The students on stage swung wide arcs of green, purple and orange silk ribbons in time to the soothing music, transforming Katonah Elementary School’s gym - for the moment - into a peaceful oasis of shimmering rainbows and dancing water.
All that changed in an instant, as dancers dressed in rich burgundy and indigo returned to the stage with an exuberant Mongolian-inspired dance.
The wide range of dance was a purposeful part of the Art of Chinese Dance program. “You will see a dance from each of the five major ethnic groups in China,” said Andy Chiang, the executive director of the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, in his introduction.
He encouraged students to watch the dancers’ facial expressions and hand motions to understand the story they were telling.
The cultural immersion came just in time for Lunar New Year, on Wednesday, January 29.
“We wanted to bring awareness to the fact that this is the first year that public schools in New York State are celebrating Lunar New Year,” said a member of the KES PTO Cultural Enrichment Committee, who arranged for the program. “It’s a day off – and it’s a huge celebration around the world!”
Students mimicked the Fan Dance with hand motions of their own. They gasped in awe when the dancer on stage jumped and twirled with a sword in each hand.
In the Q&A at the close of the performance, students asked how the performers knew the dances. “I’ve done these dances since I was growing up in Beijing,” said one of the members of the troupe. “Sharing the beauty of Chinese dance makes me very happy.”
As students walked out of the assembly, a group of fifth graders chatted about the excitement of being on stage and doing the Ribbon Dance.
It’s harder than it looks, they agreed.
“I stepped on my ribbon,” said one. “I kept getting too close to the person next to me,” said another.
“It was so fun!” they said.