Shanxi University hosts folk dance workshop for international students

More than 20 international students tried their hand at Shanxi folk dance during a practical workshop on Saturday at Shanxi University in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, part of the school's push to bring traditional arts into its global education programs.

The class introduced three regional styles: the Yangko Dance of northern Shanxi, the Small Flower Dance of central Shanxi, and the Flower Drum Dance of the province's south. Students practiced footwork, gestures, rhythm patterns, and the use of props that distinguish each form.

For many participants, it was a first encounter with the province's folk traditions. Pengkasit Jirapha, a 20-year-old student from Thailand, said she was struck by the energetic quality of the movements and the visual flair of the spinning fan used in the Small Flower Dance. "The spinning fan looks so beautiful, and I can't wait to share the unique experience with my friends abroad," she said.

Several students highlighted the drum-based choreography, which requires dancers to keep the beat while performing. Pham Trong Tuan, a 26-year-old student from Vietnam, said the coordination challenge was part of the fun. "The lesson gave me a rare opportunity to have a close contact with traditional Chinese culture," he added.

Zhang Bowen, a teacher at the university's School of Music, said the workshop is part of an ongoing effort to open the school's arts curriculum to its international cohort. She noted that the folk forms taught in the class have deep local roots and remain part of community celebrations in parts of the province.

"Shanxi folk dance functions as a bridge for cultural exchange," she said. "We hope international students can share the culture with the whole world via experiencing these local traditions firsthand."

Lyu Peipei contributed to this story.