Two students stage a traditional track of Wuxi Opera at Jiangyin Grand Theater on Dec 18. [Photo/WeChat account: wenmingjiangyin]
A group of students staged a Wuxi Opera performance at Jiangyin Grand Theater on Dec 18, showcasing how well they have learned the traditional art at school.
Jiangyin has managed to offer Wuxi Opera classes at more than 20 primary schools in 15 towns over the past decade. More than 10,000 students have taken part in performances, encouraging many primary school students in Jiangyin to learn about the tradition.
Statistics show that the government of Jiangyin has spent 293 million yuan ($44.85 million) in its efforts to provide Wuxi Opera classes in schools and help local experts design new courses on school life and moral education.
Schools in Jiangyin offer students classes to learn Wuxi Opera. [Photo/chinanews.com]
Nanzha Center Primary School was selected as Jiangyin's model school for Wuxi Opera classes. The school began offering its Wuxi Opera class in 2010. Performances by students have been broadcasted on CCTV many times and were shown in both urban and rural areas.
All kinds of activities are being offered to encourage primary school students to better appreciate and understand traditional Chinese fine arts and culture, as well as promote the development of traditional arts. Among these activities are Wuxi Opera performances, courses, and lectures.
After the performance, the local government issued an implementation plan to further promote Wuxi Opera education in schools.
Wuxi Opera is one of the three most popular operas in East China and one of the major local operas in Jiangsu. There are currently more than 10 Wuxi Opera troupes in Jiangsu, which mainly tell slice of life stories set in rural areas, most of which critique feudal marriage, old ethics, and greedy landlords.
