March 11th, which is the second day in the second lunar month, marks the "Dragon-Head-Raising Festival". On this day, the premiere ceremony of "Chinese Dragon Dance Around the World", a special documentary of the 2024 Chinese Zodiac Flashmob in Mexico, Peru, and the United States, was successfully held at the Cultural Space of Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center. This documentary is a significant achievement of the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau’s cultural exchange mission to the Americas during the Spring Festival of the 2024 Year of the Dragon, aiming to spread Chinese New Year culture across the continent. The Chinese Zodiac Flashmob project, taking place on the streets of the destination cities, utilized flashmob performances to disseminate Chinese New Year and zodiac culture, generating a keen interest in Chinese culture among the locals. The documentary features collaborative performances by artists from different countries, using art to cross the language barrier and facilitate cultural dialogue. Since its premiere, the documentary has been widely broadcast on various domestic and international media outlets and social platforms, continuously promoting the cultural allure of the Chinese New Year and extending warm greetings to people around the globe.
The premiere was attended by Pang Wei, Level-I Bureau Rank Official from the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, and representatives from the External Promotion Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and the Embassy of Mexico in China.
Group photo of guests
The Young Dragon Embarks on an Epic Journey Across Mountains and Seas, Spreading Blessings
During the premiere, the creative team and the guests, both local and international, came together to appreciate the documentary. The 2024 "Chinese Dragon Dance Around the World" was shot in four cosmopolitan hubs: Beijing of China, San Francisco of the United States, Mexico City of Mexico, and Lima of Peru. Professional performers collaborated with the local communities in the four countries in 26 flashmob events, capturing 80 scenes in 75 hours.
The special documentary unfolds the story of the Chinese dragon taking the form of a young man. Blending the virtues of various animals, the Chinese dragon (or “loong”) symbolizes Chinese aspirations for an exemplary character. Carrying these ideals, the "young dragon" embarks on a journey from China to the Americas. Amidst a series of ceremonial celebrations, he extends New Year blessings to households far and wide. From the iconic Great Wall of China to the ancient pyramids of Mexico, from the vibrant streets of San Francisco to the coastal landscapes and deserts of the Americas, the "young dragon" engages in friendly dialogues with Peru's Inca civilization, Mexico's Aztec civilization, unveiling the radiant facets of Chinese culture along the way.
Cross-Cultural Exchange and Mutual Appreciation of Chinese and Foreign Civilizations
The special documentary captures flashmob performances that blend various artistic elements such as music and dance. The venues for these performances range from the bustling streets of international metropolises to local cultural landmarks like the pyramids in Mexico and the Ica Desert in Peru.
In the documentary, traditional Chinese musicians showcase their skills with instruments like the pipa, erhu, and flute in a performance titled "Descendants of the Dragon". The renowned "Longyun Kungfu Troupe", founded by Chinese superstar Jackie Chan, presents mesmerizing martial arts dances like "Kung Fu Water Sleeve" and "Martial Fan". Local Chinese communities collaborate to deliver vibrant lion and dragon dances, while unique elements such as horse-face skirts and interactive intangible cultural heritage add an authentic touch to the presentation, collectively bringing the liveliness of Chinese culture to the world. The documentary captures the genuine reactions of people from three different countries as they experience the beauty of Chinese culture: curiosity, appreciation, amazement, and reluctance to leave. These emotions overflow and are permanently documented and cherished by the camera.
The dialogue of civilizations, facilitated through art, is evident throughout the film. Instruments like the MARIACHI violin from Mexico, traditional Peruvian folk instruments such as panflute and Inca drum, along with Western instruments like the oboe, all join in spreading the performances that celebrate Chinese New Year and Zodiac culture. Through pure and dedicated performances, the artists from China and abroad embark on a shared artistic journey of mutual understanding and friendship.
Guests gather in Beijing to experience traditional Chinese festivals
During the Spring Festival, people on the other side of the ocean embraced Chinese folk customs as they painted the eyes of the dragon as a gesture to usher in a prosperous Year of the Dragon. On the Dragon-Head-Raising Festival on the second day of the second lunar month, foreign guests living in Beijing immersed themselves in the unique atmosphere of this traditional Chinese festival.
On March 11th, the performers and scenes in the flashmob were recreated at the premiere, accompanied by exciting performances such as erhu solo "Full of Joy", a suona and Kung Fu fan performance "Man Should Strengthen Himself", and a solo dance "Encounter with the Dragon". Guests from China, the United States, Mexico, and Peru gathered to experience the customs of hair-cutting on the second day of the second lunar month. They also tasted traditional Beijing snacks, experienced the charm of Beijing's intangible cultural heritage. Through these activities, they bade farewell to the festive activities of the Lunar New Year that lasted for more than a month, and embraced the vigorous work and life of the Year of the Dragon.
Following the guidance of the sign that reads, "On the Dragon-Head-Raising Festival, a haircut brings vitality for the whole year", everyone eagerly indulged in the ceremonious haircuts provided by Beijing hairstylists. With phrases like "One snip, no worries; two snips, good fortune arrives; three snips...". Each hairstylist also offered heartfelt blessings to the guests. Meanwhile, in the area of delicacies and interactive experience, the guest could immerse themselves in dragon-themed sugar painting, captivating shadow puppet displays, and rubbing of "Fu Loong" (Dragon of Good Fortune). Master of Chinese arts and crafts, Liu Yongsen, invited guests to create miniature Cloisonné artworks on the spot. Once successfully fired, these artworks would be presented to the guests as souvenirs.
The Chinese Zodiac Flashmob event is sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau and organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center. It has been held continuously for nine years since 2016. This year, a special documentary filmed in the Americas will be released starting from March 11th. It will be presented to a global audience through People's Daily, China Media Group Mobile, Tencent Video, tv.sohu.com, toutiao.com, Youku, Kuaishou, as well as on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, among other Chinese and international mainstream media and social media platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivIOdJEs9yA