Contact: Whitney Hale

The Chinese Folk Dance Company utilizes various items, such as banners, fans, and swords, in their performances.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2005) -- On Feb. 25 the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts welcomes to its Concert Hall stage the Chinese Folk Dance Company, an Asian dance group that elegantly blends the contemporary arts of today with the tradition of ancient China. The 7:30 p.m. performance will be preceded by a marketplace event that Friday evening, beginning at 6 p.m. in the lobby.

The show features performers wearing authentic historical costumes and incorporating the glitz of swords, fans and long silk banners into their dance.  Each performance portrays many different aspects of Chinese culture, including martial arts, language, fashion and ancient Chinese opera. Opportunities for crowd participation draw the audience into the show to present Chinese art on a more holistic level. The audience will be enlightened by the journey into Chinese art and culture.

Hong Shao, a professional pipa player and Lexington resident, will also perform.  Hong Shao started playing the pipa, a Chinese lute, at age 11.  She has studied under pipa master Li Gueixiang in Harbin, China, and is now regarded as one of Kentucky’s best pipa players.  A Kentucky Arts Council roster artist and a Kentucky Performing Arts artist, she has received a number of grants from the Kentucky Arts Council. 

The marketplace will allow visitors to enjoy music and dance, Chinese board and card games, food and retail items, and informational booths pertaining to Chinese lifestyle. 

The Chinese Folk Dance Company was founded in New York's Chinatown in 1973. Considered world-class performers, the dance company has appeared in a variety of venues, including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

Tickets for the event are available at both $15 and $12 for the general public; a $3 discount is available to UK faculty and staff, UK Alumni Association members, and senior citizens; and a $5 discount is available to students and children. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Singletary Center Ticket Office at (859) 257-4929 or online.