Eastern promise fulfilled
PERFORMERS from China put on a stunning show of music and dance for an enthralled audience at Holyhead’s Ucheldre Centre last week.
The Chongqing Performance Company travelled to North Wales at the invitation of Bangor University’s Confucius Institute.
More than 140 people were treated to magical performances of Chinese music on the guqin and erhu, folk dances including a rare performance of the famous face-changing Sichuan Opera, as well as craft demonstrations in syrup drawing and dough figurines throughout the afternoon. There was also an exhibition of Chinese art.
Established 2011, the award-winning Chongqing Performance Company has performed around the world, bringing the cultural traditions of Chongqing to Europe, the US, Africa and Japan, with its unique blend of music, dance and acrobatics.
Mike Gould, Director of the Ucheldre Centre, commented: “We have been delighted to host this fantastic event, which in has brought together so many people from across the local community to celebrate diversity and culture.
“The links between Wales and Chongqing continue to grow and we are proud to have contributed to that aspect of regional development in part- nership with the Confucius Institute.
“Hopefully the performances will inspire some of our audience to join the new Mandarin classes we will be hosting in the New Year. If Chongqing’s talented performers return to Holyhead, we will be able to greet them properly!”
The performance at Ucheldre builds on Wales’ already close relationship with the municipality of Chongqing, which was first formalised in 2008 in a partnership agreement by Wales’ then First Min- ister Rhodri Morgan. A further agreement to reaffirm the relationship was later signed by First Minister Carwyn Jones during his visit to Chongqing in October 2011 and, most recently, the region was visited in February this year by a Welsh trade mission headed by Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure.
More information about the Confucius Institute’s events at www.bangor.ac.uk/confuciusinstitute. See www.ucheldre. org for updates on Ucheldre’s new Mandarin classes.