Square Dancing to Feature Ahead of Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony, Says Director
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Square Dancing to Feature Ahead of Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony, Says Director
January 24, 2022BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — A rehearsal of the Beijing 2022 opening ceremony took place at the National Stadium as fireworks lit up the sky on Saturday night, during which a warm-up activity preformed by Chinese square dancers in about 30 minutes was particularly eye-catching.
The opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 will start at 8 p.m. on February 4. Before that, a warm-up performance will be presented by square dancers aging from five to over 70 years old, expressing their excitement for the Olympic Winter Games, according to chief director Zhang Yimou.
Zhang, who is set to become the first man to direct both Summer and Winter Games ceremonies, told Xinhua that the warm-up will not have hosts or celebrity performers and ordinary people will stand at the center of the stage.
"Square dancing is popular in every city of the country. People only go singing and dancing when they live a happy life, so I think it's a good form of performance," Zhang said.
The square dancers consist of children, pupils, middle school and college students, adults and also the elderly, most of which come from Beijing and north China's Hebei Province. Ordinary people of various age groups can show themselves on this international stage, celebrating the Olympics as well as the Chinese New Year.
Meng Yan, director of the warm-up performance, said the square dancing before the opening ceremony aims to show the passion and hospitality of Chinese people joining together for a shared future.
In line with Beijing's efforts to stage a "simple, safe and splendid" Games, there will not be large-scale performance that stretch for a long time. The number of performers is cut from about 15,000 in 2008 to 3,000, with length shortened to about 100 minutes due to cold weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhang said.
Zhang and his team have been preparing for the opening ceremony together with the performers over the past two and a half years.
During the Games, no other events will take place in the "Bird Nest" besides the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics, providing more time for Zhang and his team to make preparations in the venue.
About 14 years have passed since Beijing 2008 opening ceremony was held at the "Bird Nest," the stadium has been upgraded with new technologies.
"We came up with the idea of tracking performers' movements and presenting them on the ground screen in 2008, but it was not technologically feasible back then. Now we can make it," Zhang noted.
"As the opening day is approaching, every second counts. We need to identify and overcome small or potential problems to make sure that our staff, performers and facilities are ready for the ceremony," he said.
(Source: Xinhua)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Related articles
Louisiana authorities search for 2 escaped jail inmates
AMITE, La. (AP) — Four inmates escaped a south Louisiana jail over the weekend and two were still mi2024-05-29Black mould and septic overflow: What tenants are dealing with
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski2024-05-29Woman's death after electric blanket fire triggers warning from Coroner
No recommendations were made from the case, but with winter approaching, the Coroner did endorse fir2024-05-29Two in custody after armed police swarm Auckland suburb
Police are considering charges over an incident in Auckland's central suburbs on Thursday. Photo: 122024-05-29US files a labor complaint over claims that a Volkswagen plant in Mexico fired union activists
MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. trade authorities said Tuesday they have filed a labor complaint with Mexico2024-05-29New Zealand to put 'every single effort' into getting free trade deal with India
Trade Minister Todd McClay Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver2024-05-29
atest comment