I’d like to invite you to an interactive workshop on the traditional style of Chinese performance known as
kunqu (Kun opera), led by the distinguished
jingju (Beijing opera) and
kunqu performance artist Michelle Ling Yang. The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 3rd, from 12:00 to 1:00, in List 120. The workshop will be followed by a half-hour Q&A and practice session. A clip of Ms. Yang performing
jingju can be found
here.
Ms. Yang is a sought-after instructor of hands-onworkshops at the Kunqu Society in New York, and she has given very successful workshops for university students in the past. As her biography on
the Kunqu Society’s webpage explains: “Michelle Ling Yang is a graduate of the Tianjin Institute of Arts, Beijing Cinema Academy, and Central Broadcast Institute, where she studied
jingju (Beijing Opera), dance, movie and TV acting, and broadcasting. She was a member of the Tianjin Institute of Beijing Opera for many years. A winner of many awards in
jingju and dance contests, Ms. Yang appeared in several popular Chinese movies and TV series. Ms. Yang is currently a teacher of the Kunqu Workshop and participates in the Kunqu Society’s public programs.”
Ms. Yang's workshop on April 3rd will provide members of the Brown community with the opportunity to learn about Chinese opera, see and hear a live performance, and to try out the movements themselves. In addition to this workshop, Ms. Yang will be leading a smaller demonstration in my course “The Many Faces of Chinese Opera,” from 3:00-5:20 PM on Wednesday, April 2nd, at which she will discuss
kunqu music and teach the basics of the
kunqu singing style. If you are particularly interested in the music of
kunqu, please email me (
ki...@brown.edu) for information about attending the class session.
I will be circulating a poster advertising the event later this week. Please be in touch if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!