Washington Chu Shan Chinese opera Institute Inc.

Lively Educational Workshops

Contact: Po Ching Shen

301-340-2041

Mr. Zhu was born in Shanghai and trained at the Shanghai School of Performing Arts. He is a renowned director and has choreographed 50 Chinese operas. In 1992, he established the Washington Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute.

The Washington Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, promote, enhance and expand Chinese Opera. The Institute brings together an exhilarating combination of storytelling, song, dazzling costumes, and awe-inspiring acrobatics to produce exciting and engaging performance of traditional Chinese Opera. Each presentation is a unique cultural and educational event. The Institute is supported by the National Endowment of the Arts and has been invited to perform in many prestigious places such as the Kennedy Center.

Workshops/Residencies:

The Wonder of Chinese Opera - The Monkey King           (all ages)

A lively seminar and demonstration of the ancient art of Chinese Opera. This program is designed to take the audience from pre-performance preparations to on-stage action. A perfect introduction to Chinese culture and a fascinating interactive program suitable for all cultural organizations, elementary and secondary schools.

The "Monkey King" is a popular mythological character in China and a popular and well-known Chinese story. The workshop will feature the make-up, stage movements and costume of the Monkey. The workshop begins with a demonstration of Chinese Opera face painting and costuming, the meaning and significance of the design. This will be followed by a demonstration of  the unique gestures and facial expressions of the Monkey King. The program is concluded with a short episode of the opera, “Stirring up the Heavenly Palace.” This scene is about how the Monkey King disrupts a party in the Heavenly Palace and engages in a fierce fight with the heavenly troops and generals.

Showcase Programs

The Washington Chu Shan Chinese Opera Institute also has a repertoire of small showcase programs suitable for performances and festivals. They range from 15-30 minutes long and can be tailored to suit various needs.

Audience Size:                               300 Maximum

Fees:                                                    $300 Single performance

                                                                $500 Back-to-back