An artistic performance for the International Children's Day titled "Growing Up Together with Our Motherland" was jointly held by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), the China Welfare Institute and the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) at the NCPA in Beijing on May 31 and June 1.
Under the support of Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the China National Youth Palace Association and Beijing Jingju Theatre, the two-day event drew the attendance of over 1,000 children and teenagers nationwide.
The artistic performance comprised four interconnected chapters, which were titled "Rising Like the Sun and Keeping Eternal Like the Moon", "Pursuing Shared Beauty and Future and Showing Harmony in Diversity," "Striving to Be Brilliant and Talented Youth" and "Passing on the Torch and Building the Future" respectively. Performers gave their colorful and original shows of choral recitation, opera and dancing, music instruments, martial arts, acrobatics and intangible cultural heritage demonstration, fully showcasing the positive image of youth in the new era.
Chapter one: Rising like the sun and keeping eternal like the moon
The first chapter opened with children's singing of "My Motherland and Me." The opening show "If the Young Are Strong, So Will Be Our Country" was integrated with Chinese drums, martial arts, dragon and lion dances, portraying the vitality of modern youth. The dance-coordinated poetry recitation "Li Sao (The Sorrow of Parting): Youth Ambition" incorporated poetic expression into dancing to underscore children's patriotism. The dance drama "Dreamy Journey" blended drama, street dance and modern dance, showing teenagers' thinking and exploration of the future. The acrobatic drama "Rising with the Wind" artistically depicted the exploration spirit with such themes as "the successful launch of Shenzhou Spacecrafts" and "the manned deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong," conveying children's aspirations for technological innovation.
Chapter two: Pursuing shared beauty and future and showing harmony in diversity
Performers gave a show of "Melodies of the Silk Sea" with Chinese and western musical instruments. The animated music medley "Childhood Dreams in a Time Machine" carried laughter and imagination, resonating with the joyous rhythms of youth. The "Belt and Road" dance and music performances such as "the Silk Road Scenery" and "Crossing the Mountains and Seas, Dancing Together" allowed children to admire diverse culture and the beauty of harmonious coexistence.
Chapter three: Striving to be brilliant and talented youth
In the third chapter, a cappella performance "Sounds of the Green Wild" and the children's situational dance drama "Fairy Tales in the Rice Fields" used lively songs and dances, along with heartfelt recitations, to draw a vibrant picture of rice fields full of life and the joyful growth of children. The dance "Night at the Museum" brought artworks to life, taking children on a magical and artistic journey beyond the time. The opera performance "Majestic Rivers and Mountains" revealed profound heritage and new vitality of traditional arts, emphasizing the confidence and strength of youth.
Chapter four: Passing on the torch and building the future
The drama "Candlelight on the Revolutionary Frontline" reviewed tremendous efforts made by Madame Soong to win international support for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, promote the opening of wartime children's nursery institutes, guard the hope of the country, and advance the philosophy of "creating the future." The dance and chorus performance of "Flying Red Scarf" provided the public with a historical perspective in viewing the future and showed the positive spirit of youth. The large-scale song and dance shows of "One Dream, One Sky" and the choruses "Growing up Together with My Country" and "Flying Red Flag" conveyed children's deep patriotism and their pride in living and growing up there.
This year marks 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. With historical and situational shows, the special artistic performance inherited and carried forward the great spirit of resisting aggression bred during the war and portrayed the positive image of youth represented by the love of peace, perseverance and the pursuit of dream.
Children from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan joined with their peers from the Chinese mainland to present Chinese martial arts, dragon & lion dancing, and chorus, demonstrating youth's aspiring spirit and strong patriotism.
"I'm very happy to attend the artistic performance together with friends from all over the country. We are one family and we must jointly pass on the excellent traditional Chinese culture," said a junior performer from the School Affiliated with Macao Women's Federation.
"During the artistic performance, I have met children from different areas of the country and felt the warmth of the big family of the motherland. We must cling together like pomegranate seeds and contribute to the development of our country", said a teenager from the Middle Arts School Affiliated with Xinjiang Arts University.
"I have further realized from this artistic performance that children must inherit and pass on revolutionary spirit, traditional Chinese culture and hardworking traditions, and aspire to love the Party and the country, study hard and grow up in an all-round way," said a student with the Soong Ching Ling Peace Angel Art Troupe.
The artistic performance event received support from Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Reith Group Co., Ltd., ApicHope Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Guangdong He Foundation.
The performance was livestreamed by over 30 media outlets, which included the new media matrix of the NCPA, the Classical Music Channel, CCTV.com, CCTV Video, Xinhua Net, CCTV New Media, on the night of May 31.
