Beijing Opera spices up school exercises
(ec.js.edu.cn) Updated：2017-02-22
Students at Yangzijin Primary School perform their unique opera exercises. [Photo/yznews.com.cn]
A primary school in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province has adopted a novel exercise regimen which uses elements of Beijing Opera, aimed at fostering aesthetic and physical health among pupils, according to jschina.com.cn on Feb 16.
Introduced by the school’s P.E. teacher, Dai Fei, the opera exercise was inspired by a performance during this year’s Spring Festival Gala. Dai said she was intrigued by the performance’s creative infusion of regular body stretches and exquisite actions pulled directly from operas.
The routine consists of 10 unique movements all taken from Beijing Opera, which are performed in time with opera music.
“Beijing Opera has graceful rhythm, the movements are simple and even have some Kung Fu elements,” Dai said. “This helps children understand the essence of the culture through exercise.”
It’s particularly good for students’ physical coordination and lower limb strength, Dai added.
School president Zhu Xingguo said that it will consider adding the exercise fulltime into the school’s curriculum in the future.
