Turkish recital gets New Year festivities off on the right foot

ISTANBUL — A Chinese modern dance show received a standing ovation on Monday after a performance that was held as part of the “2018 Happy Chinese New Year” events in Turkey.

Oath — Midnight Rain by Beijing Modern Dance Company premiered in Venice, Italy, in 2006.

It tells the story of a bride who died during her wedding and sought to be reborn. But she could not be born again as a human, only as a flower, bird, fish, insect and then a blade of grass.

Gao Yanjinzi, artistic director of the company, said the piece focuses on the contradictions and conflicts in human life, ending with acceptance of one’s destiny.

It has been staged in more than 20 cities in about a dozen countries, where it inspired audiences to find their own answers based on experiences and emotions.

Another performance was scheduled for Tuesday.

Before Monday’s show, Shi Ruilin, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Turkey, read out a message from Ambassador Yu Hongyang.

In the message, Yu expressed his hope for joint efforts to deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all fields, promote bilateral ties to a new level, and realize each other’s dream of building a stronger and more prosperous nation.

“I loved the dancers. They were very professional,” a Turkish audience member said. “They told the story with their gestures and facial expressions so well. We felt their pain, their suffering ...”

It was the first time that 24-year-old Umut Esin watched a contemporary Chinese dance performance. He found it “amazing”.

A Chinese food festival is also being held in Istanbul and Ankara.

The Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese, featuring family reunions, feasts and performances.

“Happy Chinese New Year” was launched in 2010 so people in different parts of the world could share in the celebrations.

I loved the dancers. They were very professional. They told the story with their gestures and facial expressions so well. We felt their pain, their suffering ...”

SHAMMI MEHRA / AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE A camel and its owner dance during the last day of the Kila Raipur Games, known as the rural Olympics, at Kila Raipur on the outskirts of Ludhiana, India, on Sunday.