2024/05/10 

In May, our international cultural exchange activities continued with enthusiasm. This time, Class 302 and our sister school in India, Vidya Bharati School, shared their performing arts. The theme was Yungning Taiko and the Indian Taal and Mudra. To prepare for this event, the students of Class 302, along with Taiko coach and teacher Yiting, spent several weeks practicing. The seven members of the Taiko team diligently prepared an English presentation on Taiko culture. Finally, on May 10, the day of the online exchange arrived, and everyone was both nervous and excited!

On the day of the exchange, the Indian sister school began with a captivating performance of Taal and Mudra. Taal refers to the rhythm or beat in Indian music, with each Taal having its unique combination of rhythms, which can be expressed with various instruments or body movements. Mudra refers to the hand gestures and finger positions in Indian dance, used to convey stories, express emotions, and describe objects. The Indian students, dressed in traditional attire, mesmerized the audience with their graceful dance moves and sweet smiles.

Next, it was Yungning’s turn. Principal Wenzheng delivered a speech in English, praising the sister school's beautiful dance and introducing the upcoming Taiko performance by Class 302. The principal shared that learning Taiko helps with hand-eye coordination and building self-confidence. The Taiko team members then introduced the history, fun facts, and the sounds of four different types of Taiko drums in English. During the introduction of the Hirado and Miyake drums, Class 302 students gave a live demonstration, showcasing the powerful drum sounds. Finally, they introduced the performance piece "Wind," hoping to let the audience experience the breeze-like drum sounds accompanied by exhilarating shouts, bringing courage, hope, and love to all the young performers.

During the grand performance by Class 302, the Indian teachers and students clapped along, immersing themselves in the fantastic Taiko performance. Despite the 4,300 kilometers between us, it felt like we were together at that moment.

At the end, students from the sister school taught us simple hand gestures and dance steps of traditional Indian dance. Our students and the principal learned attentively, experiencing the rhythm and graceful posture of Indian dance. Under the guidance of the Indian demonstrators, we successfully completed a traditional Indian dance!

After the exchange, Class 302 students shared their thoughts. They felt both nervous and excited before the performance and were proud of how well they performed. Some students admired the beautiful and intricate costumes of the Indian dancers and felt a sense of accomplishment when they saw the Indian students clapping along. Teacher Yiting shared that the class spent a lot of time practicing for this exchange, with each practice session being wholehearted. She felt deeply moved seeing the students progress from unfamiliarity to performing confidently on stage and sharing their passion for Taiko with India. Coach Yongru praised the students for their continuous improvement during practice and their impressive performance on an international stage. The teachers from the Indian sister school also expressed their enjoyment of the exchange, being captivated by the lively presentations and charming Taiko performance.

A big thank you to all the participating students, the principal, directors, teachers, and coaches for their hard work, allowing Yungning to shine once again on the world stage.