Ding Aihua’s “Long-spout teapot kung-fu”
Last Friday, those lucky enough to garner an invite to the latest cultural fete by the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe at Celebration Centre were in for a performance that was more than a show; it was a journey.
It was a testament to the power of passionate, grassroots art to forge profound connections, leaving the audience mesmerized by a beautiful dialogue of cultures spoken through universal language of rhythm and melody.
The performance flowed from the meditative grace of Ding Aihua’s “Long-spout teapot kung-fu”, set against the background the ancient sounds of the guqin and pipa, to the vibrant energy of the “Joyful Tambourine” dance.
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Li Xiangyang’s soaring Peking opera-style vocals in “Boundless Rivers and Mountains” filled the room with an evocative feeling of timeless power and beauty.
Collaboration of “Send Me a Rose” with Zimbabwean drummer
The true crescendo was the final act: a stunning China-Zimbabwe collaboration on “Send Me a Rose.” The melodic twang of pipa effortlessly marrying the deep, resonant heartbeat of an African drum. This fusion was the perfect embodiment of the performers’ mission: to build bridges, not walls, through art.
This mission is the core of the Heyun Art Troupe. Founded just this January in Yangzhou, China, Heyun is not a state-funded giant but remarkable grassroots, non-profit collective. Their name reflects a belief in unity through diversity, even cleverly paying homage to their roots as a homophone for “Canal.”
Their story is as inspiring as their performance. This intergenerational group of artists, educators, and cultural advocates operates on passion, not profit. They are the volunteers who have self-funded cultural journeys across the globe, bringing the living heritage of the Grand Canal to audiences who had never experienced it before.
Their innovative “Art+” model means every overseas performance is a co-creation, improvising and blending with local artists to create something entirely new and shared. Friday’s triumphant fusion with a Zimbabwean drummer was not an exception, but their philosophy in practice, fitting in perfectly with the theme of celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and China.
The Heyun Art Troupe proved that the most powerful connections are built not in grand halls alone, but through the shared language of artistic passion. They left us not just with a memory of a great show, but with a feeling of genuine, joyful connection.
And more important, at the thought that artists need not be beggars whose narratives are shaped by handouts, but creative entrepreneurs who can grab agency to tell their stories exactly as they wish.
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