Nine Chinese college students studying what is equivalent to a minor in dance will visit Henderson State University this month before traveling to Chicago as part of the American Cultural Exchange Service’s Dance Artist Exchange.
The group from Beijing Youth Politics College is interested in learning from university dance professors and students during their time spent in the United States.
They will attend a special class Sept. 13 taught by Jennifer Maddox, instructor of dance at Henderson. The group will also participate in Maddox’s ballet and musical theatre choreography classes, as well as guest artist Michelle Gibson’s master class.
The Chinese students will teach a short lesson with their professor on Chinese traditional or ethnic dance while wearing Chinese performance costumes.
The presentation, which is open to the public, will be Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Arkansas Hall Dance Studio.
The students will be accompanied by their professor of dance, Jiang Jinjin, and Ding Xiaojuan, who oversees the dance program at Beijing Youth Politics College.
Jinjin is a dancer, performing artist and associate professor of dance at Beijing Youth Politics College and Peking University, School of Arts. She is also a researcher at the Minority Music and Musical Theatre Research Institute at Peking University.
Jinjin has more than 40 years of experience in dancing and performance. She has performed in many dance dramas including “Silk Road” at venues around the world. She won first prize from the Ministry of Culture in China for her choreographed work in “Jinshan Battle Drum”.
For more information, contact Maddox at maddoxj@hsu.edu.