Local art troupe presents oriental charm in Sydney

Yangzhou Kangle Art Troupe was invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House on Aug 4 during the city's fourth Chinese Culture Festival.

With an average age of 60, Yangzhou Kangle Art Troupe was the only art troupe in Jiangsu to take part in this year's festival.

Based on the ancient culture of Yangzhou in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), their performance, titled Xuan Meng Qian Qiu (Dream of Centuries), was specially rehearsed in Sydney for the festival to promote Yangzhou culture.

Accompanied by Jiangsu folk song Jasmine Flower and the grand sound of chime bells, 10 actresses in classic costumes danced gracefully on the stage of the famous opera house's concert hall.

"After the rehearsal and the formal performance, the director of this year's festival said that our performance still remains fresh in her memories. We really enjoyed the thunderous applause," said Sun Xiaohua, head of Yangzhou Kangle Art Troupe.

"All our costumes were designed by ourselves so that we can blend in Chinese culture and showcase distinctive Yangzhou elements," said Sun.

Apart from self-made costumes, the troupe also brings Yangzhou specialties with them each time they perform, such as lacquerware crafts.

"In the past 10 years, we have been to many places in Asia, Europe and Australia to promote traditional Chinese culture," said Sun. "We will next fly to Melbourne to let more people know about Yangzhou culture."

Sun said that the art troupe puts on about 50 performances every year and all are self-financed.

"We don't have financial support, what we have are passion and enthusiasm," Sun said. "When we are on stage, we speak for the style of Yangzhou."

Actresses in classic costumes dance gracefully during a performance. [Photo/yznews.com.cn]