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Not a great video quality-wise, but it’s a good example of how flashy Peking Opera can be. It’s not all about singing that sounds like you’re killing chickens. (That’s what my mom says it sounds like. Judy says it sounds like cats dying. Oh the love…) =D

I’m sooo relaxed right now. *gooey puddle*
3 performances in 2 weeks is not good for the stress levels. ^^;

Thanks to ziggybecket, positivespace and twjudy for sitting through my dance recital. Every year they brave the crazy-ass audience to watch me dance. (Anyone ever notice how Chinese people never shut up through anything?!?)

I was actually pretty happy with my dance solo which is a relief cause it was causing me ridiculous amounts of worry. Yay for camcorders so you can record rehearsals and see how bad you suck before everyone else does too.

Thanks to Judy and Arthur for coming to all my rehearsals and taping them for me! If I ever figure out how to get vidoes off my camcorder into an uploadable format, I might post them. Don’t hold your breath though…

After my dance performance yesterday, I got to watch a showcase performance done by students from the Shanghai Peking Opera Conservatory.

The rest of post is just me rambling (with some ranting) about it so feel free to skip if you’re not interested. =D

I’d wish for the room and money to put a dance studio into our house. Nothing like attempting to practice a sword dance in your room without taking out all the furniture and killing all the resident fuzzies. =P

Photos brought to you by USPS priority mail boxes… the preferred bed of kitties everywhere.

Sept 30:
Peking Opera performance at Mission College for a Moon Festival celebration. I was just told there’s no way they can get a portable mic for me. I’m kinda not seeing why people bother inviting opera performers if they can’t mic them. What’s the point if no one can hear them singing? =P

My teacher is going to end up singing for me backstage with a handheld mic and while she’s going to sound a hell of a lot better than I would, it’s kinda exasperating to be practicing all this singing and never get heard.

There’s also a professional troupe visiting from China that’s worth checking out if you’re into watching ethnic folk dancing: Yun Nan Folk Dance & Song Show.

Oct 7-8:
I have dance performances both days. I don’t actually recommend anyone come watch them as I plan to really suck but if you’re feeling masochistic, lemme know. =D I have a sword dance solo and two group dances: water sleeves (think House of Flying Daggers with the long flowy sleeves) and a DaiZhu (minority group in china) dance. I’m really wishing I didn’t have that solo; I’d be a lot less stressed if I didn’t have that hanging over my head. =P

If you’re in the Maryland / Virginia area, Chu Shan Opera Institute is putting on a big performance that weekend. They’ll be performing excerpts from a couple famous plays like The Monkey King and Farewell My Concubine.

This performance is a very important to us as it’s a memorial performance for our teacher, Judy Huang, who passed away last Christmas. I can’t be there because of my recitals in California but if you’re at all interested in seeing Peking Opera, please go support my classmates!

*amused beyond belief*

My best friend back home just got a scanner and scanned in some pics of us as kids. We look so… young! ^^;

We started dancing when we were 4 which mean Karin and I have been friends for 25 years. Yeaah… do the math there. *feels old*

She’s the one wearing blue in the photo. Man, I hated my color. LOL. I remember we drew colors out of a bag to make it fair, and I was so jealous that Karin got blue and I ended up with that awful yellow. =D

Here’s another photo.

I always did have a problem with fixating on the ground. I used to get yelled at all the time about it…

^__^