U.S.-Chinese Dance Exchange: A Perfect Catalyst for Diplomacy
The arts are a continuing force for change and increased international dialogue. In an artistic exchange between the United States and China, this concept was exemplified this summer. The exchange occurred this summer between Manhattan and Shanghai. The National Dance Institute (NDI) in New York City sent three teachers and one student to Shanghai's Children's Palace, an after-school program in China. The mission was one of artistic and social vision to strengthen the citizen ties between the U.S. and China through cultural diplomacy.
While in China, an American teacher joined together with a Chinese choreographer to create "The Red Thread", a dance that was taught to American and Chinese children. These children from two different backgrounds and from countries with different political ideologies learned to dance together in harmony and unison. This program provides an excellent opportunity for an exchange.
Now, five Chinese children have come to Manhattan to perform in a variety of dances with other American children in the NDI's Irene Diamond Summer Institute. They will perform together and build lasting friendships with one another. In this way, the arts connect cultures and give citizens something greater to establish relationships on instead of focusing on the political or those attributes that make us different, or rather, what makes our countries different. An event such as this allows children at a young age to develop opinions of other nations based on the people they meet, not what they see on the television. This is crucial to the development of a globally competent citizen.
There is such potential for further funding of cultural diplomacy in the United States and abroad. With the State Department and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs there is a decent amount of public funding. However, in the new age of cultural diplomacy, citizens and private groups have much more clout in the area of diplomacy. The types of arts events, like the dance exchange between the United States and China are sure to attract increased attention and popularity in the future.
Posted Tuesday, August 3, 2010