1 minute read
East Ailing Luo
from Over the Moon
by Te Tuhi
Ailing Luo and her friends Jean Chen, Bin bin Zhang and Shao wei Huang love their dancing group.
They meet every Monday at 9:30 -12:00 at the Pakuranga Community Hall, 347 Pakuranga Road. The group have the enthusiasm, stamina, and ability of women half their age learning and performing dance moves. They practice and enjoy each other’s company and learn not only steps, hand movements but also manage to display the fluid movements of Chinese classical dance.
Watching these ladies dance is like watching poetry as they move and glide to traditional Chinese music. Ailing researches the music and dance moves to be incorporated in their dances and teaches her friends to share her love of dance. Her dances include different forms such as fan, handkerchief, modern and folk dancing. The beautiful silk fans delicately incorporated into the routines display beauty and grace in the way they are used. Watching the dancers moving with their fans and beautiful costumes, the viewer is reminded of more genteel times where there was order and respect for tradition.
Jean Chen says, “In our home country Moon Festival has all the good and pleasant symbols. It happens during the festival season. People get together dancing, singing, eating, visiting friends, cherishing the ancestors, sharing experiences, respecting the aged and loving the young, to share mooncakes and drinks under the moon.”
The Moon Festival means more than friends and food though. The group feel that “Community, cultural understanding of many ethnics by sharing our love to the moon, not only our home, but more over nature and the universe we humans share wherever we are.”
The group gets together not just for maintaining both mental and physical health but also for friendship and community. They are a part of the Auckland Chinese Association in East Auckland and are involved in the social activities run by the association. Anybody who wishes to learn more about the dance group or join the dance group - just turn up on Monday morning. You are most welcome!
