Chinese Artist Instructed Turkish Friends on Tibetan Dance

Excellent Performance Gained Popularity among Turkish Audiences

Turkish Audiences Rushed to Take Photo with Chinese Artists

At 1 am on the morning of December 3, an airplane took off from Beijing Capital Airport and rose up to the nocturnal sky of 35000 meters’ height. After 10 hours’ flight, more than 40 artists from Art Troupe of CFLAC arrived at Istanbul where they immediately transferred to Ankara. At 8 pm on the evening of December 4 local time, those artists, the closing presented, on a gala performance as of “2012 Chinese Culture Year in Turkey”. 

In history, the famous Silk Road connected China and Turkey for a long time, and now those two great countries were brought together by the friendly bond of culture. As far as economic development speed is concerned, China and Turkey ranked respectively No.1 and No.2 in the world. China still remains to be an unfamiliar and a remote country in most Turkish people’s mind. Only some 500 Chinese people live in Ankara, capital of Turkey, and about 5000 live in Istanbul, the largest city with a population of 1.7 million. However, the attention to China is growing more and more among Turkish people. They know about reform and opening-up policy as well as the latest 18th National Congress of CPC. Meeting Chinese tourists, they will say hello in Chinese, ask “Are you from Beijing?” in English, give a warm hug and tell them “We are friends” in English. 

From December 3 till 9, Chinese artists who traveled from Ankara to Bodrum and to Istanbul cordially felt that Turkish audiences bear a strong desire for deepening cultural exchange and communications with China. “Only by learning about Chinese culture can we really understand China, and can our relationship be more profound.” Many Turkish audiences unanimously expressed their opinion in Ankara. 

When the performance came to an end in Bodrum, many Turkish audiences rushed onto the stage and some even into the dressing rooms on the backstage. Pointing at the pictures of Chinese artists, they enthusiastically asked for taking photos. Taking pictures, hug, signature… such a passion lasted until Chinese artists were board on the bus back to the hotel. There were still some reluctant to leave. Several Turkish girls got on the bus and cried out their excitement such as “Chinese friends, I love you all”, “I hope that you will visit Turkey frequently”and “Welcome to Turkey”. 

Turkish Audiences’ Enthusiasm for Chinese Artists

Funny Photo of a Turkish audience with MC from China

Turkish Audience Rose to Applaude after the Performance in Bodrum

Turkish Staff Raised National Flag of China Prior to erformance at Bodrum

With the jet lag of six hours between Beijing and Ankara and after 12 hours’ trip, some performers such as Wang Yabin and Wang Mengqi, who were in fever before boarding, felt rather bad upon their arrival. During the rehearsal in Bodrum where stage glue was not available, Shan Chong, Wu Zhengdan and other dancers and acrobats must risk in presenting dance and acrobatic movement with high difficulty. Despite varied hardship in overseas performance such as venue adjustment, dietary habit and environmental difference, all the Chinese artists made a success of this performance without any complaint or intimidation. As Yu Junjian, head and art supervisor of CFLAC Art Troupe, commented, regardless of performing conditions, Chinese artists’ friendship and passion for Turkish people as well as sense of responsibility for promoting Chinese culture shall never be weakened. 

This time, the MC of the Art Troupe was Tu Jingwei, famous TV hostess from CCTV, and her witty and lively style gained great popularity among Turkish audiences. Though they could hardly understand what she said on the stage, they would give a warm applause at intervals of her two or three lines. When asked about the reason, they simply answered “Her voice is so beautiful”. As to the cooperation with her Turkish counterpart Behlie, their tacit agreement made a perfect effect though they couldn’t speak each other’s languages. As Tu Jingwei concluded with a smile, “Our eye contact is enough”. 

Mina was a China-Smart in Turkey, who once participated in both Mandarin Competition sponsored by Confucius Institute and the Program Star Boulevard by CCTV, acted as interpreter of the Art Troupe. When she knew that the young singer Jiangyang Zhuoma came from Tibet, she immediately showcased a Tibetan dance she had learned. Zhuoma gave her some advice for improvement and demonstrated some body gestures of Tibetan dance. With such direct communication, both of them became close friends. 

“During Expo, I visited Shanghai and it was a beautiful modern metropolis. However, I would like to visit Beijing and Xi’an where I could savor Chinese tea in teashop, enjoy typical Chinese dishes in a traditional restaurant and appreciate traditional architecture.” said Haiddhiya, a lady from Foreign Affairs Office of Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Moushar, our Turkish guide who favored Xi’an asked if there were some artists from Xi’an in our Troupe upon our arrival. He also told us that 4 Terra-cotta Soldiers were on show in the Chinese Treasure Exhibition in Istanbul, which attracted lots of Turkish audiences as a priceless and perfect experience of Chinese ancient culture.