US university students learn Peking opera in Shanghai

A female student from Princeton University in the United States, who has the Chinese name Bai Leya, speaks at the opening ceremony of a Peking opera summer camp in Shanghai on Aug 20. [Photo/Xinhua]

Nineteen students from Princeton University in the United States have embarked on a 19-day summer camp in Shanghai to learn about Peking opera, one of the cultural treasures of China.

Peking opera is a form of Chinese opera that combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It became extremely popular during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

For most Chinese people, Peking opera represents national quintessence and traditional Chinese culture, and features dazzling costumes and makeup.

The summer camp, running from Aug 20 to Sept 7 and co-organized by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and the Shanghai Theatre Academy, offers a variety of courses covering theoretical knowledge, basic skills training, the application of costumes and makeup, and episodes of classical Peking operas.

Peking opera masters including Chen Shaoyun, Shi Yihong, Yan Qinggu, and Fu Xiru have been invited to teach the students.

The Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company has held such a Peking opera training program for a decade, but this year is the first time that training has been given to a group of foreign students who are novices in Peking opera.

Shi Yihong said that the arrival of the US students shows the wide-ranging appeal of Chinese culture.

Shan Yuejin, head of the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, expressed his hope that the students can learn some basic skills of Peking opera and enjoy their time in Shanghai.

Nineteen students from Princeton University in the United States are having a 19-day summer camp in Shanghai from Aug 20 to Sept 7 to learn about Peking opera, one of the cultural treasures of China. [Photo/Xinhua]