Ida von Steuben, a ballet dancer from Finland, danced gracefully amid violet lighting together with other dancers in Changsha. All the audience were captivated.
"I followed the troupe to the stage in Hunan and other places around China. Last week, we performed Swan Lake in Yueyang," Ida said during an interview recently.
Ida in rehearsal. (Photo provided by the interviewee)
Learning that Ida would join a dance troupe in China, her family and friends were worried. "They worried about the language, and feared that I would have no social life or friends in China. However, my parents supported my decision, encouraging me to boldly pursue my dream." When she arrived in Changsha, she felt nervous and strange. She said she soon found that her worries were unnecessary.
As she assimilated into Changsha, Ida found that ballet is a "universal language.". "Body language has no national boundaries. It is a universal expression understandable around the world," Ida said. The international atmosphere of the Hunan Youth Ballet Theatre makes Ida feel warm. The dancers are from different countries, communicating with each other in English. "The most important thing for our group dance is teamwork spirit and synchronization. I often play four different roles in a single performance. Though challenging, I feel a strong sense of achievement," she said.
What touched Ida the most is the enthusiasm and sincerity of the Changsha audiences. The interactions after every performance are precious moments for her to connect with the audience. "The audiences express their appreciation with applause. Sometimes I make a response in Chinese I've just learned, like 'Xiexie dajia (thank you)' and 'Nimen ye hen bang (you're also great).' They are pleasantly surprised, and applaud even more passionately," said Ida. These sincere interactions filled her with motivation in every performance, and allowed her to truly feel the charm of art transcending nations.
Ida in a rehearsal. (Photo provided by the interviewee)
When she came to Changsha, she felt like a traveler in a strange city. She could not easily assimilate into local life due to the cultural gap. One day, a colleague happened to mention that "there's a German bakery in Changsha." Having German ancestry, Ida was thrilled and immediately asked for the address. "I was almost unable to wait to dash over there," she said.
Now, Ida has fully adapted to the pace of life in Changsha. She has expanded her social circle, making many new friends in cafes, subway stations, and concerts. She has fallen in love with the city's vitality and diversity. Fresh fruits and delicious food give her great culinary satisfaction. In her spare time, she occasionally returns to hobbies such as painting and playing the piano, from which she can draw inspiration for her dance creations.
"In Changsha, I am alone but never lonely," she smiled. Though far from her hometown, she doesn't feel lonely because the people around her are so friendly, and easy to get along with, she said.
Ida is brimming with expectations for the future. "As a ballet dancer, I hope that my dance will be acceptable for Chinese audiences, and that I can share with them the joy of dancing with them." Next, she plans to learn Chinese systematically, as well as Chinese ethnic dances and Tai Chi, to deeply experience the charm of Chinese culture.
"People are essentially interconnected in emotions, expectations, and dreams, wherever they are." From Finland to Changsha, Ida has found the intersection of art and life in the twirls of her ballet shoes, and she will continue writing her own stories of China with her graceful dance steps.
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: Chinanews
