programs.
During the Youth Dance Festival, the Shanghai International Dance Center held dance master classes in ballet, classical dance, ethnic folk dance, modern dance, and other fields. Star dancers such as Xin Lili, Gu Limina, and Zhao Ziming were invited to give lectures. The young dancers not only experienced the artist's charm up close, but also gained diverse dance experiences under the guidance of renowned teachers. Experts such as Yang Xinhua and Sun Xiaojuan popularized dance knowledge in the lecture, introducing the path of appreciating and inheriting contemporary Chinese dance.
The award-winning work of the Chinese Dance Second Prize, "Herdsmen's Stars"
The work of the Han and Tang dance master training camp, "Little Tapping Drum"
In addition, the Qingwu Festival also launched a Han Tang dance training camp. Associate Professor Tian Tian from Beijing Dance Academy has selected over 20 outstanding contestants from the competition to start the inheritance and teaching of classical Han and Tang dance. During the 3-day special training, the young dancers also collaborated with their mentors to create the dance piece "Little Treading Drum", which was unveiled at the closing ceremony.
The first prize winning work of Modern Dance, "Seize"
Since its launch in 2019, the Qingwu Festival has attracted nearly a thousand participants in each edition, becoming a grand event for young dance learners and enthusiasts. Many young dancers have participated multiple times and gained experience at the Youth Dance Festival. Some of the previous award-winning contestants have ultimately embarked on the path of professional dance learning. Wang Yan, Chairman of the Development Foundation of Shanghai International Dance Center, said, "I hope that the Youth Dance Festival will sow a seed of love for dance and appreciation for the beauty of art in the hearts of young children."
