C’est La Vie

While doing this research I have question myself of what my topic should be like. From the Chinese traditional folk dance and how it impacted the bay area. What have surprised me is that it not only lead me on how it impacted the Bay Area’s history of performing arts, but it allowed me to stretch further. What I mean by that is that this research project allowed me to learn something new about the ballet in the bay and impacted our society as a whole. It allowed us to share and incorporate other cultures that is not indigenous to the United States.

What other historians and myself need to uncover is perhaps what actually brought us together. Ideologically we believe that somethings can bring us together like peace, but that is not necessarily true at all times. The performing arts is diverse, but in the times of when segregation upon cultures was at its peak, we wonder how is it that the Chinese and the American Ballerinas come together to dance as one.

What you should take away from this research is the importance of combining cultures and how it not only shaped the bay area, but how it also inspired others to integrate an elaborate peace of work(ballet/performing arts) as a whole.

Blog 7: The Museum

In the eyes of the audience I would present my story in a museum perspective.  Visually displaying the arts is, in my opinion, essential in order to grasps one’s attention.  I would not only have picture of all of the artifacts, but have models of the time and era that was taken place. To display it in Hayward Area Historical Society allows the dimension of a new history to take place. In ballet and how it intertwines itself with other cultures.

The new displays in the beginning of the showroom will show people of the bay what historical events that our society has intake and created. How it captivated us as a whole society instead of being individuals. For example racism and prejudice during the 1800’s. This was a completely different time for everyone living in American especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The displays in the middle will also include performances that are video taped of rare moments you see in individual performances. For example, Chinese acrobatics incorporated into ballet performances such as the Nutcracker. The section will also have a theater room, the theater room will structure of what old theater of where ballerinas would dance in.

Moving along towards the end of the will show each individual dancer’s quote, stories, and inspirations of why they have become a dancer. An autobiography per say of how each dancer’s life, and experiences lead them to what they have became now. This incorporates the interviews from the dancers back in the 1800’s.

Blog 5

 

The overarching story about Ballet, in the bay area does not only tell us about how it evolved over time, but how it contributed in our bay area’s history. Our community before was not so very open about “change” especially with other cultures and race. Ballet has defined itself in art as something that can be created passionately and be very innovative at the same time. I believe that Ballet has not only shaped the bay area’s art division, but the world. By incorporating other techniques or style of dances in each individual performance gives us a fusion of culture within dance. In this case, my research allows the audiences to see what influences other cultures may bring to the Bay. For example, when the Chinese immigrated to the Bay, we did not welcome them with open arms, but only to saw them as a foreigners that is inferior to those who are Caucasians. The significant message that I am trying to convey is that dance opens doors to people, what is open is opportunities for change.

My research also allowed me to learn about what I really like to do as a hobby. It gave me a greater appreciation when it came to ballet, asking my teacher about her experience lead me to see that not only our culture appreciate this type of dance, but others as well. We incorporate a lot of techniques that come from ballet into our Chinese Folk Dance, and they apply our acrobatic choreography into ballet.

How it shaped the Bay? Well it not only awed us in a unforgettable manor, but it allowed us to see how diverse this type of performing art could be. The era that ballet first originated came from Europe and became popular in the United States, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. It primarily shape our modern aspects of ballet and dance today. How not only the Chinese culture are influenced by this pneumonia but the Japanese, Hispanics, and etc. Many different race join together for one purpose and that purpose is to show appreciation for what they saw as a beauty, inspiration, and art. There are not many questions I am left with, but what I am left uncovered is if our a performing art like ballet can bring people together peacefully, why was it so different to people when they are not dancing?

 

Ballet

"Rehearsal is a major part of any dancer's life"- Ming Ha Wu.

Dance in the Bay Area broaden my aspects of the influences that may arise from the performing arts. In the San Fransisco Bay Area, performing arts is very popular, this is because of the extreme diverse city. In San Fransisco the impact of ballet made itself popular and brought many cultures together. Not to mention the impact it made to the Chinese community in the Bay. As discussed in my previous blogs, I have mention one of Tomasson’s masterpiece called Swan Lake, is a genuine classic. This ballet transformed itself to a change, a change that can only be made and discovered in the San Fransisco Ballet Company. San Fransisco brought a twist to this performance with a touch of Chinese flare to it, with the acrobatic movements to their sword play that came from China. This fusion left audiences in awe, and with after that performance a lot of the San Fransisco Ballet’s modern work transform itself. A version of east meets west.

Driver, Ian. "A Century of Dance"

The bay area diversity brought a lot of ideas and inspiration to those who are passionate about dancing. The community is greatly influenced especially in San Fransisco. It is one of the first cities where diversity was born. From the Chinese immigration to the Irish immigration in the 1840’s, then the Japanese, and etc. With this enormous diverse culture in the Bay comes many influences that they gained from the Americans. In dance, a lot of the Chinese groups for example memorized by this art. In the 1950’s for example the first Chinese Ballet Organization was created because of Ballet. Ballet became an art that is highly praised by the Chinese community for this grace, beauty,passion, and discipline. The picture shown on the bottom left shows picture of boys practicing their movement. As you can see there is much diversity in the picture with two Asian Boys dancing ballet. Ballet if for everyone, and is not limited to one certain race.

Boys Level 1 Practice- Corp de Ballet

In the book, At the Ballet on Stage, Backstage by Sandra Lee and Thomas Hunt depicts quotes from the dancers in the company in San Fransisco. The picture on the top right is by a Soloist, Ming Ha Wu, she quotes “Rehearsal is a major part of any dancer’s life”. This quote describes the tedious work they have to endure as a dancer, and it is important. Ballet has not only impacted the SF community, but it has also impact those who live in it.

In every month of December, The Nutcracker is performed. It is a tradition also performed every year by the company. People from all over the world come to see this performance in San Fransisco and it has brought great promises throughout the year. There is always something new: choreography, lighting, costumes, and dancers! The Nutcracker  is best described by SFBALLET.ORG as “Set in San Fransisco during the 1915 World Fair, Clara’s dreamlike journey is an ode to the city’s historical grandeur-…”

We may knowledge dance as just an art, but it is also an historical reminder that changed our way of perceiving the mixture of diversity. It is also have shown us the versatility dance can provide to the bay area especially in San Fransisco.

Nutcracker by the San Fransisco Ballet Company

Bibliography:

Driver, Ian. A Century of Dance. New York: Cooper Square, 2001. Print.

Lee, Sandra, and Thomas Hunt. At the Ballet on Stage, Backstage. New York: Universe, 1998. Print.

Lansdale, Janet, and June Layson. Dance History an Introduction. New York: Routledge, 1994. Print.

“San Francisco Symphony – Music & Musicians.” Welcome to the San Francisco Symphony. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sfsymphony.org/music/default.aspx?id=40278&gt;.

Dance in the Bay Area

To be quite honest, a lot of people see dance as just another hobby. But to many it is a tradition, culture, and it is indigenous to many cultures. In the  Bay Area I have noticed dance as self expression. In my previous blog entries I have been quite vague when it came to dance especially in the Chinese Culture. Now Dance as a whole is particularly broad and to emphasize on it is pretty tedious. But to narrow it down, in the San Francisco Bay Area. In San Fransisco dance is characterized as an art, not a sport, but this type of art is a tedious and creative way of working out. Dance is movements choreographically put together by dancers, and dancers use dance to emphasize expression, story telling, ideas, and movement through the rhythm of the beat. Ballet for example was created in France called the Ballet de Cour en France.This significant type of dance was brought to the bay area and was praised by many. This kind of performing art shaped the bay area as an entertainment for the wealthy, and privileged.  According to  San Fransisco’s Ballet Company, in 1938, “William Christensen arrived and choreographed the Company’s first full-length production, Coppélia.  In 1940, he staged the first American full-length production of Swan Lake. On Christmas Eve 1944, Christensen launched a national holiday tradition with the premiere of Nutcracker, the first complete version of the ballet ever staged in the United States.” This production became a popular performance now performed every season by different ballet companies, because of Ballet in the San Fransisco Bay Area we are now able to see the Nutcracker in many states, and not to mention countries. I had the chance to see the San Jose Ballet Company’s version of the Nutcracker not too long ago, and many of the inspiration and techniques these ballerinas have been taught in the San Fransisco Bay Area. San Fransisco’s Ballet Company has been in the buisness for quite a long time, and it almost became bankrupt in the 1970’s.

The Nutcracker, by San Fransisco Ballet Company Photo: Erik Tomasson

PRISM – Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith. HELGI TOMASSON, Artistic Director. Photos, Erik Tomasson and David Martinez

The Nutcracker then compared to now, has been updated since it has originally came out. Modernizing the story line, and also incorporating new techniques of dance that was not seen in the traditional ballet. This new style of modern versus contemporary ballet is important in our historical event because not only did the contemporary ballet held its original roots, but mixing modern ballet to the original ballet allowed us to transform this type of dance into something better and much more entertaining.In 2004, the remake of the Nutcracker incorporated Chinese Dance. Nicolas LeBlanc in the Chinese dance, choreographed this particular dance. This was a huge shock to many and a praise to the Chinese community. It brought a sense of culture and diverse mixture of cultures between ballet and the traditional Chinese folk dance. The lion dance for example was incorporated. This gave the Chinese community and became a huge significance in the bay history.  How it updated our Bay Area history is by adding something new to the Nutcracker other than the traditional  ballet techniques, it brought a “kick” and inspiration to also mix other culture’s dances in performances.

San Fransisco Ballet Company

Sources:

Han, John. “San Francisco Sentinel » Blog Archives » SAN FRANCISCO BALLET – Opening Night Gala, Wednesday, January 21st.” San Francisco Sentinel. 2009. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18716&gt;.

“History: San Francisco Ballet.” Home: San Francisco Ballet. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sfballet.org/about/history&gt;.

http://www.jacobspillow.org/exhibits-archives/history/

East meets west…

East meets west, this term is used a lot in America by identifying the Asians that have came to the Americas. In San Francisco, California is where this whole ordeal started in the 1800’s. The Chinese has made a huge impact on the bay including their help in building the railroads in the mid 1850’s, although they were sought as untrustworthy they where hard and dedicated workers looking for employment. Soon, the Californians decided that they could hire more Chinese laborers for a cheaper price, their wages a year was approximately $3000. Hiring the Chinese was cheap and affordable labor in order to build railroads in California. Event though the stereotype of the Chinese only being good at hard laborers, they also have some qualities that they brought from China with them. Cecila Tsu’s article reference these kinds of labor in the Silicon Valley. The article called, “The Independent of the Unskilled China Man” depicts such harsh treatments and labors that were bestowed to the Chinese. The Chinese were not able to own land but they may rent land, they were only to work in farms, and their customs were sought as not American like.

WestWard expansion via http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/chineseinca/westward.html

Later on throughout the years culture, conflict, and race began to become a problem to the bay especially with the Chinese.”Yellow Peril” is a term used in the late 19th century amongst Asians that were coming to the United States. Although a period of time California’s Minority-Majority Cities” shows a vast and growing California, especially in the city of Palo Alto. We can see in particular that the they believed that there was too many Asians coming to the US and it was over crowding. The “yellow peril” was directed mainly towards the Chinese and because the Chinese was taking many of the American’s job for a cheaper price. According to Camillo’s article, “Cities of Color: The New Racial Frontier inAsian/ Pacific population “…the proportion of Asian/Pacific Islanders in the city increased to 10 percent”(Camillo, pg 6). With the bay area’s increase of Asian population, the Chinese in particular brought with them many of their indigenous foods, artifacts, culture, and resources. This brought major resources to our bay area, it also opened the market up for trade, and diversity.

In San Francisco, the week of February is the month of celebration of the Lunar New Year. This type of celebrations brings all shorts of attraction like the performing arts, story telling, festive games, and delicious foods. The dance, is the main attraction during this time of year. On Grant Street, San Francisco– there are a lot of lion/dragon dances which are held during these festivities. This type of culture is important to the Chinese community to the bay area because it allowed the Chinese to keep their identity while embracing the identity of the American way of living. Chinese folk dance and lion dance was born in China, these type of dances portrayed the art of birth, life, seasons, work, love, and religion. This type of performing art gives the Chinese a way of keeping their identity and to show their culture to others. Especially in San Fransisco, not to mention that the Chinese also gained influenced from the modern-western influences. Ballet is another type of dance that was born in Europe, the Chinese saw this as a useful skill that they can incorporate into their type of dance. This fusion is important because it allows people to open and broaden the aspect of cultural dance. Cultural dance does not always have to be expressed indigenous, but it can be shown as a way of “mixing” or “fusing” these two together. Like East meets West, this term relates to the importance of the Bay Area. Not only did the Chinese made an impact of the bay by fusing these two performing art together, they were able to show us the meaning of being diverse.

Chinese dance incorporating the western influences

“CHINESE-AMERICAN CONTRIBUTION TO TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.” First Transcontinental Railroad – Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. Web. 02 Nov. 2011. .

“Chinese Lion.” Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .
Woodside, Alexander Barton. Vietnam and the Chinese Model, 1971.
The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. .

http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Chinese.html

http://www.jacobspillow.org/exhibits-archives/history/

Chinese Performing Arts in The Bay Area

Chinese New Years in the Bay Area is filled with festivities! You can hear loud fire crackers go off in the afternoon and at night, gambling on the streets of Asian Plazas, and not to mention the delicious food that comes out! However, a topic that I would like to stress on is the performing arts in the bay area and how it has come to be a spectacular view amongst us. Dance in particular hold a great meaning in the Chinese culture and in the bay area as well. Whether it is ballet or contemporary dance we can see that many cultures are being to shape and define itself in the bay area when it comes to the performing arts. I have discovered from an article called “I See America Dancing” , that not only the Americans have made an impact on dance as a performing art, but also the Chinese, made an impression when it came to choreography. In most cases this type of performing arts has made a huge impact on the bay area when it comes to the Chinese Tradition and Heritage.
In the early 1900 we began to see the many different cultures arriving to the United States in search for a better life. However in the early 1800’s during the Gold Rush in California, the Chinese began to set California as their new home. Along, they brought their culture and identities with them. Their motives are just like any other immigrant and any other American in the United States; that motive is to live what is known as the American Dream. The Chinese in particular did become successful, and in San Fransisco they have brought along with them their traditions and performing arts. The Chinese Lunar New Year was first held in San Francisco in 1858 according to http://www.chineseparade.com/. This event brought in many attractions and opened the public’s eyes in regards to this culture. Their dragon dance is the most famous and popular dances during this time period. In Oakland’s China town also hold this tradition in the new years. In many of my experiences and participation with this performing arts I have gone to many festivals held in San Jose, and have performed in numerous of dances. The Buddha dance for example is to honor and pay respect of the Buddhism. This type of dance is performed a lot in many Chinese cultural dances including the dragon dance. In 1995, Juipin’s School of dance located on Cropley Ave, San Jose started. This dance studio is taught by Juipin Lu, she brought many of her techniques with her from Taiwan and shared it all with her students. Her techniques allowed me to share to others the cultures of Chinese Arts through community performances during the Lunar New Year Festivals.

This type of performing art is also followed by many dances that involves stories about the hardship in China such as: farming, war-time, family, religious, and seasonal dances. Every Lunar New Year in the San Jose area incorporates many activities for this type celebration held in community parks. In the late 1900’s is when these types of performing arts are sought to be important and it is from there that the Chinese community began to start foundations that will honor and retain its traditions. In my experiences

Bibliography:
“Chinese Lion.” Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .
Woodside, Alexander Barton. Vietnam and the Chinese Model, 1971.
The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. .
http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Chinese.html
http://www.jacobspillow.org/exhibits-archives/history/

Chinese-American Cultural Art in the Bay Area

I know that in my previous blog, I have discussed the diversity of a certain culture in the bay area. To me, it seem so board and that it may flow in many directions. However, to get to the point my focus is going to be on the Chinese Culture and how it displayed a role in the bay area. For example, Chinese Lunar New Year is known for their festive parade; which includes their lion/dragon dance, Chinese opera, loud drums,  and of course their loud fire crackers for the celebration of the on coming new year. This time of year around February is known to be a great tradition ever since the Chinese immigrated to the United States. The first Lunar New Year Festival began right after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This devastating mishap took a toll on the San Fransisco Bay Area especially in the heart of China Town.

In 1965, The Chinese Culture Center of San Fransisco was established. This establishment was made so we may appreciate and understand the kinds of art that is made by these Chinese- American artist. Their art depicts an identity so to say, and it is through the identity of these artist may we be able to understand the culture of what was in the past to the present. Though paintings of art is one way of looking at this cultural Chinese-American art, but also the performing art such as dancing and acting gives the bay area interest of what the Chinese have to offer.

woman looking to the right stands among four demon attendants, rows of coffins and skeleton in the background in the 1920s / Digital Archive of Chinese Theater in California

According to  the website; http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com, shows the significant change in the Chinese-American society now. The Chinese- American community sought to preserve the old traditional to ways and incorporate the new culture they have learned from the American culture. With this intervention, we have a new form of art. In the bay area, especially in San Fransisco there is many historical landmarks that shows different forms or ideas of American influences, and history of what was past down from generation to generation. The you tube video below for example portrays such  influences and historical references that we may learn just by looking at pictures or any other form of art.

 

The art gives us an identity of what the Chinese American community have to offer in the bay area, and the impact it made not only through the eyes of these Chinese-American. But it allows everyone to understand and appreciate what the Chinese community has to offer for the bay area: the appreciation of arts and performing arts.

 

sources:

“Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.” KQED Public Media for Northern CA. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/gallerycrawl/profile.jsp?essid=14663&gt;.

“Woman Looking to the Right Stands among Four Demon Attendants, Rows of Coffins and Skeleton in the Background in the 1920s.” Online Archive of California. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt400016tc/?brand=oac4&gt;.

“Jon Jang Premiere at Chinatown Music Festival.” San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate. 22 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/DD9F1L5N43.DTL&gt;.

youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w9C1AsHAOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction: Diversity in Chinese Heritage in the Bay Area

As a Chinese American born citizen, it was brought to my attention that the appropriate theme for this blog would reflect upon my heritage. How and where did my family have become of till this very day. I am a student at California State University East Bay and majoring in the field of health science. Though I consider myself to be American, I still carry with me my heritage of what my grandmother and mother have taught me. Filial piety, are the words that come in mind as I type; and it is because of that those words that allowed me to figure my identity and where I have come from. Growing up, I was taught to be polite, patient, and obedient. However this was not the case, because growing up in a society that has so much diversity allows me to question my duty as a female in the household. Education now seems to have brighten my potential in freedom of speech and allows me to express myself freely. The experiences I have obtained with my encounters of such diversity allows me to see the change and influences of other cultures.

Ribbon Dance, I am on the bottom right.

For example, the art of dance is in Chinese tradition is sought to be of poetic meaning. It is a dance that reflects their hardship of work, war, peace, beauty, sadness, etc. Chinese Folk Dance is a major part of the Chinese heritage and history of China. According to the article, National Ballet of China, NBC was found December 31, 1959. During this time period is when when the The only Chinese national ballet, the National Ballet of China (NBC) was founded on the 31st of December 1959 in Beijing, China. This “experimental” fusion of ballet and Chinese folk dance began, and allowed the Chinese culture to grasp not only their technique but fuse it with the art of ballet. It is simply beautiful, in my opinion, because it allows us to not only understand that diversity can be a great influence towards the Chinese heritage. This fusion of art allows the audience to not only see what diversity can bring but what beauty it has that awaits for us to see.  Ballet is not only one of the influences that have intertwine with the Chinese culture, but hip hop, salsa, and even square dancing is one of the many performing arts dances that are still fairly new in the 21th century. This is one of the many influence that have changed the bay area.

Chinatown, SF

Diversity in the Chinese culture is not only shown through dance, but in our life styles now. I remember my grandmother telling me that back in the day she was not able to talk back to an elder, and now a lot of young teenagers are starting to rebuttal. She is right.  I believe that this change is due to the different cultures and the numerous diversity is in Chinatown. You see Caucasians, African Americans, Europeans, and different kinds of Asians that travel to come see the beauty of the bay area and what is there to offer. Not only is it diverse by the people in it, but the language and the culture that surrounds it. Many types of Chinese like Mandarin, Taiwanese, Cantonese, Fukienese, etc.  are located in Chinatown, San Fransisco. If we gotten this far with diversity, imagine how different cultures would be twenty years from now?

Bibliography:

“National Ballet of China.” 中央芭蕾舞团. Web. 01 Oct. 2011. <http://www.ballet.org.cn/en/jutuanjieshao.htm&gt;.

“Brief History of San Francisco’s Chinatown — 1931.” Museum of the City of San Francisco. Web. 01 Oct. 2011. <http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist9/cook.html&gt;.