From February 6 to 11, the First Shaanxi Provincial Winter Games were held. Invited by the organizing committee, over 20 faculty members and students from our University’s School of Music and Dance, led by instructors Xiang Guquan and Zhang Mi, participated in the entire performance. With their professional artistic expression and persevering rehearsal spirit, they added a rich cultural atmosphere to this ice and snow sports event.
The performance task was demanding, with a tight schedule and high intensity. The participating students arrived in Yulin in three batches in mid-January, less than a month before the opening ceremony. The students had to learn and rehearse multiple dances in a short period:Tidal Echoes Through the Ages,Snowflakes Grace the Present Day, andStriving for a Grand Visionfor the opening ceremony, as well asSurging Ice on the Winding River,Thriving Mountains and Flowing Waters, andSnowfall Awaiting Peach Blossomsfor the closing ceremony. Each dance had its own style and complex choreography, and required coordination with performers from different regions and age groups, placing high demands on the students’ professional skills and teamwork.
Performance Scene ofTidal Echoes Through the Ages. (Photo provided by the School of Music and Dance)
During rehearsals, the students overcame technical challenges such as cross-regional coordination, movement synchronization, and stage positioning. Some students who arrived late had to participate in stage rehearsals on the very day of their arrival. Facing unfamiliar movements and poor coordination, they put in extra hours for targeted training and quickly integrated into the overall rhythm, demonstrating strong adaptability and professionalism.
On the evening of February 6, the Yulin Sports Center Stadium was ablaze with lights as the opening ceremony officially began. Our students performed inTidal Echoes Through the Ages, which traced the cultural threads of northern, central, and southern Shaanxi, organically blending folk customs with dance art. InSnowflakes Grace the Present Day, the students transformed into relict gulls, performing alongside dozens of child actors to depict the agility and vitality of the ice and snow world, earning warm applause from the audience.
On the evening of February 11, the Games concluded. In the warm-up programNew Rhythms on the Frontier, the students took on the challenge of portraying elderly characters, sharing the stage with senior square dance teams and child performers. Through nuanced acting, they conveyed the happiness of everyday life in the new era. The male group danceSurging Ice on the Winding Riverused powerful and vigorous body language to depict the momentum of ice breaking, portraying the heroic spirit of Shaanxi men.Thriving Mountains and Flowing Waterspainted a picture of the Shaanxi landscape with fluid formations.Snowfall Awaiting Peach Blossomssketched the vibrant scene of winter giving way to spring with graceful dance movements. Facing technical difficulties such as quick costume changes and prop coordination, the team practiced repeatedly during rehearsal breaks. Ultimately, they achieved a flawless performance at the official shows, receiving unanimous praise from all sides and writing their own chapter of growth this winter amidst ice, snow, and applause.
Performance Scene ofSurging Ice on the Winding River. (Photo provided by the School of Music and Dance)
Performance Scene ofThriving Mountains and Flowing Waters.(Photo provided by the School of Music and Dance)
