A New Star Shines in the NTDTV Gala
By Wei Yuhua
Epoch Times
Jan 07, 2007
Boston - The New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) has found a classic beauty with great dancing skills for the lead role in its Chinese New Year Global Gala. On January 7, I was fortunate to see her performance in Boston. Ren Mi'er elegantly and gracefully danced the leading role in the group dances, including "The Brilliant Light in the Divine Land” and “Plum Blossom.” She shines among all the stars. I have heard that she will have even more splendid performances in the 2006 Chinese New Year Global Gala in New York. She will also perform solo dances in the Gala in Paris.
After listening to the tranquil and beautiful Mi'er talking about her dancing experiences spanning more than a dozen years, I was able to understand why she can so vividly express the elegance of Chinese classical dances that express both pliability and strength.
However, the years of intensive training and diet restrictions to control body weight forced Mi'er, who was already thin and weak and having stomach problems, to change her career. With mixed feelings, and with her gifted body and superb flexibility, she passed the test in first place and was admitted to the dancing school of Shenyang Musical College. She gave up the opportunity to enter the national gymnastics team.
Dancing requires great flexibility. With a good foundation obtained from her gymnastic training, Mi'er is a natural when she performs Chinese classical dance. She danced "the Tale of the White Snake" in the Liaoning Provincial "Tao Li Cup" competition in 1997 and won first place in the youth group solo dance category. In 2000, she danced the lead role in “the Song that is Like Silk,” that depicts the amorous feelings of young girls, and won third prize in the large-scale competition "Population Culture Award," hosted by the Ministry of Culture. Dancing either lead roles or solo, she has performed in many large-scale dances hosted by central, provincial, and city television stations.
Fond of Chinese Classical Dance
Chinese classical dance combines Chinese martial arts, traditional drama, and the traditional Chinese aesthetic standard as reflected in Chinese classical poetry and painting. It not only emphasizes the physical form, but more importantly, it emphasizes the essence of the dance, the internal expression and connotation.
Mi'er Forgoes Gymnastics for a Dancing Career
Mi'er went into the artistic gymnastic team of Shenyang City when she was six years old. In 1990, she won second place in the youth group in the Liaoning Provincial artistic gymnastic competition and won fourth place in the national competition. In 1993, she won fifth place in the youth group gymnastics competition in the national games. When she was nine years old, she was selected for special training in the Liaoning Provincial artistic gymnastic team.
Mi'er especially likes Chinese classical dance. She once went through a period when she had good skills but could not find the feeling when dancing. Some of her teachers told her to read more poetry to improve her cultural awareness. She soon improved, especially when she performed dances with a specific cultural background.
Afterwards, she realized that whether the dancer could move the audience, especially when performing dances with profound connotations, depends on the dancer’s inner quality. A dancer who is peaceful and kind can easily express the joy and elegance of the divine. The traditional aesthetic standard is very important for the performance and appreciation of Chinese classical dance.
Mi'er also realized that when the inner world of the dancer can communicate and synchronize with the realm of the dance, the body seems to move more freely. With skill and the right inner quality, the dancer can express the connotation of the dance.
A Bright Star in the New Year Gala
Mi'er came to the US in 2002. With NTDTV, she has found the opportunity to give full play to her talents. She eagerly supports the goals of the NTDTV Chinese New Year Global Gala–to disseminate the myths and create the legends. In order to convey the authentic connotations of Chinese classical dances, she practices and rehearses nearly six hours a day.
The dances for the Gala have been changed numerous times to achieve just the right effect. Some dances are physically demanding, and Mi'er’s legs ache after a day’s practice. However, she understands the extraordinary significance of the Gala. As soon as she starts dancing with her fellow dancers, she forgets all the pain and tiredness.
Mi'er also disclosed a secret source of her energy. Her fiancée, a computer engineer and former outstanding student of Beijing University, also loves Chinese classical dance. He works as a volunteer for NTDTV’s Global Gala and can often be seen absorbed in watching the rehearsals.