From February 20 to 21, the Pomegranate Seed Art Troupe from the School of Music and Dance conducted activities in Beijing under the theme “Spreading Love Through Arts, Supporting Disabilities Through Unity”. The troupe visited the Beijing Demonstration Center for Disabled Persons Services, using artistic performances as a bridge and focusing on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation to bring spring warmth and blessings to friends with intellectual disabilities, autism, and other disabilities.

On the morning of February 21, troupe members arrived at the demonstration center, and gave a presentation on the theme “Consolidating a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation, Ensuring Chinese Ethnic Arts Continue to Flourish”, explaining the significance of arts in consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese Nation.

Performance scene. Photo provided by School of Music and Dance

During the artistic performance section, the SCMU Pomegranate Seed Art Troupe presented songs including “As Wished” and “Father’s Grassland, Mother’s River”, using melodious voices to praise the prosperity of the motherland and express deep affection for their hometowns and the Chinese nation. Dance performances like “Seeking Songs” and “Let’s Dance Together Joyfully” demonstrated the prominent characteristic and powerful cohesion of China’s “unity in diversity” through dynamic movements. At the venue, friends with disabilities also responded enthusiastically, presenting wonderful programs including the chorus “Climbing Spring Mountain” and the “Dragon Dance”. At the climax of the performance, both sides joined together to present the piano-accompanied dance “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon”. The audience was immersed in the performance, feeling the performers’ love for art and tacit cooperation, enhancing understanding through artistic exchange, and experiencing the powerful force of ethnic unity and progress.

Team members viewing exhibition materials.Photo provided by School of Music and Dance

During their time in Beijing, troupe members attended the flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square and visited theCommunity for the Chinese NationExperience Hall (former site of the Mongolian and Tibetan School). They also toured the exhibition of cultural relics and ancient books on consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation, gaining a profound understanding of the concept of thecommunity for the Chinese nationwhere all ethnic groups have interacted, communicated, and integrated throughout historical processes through rich exhibits and detailed materials.

This charity activity attracted attention from local mainstream media, with Beijing Youth Daily and other media outlets providing in-depth coverage. SCMU’s Pomegranate Seed Art Troupe adheres to the belief of “learning, teaching, performing, and researching along the way”, spreading knowledge from the “Introduction to theCommunity for the Chinese Nation” course learned in the classroom, and striving to sow the seeds of consolidating a sense of community for the Chinese nation across the country. To date, they have conducted over 20 artistic volunteer service activities in Beijing, Hubei, Inner Mongolia, and other places, benefiting more than 10,000 people.