Archive: Colourful New Year show took Kolding by storm

This is an older article. The people mentioned in it are now referred to only by their first names. As a result, you can no longer see the portrait images that were previously included in the article.

700 Kolding residents got a taste of Chinese culture when Jilin Art Troupe performed their vibrant New Year show at Kolding Theatre.

Large red lanterns were hung around the space, contributing to the atmosphere when the doors of Kolding Theatre opened, on Friday January 26, for a big-production New Year show by Jilin Art Troupe. The event was the result of a collaboration between IBA Confucius Institute and the Chinese Embassy.

Læs historien på dansk>>

The performance offered a symphony of musical numbers for Chinese lute and flute, swinging dance numbers with impressive, gold-patterned outfits, and not least a magician, who drew smiles all around, especially from the younger members of the audience.

There was also much smiling and laughter when one of the graceful young artists got up and sang the song ‘Marken er mejet’ – entirely in Danish, no less, despite the fact that, as the compere noted, she’d only had two short days in which to practice.

In one of the rows sat Anni, happy to be taking home with her such a different kind of cultural experience. She is mother to two adopted daughters from China, and keeps a keen eye on ‘all things Chinese’. She thinks in general that the Chinese are great entertainers; and the show at the Comwell was no exception. As she remarked, “It was striking and fantastic, and a pleasure to experience. My friend and I were also very impressed with their outfits.”

Enthusiastic Audiences

Great enjoyment was also had on stage. For 33-year-old lute player Zhang, it was positive to experience the audience’s infectious engagement.

“We are very happy to be able to perform our show outside of China, so people can see what New Year means to us. And they have responded very passionately across the board,” she said.

When the organizers from IBA Confucius Institute had the idea of staging a new year’s show, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy, they weren’t too sure of what the interest level might be. A full house at Kolding Theatre, however, can surely be seen as a success.

“For a town like Kolding, an audience of 700 is a fantastic number. It’s wonderful that people are curious, and that they’ve come here to learn about Chinese New Year traditions and to have a great experience,” said Dora from IBA Confucius Institute.

The aim of the Confucius Institute