There is nothing more curious and interesting than traditional dance paired with modern songs, creative costumes, and culturally significant props. Asian Fusion Dance brings yet another captivating performance, this time involving colorful umbrellas adorned with different prints.
Bringing to life once more the traditional umbrella dance that originated in China, the ladies lit up the stage with their piece.
Dressed in all black ensembles to bring out the bright hues of the umbrellas, the young dancers assembled in neat rows of four on stage.
Unfurling umbrellas in perfect synchronicity, they created a mesmerizing effect that one would immediately associate with flowers blossoming in the springtime.
The quick, lively movements and the popping of colors went perfectly with the hauntingly beautiful melody of “Intro” by The xx.
They twirled their umbrellas as they moved, shifting smoothly from one formation to another. Taking turns opening and closing their umbrellas as they moved about gave the illusion that the umbrellas also increased in size.
It was definitely the perfect modern take on one of the more popular dances during the Han Dynasty.
The plain stage setup, with gradient lights illuminating the backdrop, accentuated more than just the eye-catching props. You would imagine such a challenging choreography to have a duration of at least five minutes, but the dancers kept it short.
A dance so colorful and mesmerizing, done in under two minutes, will definitely leave the audience anticipating more.
After all, most dance performances more or less share the same design: a top 40 track, hip outfits, and a bit of ballet and contemporary combined with hip-hop and jazz steps. While these are definitely worth watching, appreciating, and even taking inspiration from, there’s no denying how impactful dances can be when inspired by certain cultures and their rich history.
The umbrella dance definitely stands out. Highlighting tradition, showing respect to culture, and showcasing the beauty and value of the art of dance make up this amazing number.
In the video’s description, the choreographer even shares:
“Bottom row had a bit of a mix-up during this run, but you can see the effect I was going for with the choreo.”
To the eager eye just out to enjoy an entertaining and culturally rich performance, no mistakes were made. To the trained eye and dance enthusiast, it may have stood out just a bit. Nevertheless, it was one for the books. Clearly, the dancers worked hard and impressed.
It takes so much time and effort to put together a dance as creative and fascinating.
The overall success of the performance stems from understanding the history of the umbrella dance, having deep respect for culture, and exhibiting discipline in learning the steps, working with a team, and giving it your all. Earning over a million views on YouTube, the dancers of Asian Fusion Dance had users from all over commenting on how incredible and aesthetically pleasing the entire production was.
You’ll definitely want to read up on the umbrella dance after watching this video.
Press play and prepare to be amazed.
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