Dancing with friends, exhibiting martial arts spirit

On April 12th, 2023, the USTB-DMU (De Montfort University) Confucius Institute (CI) held a WOW Session-Tai Chi Fan Dance for faculty members of the College of Art, Design and Humanities at the CI library. The event, titled "Dancing with friends, exhibiting martial arts spirit," allowed employees of De Montfort University to personally experience Tai Chi Fan Dance and gain a deep appreciation of the charm of Chinese martial arts and dance culture.

The CI teachers first briefly introduced the background and key movements of Tai Chi Fan Dance. Then, under the guidance of the teachers, after everyone adjusted their breathing and warmed up to the rhythm of the music. After the workshop began, in the sonorous and energetic background music, the teacher carefully taught each movement, fully demonstrating the charm of Chinese martial arts and dance which combines both firmness and softness. The members were deeply inspired, humbly seeking guidance from each other, and experiencing the spirit of traditional Chinese culture at close range.

After an hour of intense teaching, the members had basically mastered classic movements of Taichi fan dance such as "Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg," "Clever Cat Catches Butterfly," and "Fierce Tiger Pounces on Prey," and performed them at the end of the activity. The participating faculty all enjoyed the experience workshop and said it was a rare opportunity to experience Chinese martial arts and dance at such close range. Learning Tai Chi Fan Dance not only allowed them to exercise their bodies and strengthen their willpower but also enriched their cultural life. They all hope to have more such opportunities in the future. Finally, a group photo was taken to commemorate the event.