Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

A drama performed by students from Shenzhen University (SZU) won first prize in the sixth National University Art Performance held from May 6 to 13 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

The drama, named “Huanshiji” (“Story of Returned Lion”), which features the Chinese southern lion dance, tells a story of how a descendant of overseas Chinese finally returned to the country after a hundred years, which not only shows the leading character’s deep love for the homeland but also narrates the country’s journey over the past 100 years.

Students and teachers of SZU spent a year rehearsing the drama. After winning several events and moving to higher competitions, they finally got a ticket to the final event held in Chengdu.

Teachers of the Hedong lion dance team from Xixiang Subdistrict in Bao’an District also provided professional guidance on performing southern lion dance (also known as the Guangdong lion dance), a national intangible cultural heritage.

The sixth National University Art Performance, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, is an important celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The theme of this year’s arts event is about striving for goals, innovation and dedication. A total of 264 representative teams composed of over 6,800 students and teachers from 198 universities in the country attended the event.

The National University Art Performance, held every three years, is said to be the most influential art event for college students with the highest standards and largest scale in the country.