钟河
由中国文化部、中国驻埃及大使馆、埃及南西奈省政府共同主办,浙江省文化厅与开罗中国文化中心承办的2018埃及“欢乐春节大庙会”于2月9日在埃及著名旅游城市沙姆沙伊赫开幕,这是“欢乐春节大庙会”首次走进沙姆沙伊赫,也是我国在阿拉伯地区举办的规模较大的活动。
当地时间晚9点,伴随着列入第一批国家非物质文化遗产、中国民间舞蹈百叶龙气势磅礴的乐曲声,今年的埃及“欢乐春节大庙会”活动首次走出开罗,来到世界旅游胜地——沙姆沙伊赫。
虽夜幕降临,现场聚集了大约三千名观众的好莱坞娱乐城内却是热闹非凡,人声鼎沸,晚会现场大红灯笼高高挂,“恭贺新禧”、“过年好”等巨型条幅营造出红红火火、喜气洋洋的节日气氛。以长兴百叶龙艺术团,为班底、杭州杂技总团参与的浙江艺术团,为埃及观众上演了一台集舞龙、舞狮、歌舞、魔术、杂技、武术于一体的综艺晚会。
晚会表演开始前,最为激动人心的时刻到了,中国驻埃及大使宋爱国、中国驻埃及使馆文化参赞石岳文、浙江省文化厅副厅长蔡晓春和埃及南西奈省省长哈立德·福达、埃及国会议员马苏德、埃及沙姆沙伊赫市市长马哈茂德·苏利亚上台为两条百叶龙点睛。在现场观众的注视下,点睛礼成,寓意赋予百叶龙生命力,带来吉祥,欢腾的百叶龙立刻精神抖擞,尽显威风赫赫。
伴随着江南荷塘上蛟龙翻腾,极具江南神韵与独特意境的民间舞蹈——《百叶龙》作为晚会的第一个节目闪亮登场。接下来分别是京韵女子群舞《夜深沉》,水袖翩翩,行云流水;充分体现江南风味的婚事节庆舞蹈《岕里婚庆》;中国戏曲特色表演《变脸》《美猴王》;湖州清泉武校周清泉校长名家自创的“南山绵拳”武术表演《当太极遇上梁祝》;经典舞蹈《采茶舞》;来自杭州杂技总团的魔术表演《牌魂》、双人杂技《力量》;体现水乡柔美韵味的女子舞蹈《花灯》;象征吉祥瑞意的传统民间喜庆表演《金狮呈祥》。
现场更有8位手工艺艺人展示青瓷、根雕、米塑、竹编等浙江传统非物质文化遗产项目,吸引了不少当地观众驻足观看,频频点赞。浙江省工艺美术大师蒋同磊带来了匀润透亮的青瓷,典雅的风格受到来自世界的肯定;根雕艺术家周扬现场雕刻,技艺精美,引得外国友人赞不绝口;高级厨师董希造、马振杰为在场的嘉宾烹饪了煎饺、羊排、宫保鸡丁等中华美味,在场宾客无不折服于中华的传统美食;董希造做的米塑,形象生动可爱,成为了全场孩子们关注的焦点。
活动中场,浙江省文化厅委托杭州水秀文化创意有限公司组织精干技术力量,协助維修改造了当地的音乐喷泉。在多彩水下灯的映照下,伴随着《茉莉花》《爱我中华》《我的中国心》等中国乐曲,喷泉高低起伏,水火交融,营造出浓郁的节日氛围,展现出气势磅礴的中国气派。这也是首次把中国喷泉推向世界的创新之举。
持续两个小时的演出以团圆、喜庆、祥和、欢乐的春节元素为主线,生动展现了浓郁的中国传统文化。
据悉,此次赴埃及的“欢乐春节”项目是我省春节期间赴国外演出项目中规模最大、人数最多的活动。2018埃及“欢乐春节大庙会”在沙姆沙伊赫拉开帷幕并圆满完成三场演出后,2月13日,受埃及文化部邀请,浙江艺术团马不停蹄赶往埃及首都开罗举办中国民族歌舞晚会。
演出场地设在有着100多年历史的开罗大学。晚上7点,金碧辉煌的开罗大学大剧场内座无虚席。伴随着中国风情、江南风韵的传统民族乐曲声,浙江艺术团演绎了一台融合民族歌舞、魔术杂技、太极武术的综合演出。象征吉祥如意的《金狮呈祥》压轴登场,将现场气氛推向顶点。近千位观众沉醉于中国传统文化的魅力,现场无数次掌声雷动!演员集体谢幕时观众迟迟不愿离去,热情的开罗大学学子纷纷走上舞台,与演员们合影留念。
埃及是最早表示支持“一带一路”倡议的国家之一,也是阿拉伯世界和中东地区参与“一带一路”建设的重要力量。近来,随着“一带一路”倡议下,埃及相关项目的不断推进和落实,中埃关系正在成为互利共赢关系的典范。相信随着中埃之间文化交往的繁荣,两国人民必将会有更深的相互了解与融合。
A New Year gala jointly sponsored by Ministry of Culture of Peoples Republic of China, Chinese Embassy in Egypt, South Sinai Governorate and Culture Bureau of Zhejiang Province raised curtain in Sharm el Sheikh, the administrative hub of South Sinai Governorate and a significant tourism center in Egypt, on February 9, 2018.
The gala opened at 9pm in the tremendous vigor of a dragon dance enjoyed by some 3,000 people at the Hollywood Town. The opening festivity culminated with a unique rendition of the Chinese ‘dragon dance tradition – special guests representing China and Egypt performed a ‘finishing touch ceremony by adding ‘eyes to the ‘dragons. In the Chinese culture, the ritual means the ‘dragon comes to life and brings everyone vitality and luck. The ‘adding eye ceremony brought heaps of atmosphere into the night. For everyone in the audience, the engaging moment was an eye-opening experience that took the breath away.
The dragon dance was followed by a dancing and singing session that presents the enduring charm of Chinese opera and variety art and Chinese traditional dance. One of the highlights was a martial art performance by a troupe from Huzhou. Crafted by Zhou Qingquan, President of Huzhou Qingquan Martial Arts School, the choreographic presentation is a fusion of Chinese opera art with Tai Chi. Performers representing Hangzhou Acrobatic Troupe brought down the house with a magic show and an acrobatic stunt.
The gala was designed to share as many traditional Chinese elements as possible with Egyptians. A total of eight artists joined the gala to present the cultural heritages of Zhejiang Province to the Arabian world. Jiang Tonglei, representing Zhejiang Province, shared the exquisite beauty of celadon with his new Egyptian friends. Root-carving artist Zhou Yang wowed the audience with his vivid works that preserve natural beauty. Senior Chefs Dong Xizao and Ma Zhenjie made Chinese fried dumplings, lamb chops and Kung Pao Chicken to share the magnificent Chinese food culture with Egyptian gourmets. The rice figurines made by Dong Xizao made children scream and jump with joy.
The music fountain show of the night was designed by a team from a company in Hangzhou. Columns of brightly colored light streamed through the dramatic changing patterns of water, changing colors to the sounds of a repertoire of famous Chinese melodies – , , , etc. This was also the first time the Chinese culture was shared with an international audience through a music fountain.
Chinese New Year elements permeated the two-hour gala that served as the opening chapter of the ‘Happy New Year culture exchange program. Following the success of the three shows in Sharm el Sheikh, the cultural feast moved to Cairo University on the night of February 13. The finale of the gala in Cairo was a lion dance that won thunderous applause from the audience. The performers had to return to the stage time and time again to answer the curtain call.
Egypt is one of the first countries showing support for the ‘Belt & Road initiative made by the Chinese government, and is a major player representing the Arabian world in the implementation of the epoch-making strategy that is benefiting a growing number of countries and regions. Sino-Egypt relationship is widely recognized as an example of mutual benefits generated by connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries.