A student delegation from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver recently visited Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province in south China, to explore the city's representative cultural institutions, including the renowned Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theater.
The visit is part of the celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Guangzhou and Vancouver.
At the theater, UBC students learned classic Cantonese opera movements, including the iconic "Xiao Kuai Qiang" (quick spear movements) and "Shui Xiu" (flowing sleeve movements). Some students even had the chance to experience the intricate makeup typically worn by performers.
"I think it's very beautiful, so I want to try it as well. It's definitely very traditional and historical and absolutely amazing. It's definitely a lot of artistry that's required to create them," said Kenda, a UBC student.
Many of the students are members of UBC's opera troupe, therefore, they have a strong understanding of music and drama.
During the visit, they noted that despite the significant differences in costumes, makeup, movements, and vocal techniques between Cantonese opera and Western opera, the two art forms share a common artistic spirit.
"I also think there are a lot of similarities, like the stories -- they are just telling a story on stage," said Elizabeth, another UBC student.
Zhang Huixin, leader of the UBC delegation, expressed hope that young people from both countries would learn from each other's artistic traditions and foster innovative ways to pass on these cultures through reinterpretation and adaptation.
"Such cultural exchanges are great among young people because they are quick to absorb new things. If we adapt the lyrics into English while preserving the Cantonese opera singing style, it would be fantastic. We warmly welcome the traditional Cantonese opera to be brought to Vancouver," said Zhang.
Traditional Cantonese opera deepens bonds between Chinese, Canadian youths
