University of Aberdeen’s Confucius Institute hosted a dazzling Spring Festival Gala Show to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Gaudie was in attendance at the celebrations last Saturday.
The show, held in the packed Tivoli Theatre, was split into two 40 minute halves. The first showcased beautiful dance and performances centred around cultural symbols, while the second was focused on music.
Yee Hung Ga Kung Fu Scotland gave the audience a glimpse into traditional Chinese martial arts in the first half, with performances of spear fighting, sword fighting and even hand to hand combat. The most exciting part of their performance was the lion dance, where five colourful lion costumes were displayed on stage in a coordinated dance.
RedPhoenix Dance company performed beautiful dances with Chinese lanterns and parasols. The final performance of the first half was a touching performance of the ‘Tale of The Snail’ by Winter Violet Chinese Studio. The theme of the performance was the hope a new year brings and the knowledge that light always comes out of darkness.
The show was hosted by four members of Aberdeen Student Show who provided engaging commentary throughout the show. They showcased a multicultural view of the New Year, sharing phrases both in Chinese and Scots. The student voices encompassed the nature of the night – a genuine sharing and celebration of culture.
The second half of the show focused on musical performances with the inclusion of both traditional Chinese instruments and Western instruments. The Edinburgh Chinese community ensemble performed a New Year medley. This was played on: an Erhu, a Chinese fiddle; a Guzheng, a plucked string instrument; a Suona; and a Dizi, a Chinese flute.
Rory Anderson, a talented second year music student, performed two solo pieces on the piano and accompanied two other musicians. He has played for the Confucius Institute before, and told The Gaudie he was “very excited to be able to join the Confucius Institute for another performance.”
Rory added, “It was really intriguing and fun to play in a totally different style and also to watch the other Chinese cultural arts that take place in Aberdeen.”
In the second half, 9tease, a band of Aberdeen University music students, debuted their song ‘When Angels Cry’ and performed a medley of ‘90s songs. 1990, like 2026, was the Year of the Horse. The Gaudie spoke with 9tease about their thoughts on their performance, they said “The atmosphere was great and for our first gig to be at the Tivoli is crazy!” When asked about the gala in general they added “ It was amazing to see such a range of acts and culture, it was cool to bring our own thing to the stage.”
