Chinanews.com, Kunming, January 24th, title: Tao Chun, a national first-level director: willing to dedicate his life to Yunnan culture and art
Chinanews reporter Han Shuainan
"Yunnan's national culture is diverse and dazzling, and it is this hot land of Yunnan that nurtures my artistic life. In my lifetime, I will continue to make contributions to Yunnan's culture and art with full enthusiasm." Recently, the national first-level Tao Chun, the director and former director of the Song and Dance Theater of Yunnan Province, said so in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com.
In 1962, Tao Chun was born in a Blang family by the Lancang River in Yunnan Province. He has been influenced by the strong ethnic culture since he was a child.
In 1978, he graduated from the dance major of Yunnan Literature and Art School with honors and became a dancer of Yunnan Song and Dance Troupe.
Soon, he was shining on stage.
Relying on his love and pursuit of art, Tao Chun has continuously improved his artistic attainments on stage, and gradually formed his own unique performance style.
His dances such as "Olive Song", "Walking Marriage" and "Wood Drum and Hulusi" were well received and won awards in many competitions.
"But I gradually felt that the dance at that time did not allow the dancers to express all their inner emotions." Tao Chun said, he also gradually saw that Yunnan's colorful ethnic cultures are like rich treasures, and each ethnic group has its own uniqueness. Cultural temperament and charm, and has excellent plasticity in the process of artistic creation.
So he gradually turned his attention to the fields of choreography and directing.
The picture shows Tao Chun being interviewed.
Photo by Zhao Jiwei
In 1990, in the large-scale national dance drama "Ashima", Tao Chun participated in the arrangement of most of the dances and successfully portrayed the main character Azhi in the play.
The play caused a sensation when it was performed all over the country, and won many awards in the National Dance Drama Competition and the Wenhua Award.
"It was this dance drama that made my faith stronger. After that, I slowly learned culture and art from life from many teachers, and understood how our Yunnan national culture should be created from art." Tao Chun recalled.
Later, the large-scale dance poem "Ah, Lisu" choreographed and directed by Tao Chun, the large-scale Dai dance drama "Water-Splashing Festival", and the group dance "Elephant Foot Drum" were loved by audiences from all over the country and won many awards.
"Among the many works I have created, the trio dance "Guy·Four Strings·Ma Sakura" is the most satisfying one, which later became one of the must-dance repertoires of many song and dance troupes and dance academies." Tao Chun said.
During Tao Chun's artistic career, he has brought excellent Yunnan national culture and art abroad many times, and has performed in more than 50 countries around the world.
He recalled, "What impressed me the most was a performance in Mexico. Although the language was different, the audience cheered in unison after watching a performance full of Yunnan characteristics, which made me feel very proud and proud."
In 2008, Tao Chun participated in the rehearsal for the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, making Yunnan elements stunningly presented to the world.
In 2010, his large-scale cultural tourism resident performance "The Smile of Angkor" created for Cambodia became a banner to promote Cambodian culture and was included in the national key cultural export project.
Although Tao Chun has retired, he said that he "will never retire on the road of art".
During the Spring Festival, he will be the chief director of the 2023 "Spring Blossoms" China-India-Cambodia-Mongolia Spring Festival Gala, which combines traditional Chinese culture, Yunnan ethnic elements and the excellent culture and art of India, Cambodia, and Mongolia, presenting a wonderful show to the global audience. Taiwan's wonderful and diverse Chinese New Year cultural feast.
"During my artistic career, Yunnan's culture and art, especially Yunnan's dance, have brought me infinite beauty." Tao Chun said, "In the future, Yunnan will pay more attention to the cultivation of literary and artistic talents, so as to expand the influence of excellent national culture. Power, go to the world!" (End)