USTB-DMU Confucius Institute held a celebration event for the International Tai Chi Day
Release Time: 2023-05-01Views:
On April 29th,USTB-DMU (De Montfort University) Confucius Institute (CI), Leicester City Hall and Leicester International Tai Chi and Shaolin Martial Arts Association jointly celebrated International Tai Chi Day at Green Dragon Square in Leicester city center.
This great celebration event, showing the charm of traditional Chinese culture, started with a lively lion dance performance. Ms. GU Wei, Director of the Confucius Institute, and Ms. ZHANG Dongming , a Mandarin teacher of the CI, hosted the "Awakening the Lion" Ceremony, using brushes to paint the forehead, eyes, ears, mouth, and back of the lions lying on the ground with red pigment.
When the ceremony was over, the two lions suddenly woke up, full of energy, wriggling and shaking their heads in a graceful and lively gesture. After the lion dance, the Shaolin Martial Arts Association performed a dragon dance in which the performers waved a rope and the beautiful dragon flew in the sky like one soaring from the sea. Then, the senior masters of the International Tai Chi and Shaolin Martial Arts Association demonstrated Yang-style Tai Chi and martial arts techniques. Tai chi masters, dressed in uniform, faced the audience with steady steps and slow, coordinated movements. Their body was flexible and powerful, giving a sense of tranquility, harmony and introversion. Finally, the teachers from the Confucius Institute presented a fantastic Tai Chi fan dance which attracted a large number of local residents to stop to watch, take photos, video and applaud.
Lion dance performance
Dragon dance performance
Matrial arts performance
Group photo
The event not only promoted the traditional Chinese Tai Chi culture, but also invited many local residents to experience the essence of Chinese martial arts culture. In addition, the event marked the end of indoor winter session and the beginning of outdoor summer session of Saturday Tai Chi Morning Classes, a Confucius Institution-brand project. Since its establishment, the Confucius Institute has held Saturday Morning Tai Chi Classes for eight consecutive years, and its cooperation with the International Tai Chi and Shaolin Martial Arts Association has had an increasingly far-reaching influence. This form of fitness is very popular with local residents and the number of participants has increased significantly in recent years.
Draft: ZHAO Xiaoke & ZHANG Dongmingg
Revision: GU Wei
